Feeding and Nutrition :: Force Feeding?

[mkoby]

I took my hatchling to the vet and he gave me Critical Care to try to get him eating. I'm supposed to feed him with a syringe. However, Squirt wants nothing to do with it! I found a post that says force feeding could be worse than him not eating but the post didn't have much info. Is this true?

[missibsu]

You have to be careful. You don't want the medication going down the wrong tube. As you've read before you could end up with even more problems.

Did the vet show you how to administer the meds? If not, go back and see him. Tell him how you are having problems and see what he has to say.

[mkoby]

The Critical Care is special food the vet gave me. Not medicine. It's all the nutrients from veggies in a powder form. The problem is, I can't find what problems it can cause. Just that it can cause problems. Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I just give him more time?

I've tried feeding him tuna, kril, romaine lettuce, pellets and pumpkin. I also had a couple of ruby reds in the tank (they died!) and ghost shrimp. There is also a live anacharis which he might be nibbling on.

Thanks,
Michelle

[industrial_girl_2000]

If you can run out to a fishing store (I know there is one on the corner of Jefferson/10 mile by you), try feeding him a medium-size earthworm (2-4 inches long). You don't have to cut it up either......it is soft enough where the turtle can bite it in half if he needs to.

Water temp still ok? You can raise it temporarily to 80 degrees if you need to.

Baby turts don't need much food (they have very tiny little stomachs!) so it is possible he is nibbling on stuff & you just aren't seeing it. Some turtles are nervous about eating in front of people at first because it makes them vulnerable to capture, etc.

I would not do any force feeding. Just gently continue to offer him food & take the time to hold the food there to him (don't just drop in and expect that he will eat it in 5 minutes.....try a longer period of time where you stand there....say, 20 minutes). Try the earthworms. I have never seen a turtle refuse an squigly, squirmy, slimy earthworm.

Let me know what happens after you try the earthworm. If he still won't eat it, I could be persuaded to possibly come over & check the little guy out for you!

Kristin

[Muirner]

after i planted anachris, and amazon sward in my tank, i knowticed one of my babys ate less. at the same time i found that the sward was being eaten. But after time they will come back to the pellots/shrimp/krill.

[marisa]

mkoby, I responded to your other post regarding getting Critical Care into your turtle.