Feeding and Nutrition :: feeding baby eastern painted turtles

[painted patience]

I have 2 baby eastern painted turtles, 1 inch and 3/4 inch long. I have been giving them the high protein, low fat pellets, but they are having a hard time with them. The pellets are small, but hard. I have soaked them for 1/2 hour before giving it to them, but try as they may to bite them, they just can't get much off of them. Sometimes 1 pellet is gone out of 3
( usually by the larger hatchling ).
I tried some sliced turkey today and they enthusiastically were able to bite and swallow small pieces. I know I can't give this to them everyday and they need the nutrition from the pellets, so what do I do ??What other foods would you suggest for these wee ones ?
They don't like romaine lettuce, haven't tried other foods yet.
Thanks!
Painted Patience

[sonyj]

What brand are the pellets? I know some brands are harder than others. I use Baby Reptomin and have never had a problem with Koopa eating them even when we first got him (1.25 inch).

[painted patience]

I did try crushing them alittle them morning and introduced baby krill and small live crickets, which they loved, I just don't think I am supposed to give them too often. I have some canned mealworms which I will try also. Thanks for the advice, I can't find baby reptomin in this area though. i just think I may be overly anxious , they are both quite active and happy at this point.
Painted patience

[marisa]

I have a baby eastern painted, and for pellets he gets Reptomin Baby. I cut them in half, to make it easier for him to grab (which he does enthusiastically--he's really small). If you can't find Reptomin Baby, try regular Reptomin (contains a bit less calcium but still OK), but cut (don't crush) the pellets up into small pieces (I'm thinking cut each pellet into 4-5 pieces). Zoo-Med also makes micro pellets for hatchlings, if you can find those you might try them as well.

I would skip the mealworms--a very bad calcium/phosphorus ratio. An earthworm cut up into smaller pieces would be appreciated by them, though.

Can you get some anachris to keep in their tank? They'll learn this is edible and will nibble on it. My baby recently learned this and now will sit there looking at me with a mouth full of the stuff. So cute.

[painted patience]

thanks, I did find Zoo Med's hatchling turtle food today and will try it in the morning. Are the mealworm's bad for larger RES also ? I have a can of them now - how often ?

[sonyj]

In a well balanced diet mealworms can be offered occasionally. As Marisa pointed out, their calcium/phosphorus ratio is bad. Phosphorus will block the absorption of the calcium in your turtles diet. This is why you don't want to feed mealworms on a regular basis.

[marisa]

Phosphorus in itself will not block the absorption of calcium in the diet (some is necessary). The problem is that captive turtles' diets in particular already contain more than enough of the mineral, and when a food like mealworms, which are laden with it and lack calcium, is added to the diet, the balance between the two is thrown even further off, which can affect shell and bone development.

I suggested staying away from mealworms for the babies because adequate calcium is even more important for hatchlings and their growing shells than adults (but of course important for older turts as well). Mealworms are smelly (you have the Can 'O Mealworms?) and your turtles will probably love them if you give them. And it can be easy to just give in to them. My eastern painteds, which I've had since they came out of the nest, have never had mealworms (but they have had, and do get, earthworms, crickets, snails, etc.)

For older turts, as part of an overall balanced diet, mealworms can be given. However, even then, since their skins are quite tough and difficult to digest (in addition to the worm lacking nutrition), I would give them only rarely and only a few at a time. When I do give them to my RES, I put an extra piece or two of cuttlebone in the tank just to try to up the calcium to make up for what the mealworms lack.

[painted patience]

That's it, I am throwing out the can. They do not seem to provide any nutritional value and can actually detract from their health so just not worth it. They will have plenty of other variety. Thanks so much for the info!
Painted patience