Feeding and Nutrition :: Frozen Veggies

[butterfly]

Ive tried to feed my turtle veggies many times but she refuses it all. She began eatting a little watercress but after one day, she never touched it again. She never has touched any other veggie Ive tried giving her, no matter what I do to them. She just hates raw veggies, wont touch them in all these months Ive had her.

Today out of curiosity, I fed her a thawed carrot from a frozen mixed veggie bag I had used for dinner. I thought I would have to fish it out later because she wouldnt eat it but amazingly my slider swam to it like she was crazy and swallowed the piece whole, like a snake! Then she began begging for more. So I gave her a pea, thinking she wouldnt eat that and she swallowed it whole again. She was splashing in her tank trying to get out for me to give her more so I gave her more carrots, peas, green beans and corn and she ate all of it. She spent the longest time in the bottom of the tank getting the tiny flakes that were left.

Are these types of mixed veggies good for a turtle because Ive always read on here of people feeding leafy raw veggies, not these.

[steve]

I think frozen foods were not a good idea, but I think that was particularly true with fish. I've also read that giving them food that is still cold or frozen is not a very good idea because that may cause digestive problems. When was the last time you tried fresh veggies?

[butterfly]

Ive been trying the raw veggies nearlu everyday since I got her. The veggies I have her yesterday were not cold or frozen, they had been thawed and were room temp. I read on the sticky about the pea and to not give that to her often but the corn and greenbeans were fine?

[sonyj]

I use frozen squash but thaw it in a bowl of warm water completely before giving it. Everything else I give is fresh. If the frozen veggies do not have additives to them, I think it's fine to use occasionally since they last longer. Maybe now that he's eating these veggies, you can try to add fresh ones at the same time to see if he'll eat them now.

[marisa]

I'd say occasionally to the corn and green beans as well, and as long as their at room temp when you offer them, there shouldn't be a problem. The leafy greens are really better for your turtle, though, and those are the ones you should concentrate on getting her to eat.

Just curious, but was there anything different about the shape of the frozen carrots she liked so much? When you tried leafy greens, did you break them up at all?

[cam722]

I'm wondering.. could it be that the frozen carrots are softer than raw carrots?

[marisa]

Possibly. I steam pumpkin and squash to soften them because my RES won't touch them otherwise. The carrots are in such thin strips that they can easily be ripped apart.

[butterfly]

The raw carrots I tried to feed her so many times and she refuses are the same size and shape as the frozen ones. I think its the softness that she likes. She really loves them.

Yes, I tried breaking up the leafy greens also to bite size and they would just stay in the tank without being touched. These frozen veggies are the only veggies Ive ever seen her eat.