Feeding and Nutrition :: Feeding baby RES - but when does he stop being a baby?

[stormtrooper]

Hello everyone, I am confused about one thing regarding feeding. I read that baby turtles should be fed once to twice a day, once they reach one year of age, and I'll then have to feed it once every two days. The problem is I dont know how old my turtle is. I got him last month and his shell was about 4cm in length. How do I know when he reaches one year of age?
Also, the issue of feeding them as much as can fit in their head (excluding neck) confuses me as well as the back of my Nutrafin turtle pellets says to feed them as much as they would eat in 2 hours. Now, even though I feel that is excessive, I've also read some people feed them as much as they would eat in 15 minutes. If I was to follow that, my turtle would definitely eat more than can fit in his head at each mealtime. However, I sort of question the whole "feed them as much as can fit in their head" philosophy.. just dont know where the logic in that is? Thank you for your advice.

[DanielRES1180]

Baby turtles are purchased when they're about one or two weeks old, so it won't be the end of the world if you start a little late. I don't know what to say for your last question. At your turtle's age I fed my turtles 4 Reptomin baby pellets, about as much as will fit in their heads (don't know how big Nutrafin pellets are). It's all basically a thumbnail rule to keep overfeeding at bay.

[sonyj]

Feed your turtle once a day, the amount that would fit inside his head if it were hollow. This is a much better rule to feeding than what any can says. Pellets are high in protein (which your turtle does not need too much of). I've fed mine by this rule since day one and he's grown at a very steady rate and is now just a little over three inches at a year old which is right on target for growth. Too fast of growth is not good for his shell or his internal organs which a high protein diet leads to.

Also, going to every other day feeding should be started between six months to one year. I started mine every other day at around 9 months after I got him which is when I count his age not knowing exactly when he was hatched. Most hatlchlings are between a couple of weeks to a couple of months when they are purchased so it's easier to count the purchase date as their birthday.

[missibsu]

If you are concerned that the amount that fits in the head isn't enough, you can suppliment veggies for the the rest of the meal. Since your turt should be getting veggies as part of a regular diet anyway, he would still be getting enough to eat. The sooner you start the veggies, the sooner he will adapt to them. Don't expect that he will eat them right away, and don't give up hope.

[Turtle-Turtle]

With the veggies, Do you just chop them up and put them int eh tank like regular food or what?

[sonyj]

With the veggies, Do you just chop them up and put them int eh tank like regular food or what?

Leafy green veggies (lettuces etc) you can just throw in by the leaf. Carrots you would want to shred with a vegetable peeler - the thinner the better and easier to eat. Other veggies (sweet potato, pumpkin, squashes/zucchini etc) you'd want to cut into bite/head size pieces and possibly steam a little to make them softer, easier to eat.