Feeding and Nutrition :: underweight turtle

[Sapphire]

I have recently rescued a pair of 20 year old RES and the male has a couple of conditions that I am working to correct. I say rescue, because I was apparently the best person the reptile rescue could find for the job. My qualifications are that I do my research, ask questions, and have kept RES for a while (Not the best qualifications, but I guess I will have to do in a pinch). I've dealt with a couple health problems when it comes to RES, but this boy has a few. Fortunately, my good friend is a vet and has been very supportive of my crazy endeavors (plus she gets to "practice" her turtle knowledge).

She helped me identify a couple problem areas with the little guy (which I will be posting about once I have some pictures... Afterall, it never hurts to have more opinions and advice). One of the major areas of concern are his weight. He is quite underweight, which isn't helping his other problems and one of our primary concerns is to get some weight on him safely, but efficiently. He isn't too keen on eating his vegetables, but has taken a liking to the zoo med maintenance formula pellets that I feed my other guys.

Normally, I would be more persistent with convincing him to eat the veggies, but I have decided to settle for him eating food... at least for now. His other medical issues include a softening of his shell, what appears to be an early form of shell rot, and recession of the skin from the plastron in some areas (likely bacterial in cause) (so getting some nutrients into him is of utmost importance).

He is currently being fed twice a day for a daily total of about 1.25x the amount of pellets I would feed a healthy turtle. I am wondering if the more tenured members on this forum might be able to suggest some particularly savory foods or a more productive amount of food/feedings to try and get some weight on this poor old man in a safe manner. Once he is getting some nutrition in him and closer to a healthy weight I think his other problems will be easier to sort out.

[CactusJohn5]

the pellets are a good choice when you are just trying to get them to eat and put on some weight. from what your saying it sounds like a plan i would use in your situation.

[Sapphire]

Thanks, it certainly makes me feel better knowing that someone else thinks I am doing ok with my approach

[steve]

Sounds good, though the "healthy turtle" amount should be fine as well. Us keepers tend to overfeed anyway and you're already offering a much improved home for him.

[mukyo]

How to tell if they are underfed?
Maybe u could have a pic before and after few months later. Would be a good lesson to all.

[CactusJohn5]

you can tell real easy if they are underfeed. Look at the inside of the legs to the shell where all the skin is. If that is sunk way in and they have nothing there, then they are underfed.

[The Troops]

And if they are overfed, the skin bulges out far and they cant fit their entire body in the shell at once.. I am a offender of this, but correcting it