Feeding and Nutrition :: Baby Turt problem!!!

[Blue Flamingo]

So I noticed that one of the new turts is growing and the other one is not. So I tried feeding them separately but the little one doesn’t seem too interested in the food. How can I make it eat and should I buy it something extra nutritious to let it catch up with the other turtle.

[marisa]

What are you feeding them? When you feed them separately, are you leaving the smaller one in the tank to eat and feeding the other one in another container? Does the smaller one displaying any other "symptoms" in addition to a lack of interest in food? Have you tried foods with a strong smell (bits of tuna, hard-boiled egg whites, sardines), bright color (frozen bloodworms), or something that moves (pieces of cut-up earthworm, for example) to whet the little one's appetite?

What is the temp of the water and basking area?

[Blue Flamingo]

I’ve been feeding them ZooMed aquatic turtle food, another one that I’ve been feeding them has been Nutrafin (I think that’s the name of it), Romaine lettuce. I’ve been feeding the small and the big one in separate containers. I would leave one in the tank and put the other in the container then switch them. The small one has no other symptoms of anything. Their basking spot right now is just at room temp until I get a heat lamp for them (which will be very soon). The water temp is 26C to 30C. They have two rosies red minnows in their habitat. Should I put more in there so they have a better chance of getting them? I haven’t tried tuna, hardboiled egg whites or sardines. Do you just by the ones that come in the cans?

[BullDog]

26-30C for the water is too warm. I've got mine set at 23C, but for younger turts you could do 24-25C...
For tuna you want the kind that's packed in water, not oil, and I'm sure it's the same for sardines.

[marisa]

Yes, bits of the tuna and sardines that are packed in water. Tiny slivers of hard-boiled egg whites. This is just to get him eating.

[Blue Flamingo]

Okay, that all seems great and very easy. Thanks

[cprcheetah]

Have you tried soaking his food in Tuna juice? That really helped Zeke when he wasn't eating too good. My niece has 2 Mississippi/Sabine Map Turtles and when she feeds them usually one or the other gets the majority of the food. So separating may be a good idea. When I feed Zeke in a separate container I usually leave him in there for 20-30 minutes and it helps. He knows that is when he gets fed and if he wants to eat he eats there. Is the one who is smaller acting sick at all?

[Muirner]

Will boys grow faster then girls? My two seem to be growing at a different rate, but i watch that they both eat, and they do.

[cprcheetah]

I don't know about that. I would think girls would grow faster as they get larger in the end than boys do.

[Muirner]

That was my thinking... Not really so much a worry just a.... something to be prepaired for.

[marisa]

Not necessarily, genetics also play a role, as well as diet and habitat. Females are ultimately larger, though.