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New RES not eating

PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 7:56 pm
by LeoTheRES
Got a new RES about 2 days ago at a store on SPI (South Padre Island)
However, i do have a bit of a problem..it doesn't want to eat.

I am feeding it Omega One turtle pellets (Natural Protein Formula) and it hasn't seemed to eat. I tried hand feeding it but it did not take a bite at all, the store did give me a small bag of turtle food of which they fed them, but i can't find it so i have been trying to feed it the Omega One pellets. However, keep in mind that it was just moved into the 10 gallon tank a day ago and it is a small 1 inch RES. Could the reason for not eating be the change in environment?

Re: New RES not eating

PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 3:26 am
by steve
Yes, the change is stressful, but getting him to eat is a priority. Make sure the water is warm, around 78/80F. Keep the area quiet and calm. Do not pick him up or handle him unnecessarily. Just leave the food in his tank but also consider some live prey (minnows, guppies).

Re: New RES not eating

PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 3:21 pm
by LeoTheRES
steve wrote:Yes, the change is stressful, but getting him to eat is a priority. Make sure the water is warm, around 78/80F. Keep the area quiet and calm. Do not pick him up or handle him unnecessarily. Just leave the food in his tank but also consider some live prey (minnows, guppies).

He has began to eat already, i'm guessing he was scared due to the change of environment because now he is swimming around everywhere and is eating once again while before he was always basking and wouldn't take a bite even when trying to hand feed!! :oops: temperature to the water is great, doesn't go lower than 78..usually around 80F. Such a happy turtle now. Thanks for the advice on the live prey as well :mrgreen:

Re: New RES not eating

PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:43 pm
by RedZz
LeoTheRES wrote:
steve wrote:Yes, the change is stressful, but getting him to eat is a priority. Make sure the water is warm, around 78/80F. Keep the area quiet and calm. Do not pick him up or handle him unnecessarily. Just leave the food in his tank but also consider some live prey (minnows, guppies).

He has began to eat already, i'm guessing he was scared due to the change of environment because now he is swimming around everywhere and is eating once again while before he was always basking and wouldn't take a bite even when trying to hand feed!! :oops: temperature to the water is great, doesn't go lower than 78..usually around 80F. Such a happy turtle now. Thanks for the advice on the live prey as well :mrgreen:

Congrats! Mine did the same. How long did it take for yours to start eating?

Re: New RES not eating

PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 7:54 pm
by Tampa Bay Turtle Fan
As Steve said and this is a general rule of thumb for basically all reptiles new under anyone's ownership needs to have a acclimation period within their new environment but some are good right off the start.

My pair of Albinos needed this period to get adjusted. Frankly I did not like the sellers enclosures and the albinos are now spoiled in a very nice large attractive display tank. The seller though he did have a uvb and uva lighting and heating system, his turtle tubs were in no way shape or form with other priority turtle needs. There for,they would not feed for a few days and when the acclimation period ended, the turtles have been feeding well every day.

On the other note, my hybino red ear who came from the same seller, entered the albinos display tank and at first, I thought that the turtle was more excited with the roomy areas in instantly exploring. This turtle however ate just like 2 hours after it entered the display tank. As both of you stated, water temps between 78 to 80F has always proven the best results.

Also I used thawed out frozen bloodworms in the past to get a turtle eating right then after that, I offered a variety of foods. I have never seen a red ear slider and other water species refuse thawed blood worms myself. I am happy to hear that it is eating and doing better though.