Feeding and Nutrition :: Overfeeding & Cuttlebone. She's growing too fast!

[enz660]

My Red ear slider was overfed during the initial portion of her life. She lived with someone else and was fed basically a 100% shrimp diet twice a day. She grew FAST. she is about 6-7 months old and is now over 4 inches. I took photos of her only a few weeks ago and she was exactly 4 inches long, now shes 4.25. I feed her pellets every morning, the amount that would fit in her head, maybe one spinach leaf pressed against the side of the tank so she can nibble on. Idk if shes growing too fast or what, but If so, how can I slow this down without starving my turtle?

Also, we had a cuttlebone in the tank all her life, and ONLY the last few days shes been DEVOURING it. 25% of it is gone within one week. Should I take it out? I hear its harmful for the shell. Thanks.

[enz660]

bump

[xfallwithmexo]

Cuttlebone should be a once and awhile treat. As for the overfeeding at first, how old is she? adult turtles should only eat once a day. If you are going to feed them twice, one meal needs to be very small. Turtles love to beg, im not sure if you see that yet but they will be ok if you feed them once a day.

Does she eat the spinach? I would use a different green, as spinach is not recommended for turtles as it doesn't have much nutritional value. Try red or green leaf lettuce

[marisa]

I have to disagree regarding the cuttlebone---it's a decent secondary source of calcium, and I try to keep a few pieces floating in the tank and replace them as they're eaten. Where did you hear/read it was harmful to the shell?

If you're RES has started taking a liking to cuttlebone, it's most likely because he needs more calcium in his diet. They are hardwired to seek out the nutrient when necessary. My turtles will at times eat it more quickly than at others, and I think that's because they sometimes just need more calcium in their diets.

Try also dandelion greens; some larger supermarkets sell them.

[richieboy]

Try reading the feeding area of the main site, print or save it to your phone when you got to the super market. She might be devouring cuttlebone because I think spinach might actually inhibit calcium absorption, I think..

[enz660]

oh wow I read now that spinach is bad. I won't feed her spinach anymore... we will see what happens. Thank You.

[Love of Animals]

You can probably cut down on the pellets too. Instead of a whole head of pellets once a day give her half a head once a day and keep some leafy greens in her tank. (except spinach, which you already noted.) My turtle loves red leaf lettuce.