Feeding and Nutrition :: Feeding

[OyerbidesJ]

my slider is about 3 & 3/4 inches and i'm just unsure how much to be feeding her...i started feeding her around 10 pellets twice a day and now i've increased to about 20 twice a day because she eats them in the matter of a minute. i switched her food to reptomin select a food which has mini-sticks, baby shrimp, and mini krill. am i feeding her too little, or too much??? or is it fine as long as she eats everything?

[SpotsMama]

Here's a link on feeding pellets:

http://www.redearslider.com/pellets.html

There's other good info in this general area too, on feeding not just pellets but other things as well.

You'll see the recommendation is to estimate how many pellets your turtle's head (not including his neck) would hold if it were hollow, and feed that much every other day.

Alternatively, if you want to feed your turtle half a head full of pellets every day, that would be the same amoun overall and would be fine.

Turtles will eat just about as much as you'll feed them whether they need it or not. That doesn't mean it's good for them.

Turtles need fresh green leafy things as a regular part of their diet along with the pellets. They can have this every day.

Turtles also need cuttlebone in their tanks to provide calcium. You can just leave some pieces of cuttlebone in there and they'll nibble on it from time to time. Read up on how to propare the cuttlebone for the turtle tank.

Things like shrimp are very high in protein and shouldn't be given very often. Once every few weeks or once a month as a special treat is just fine.

Enjoy!

[OyerbidesJ]

okay, so it says that pellets should only offered every other day for yearlings and adults...does my turtle classify as a yearling? and does that mean to only feed every other day, or to alternate pellets one day, and something else the other?

[SpotsMama]

If your turtle is 3 3/4 inches long, then he's no longer a hatchling and is a yearling or an adult.

Actually, you can offer pellets either every day or every other day whichever you prefer. The difference is in the quantity. (1) If you feed pellets every day, only feed a HALF a head full each day (2) If you feed pellets every OTHER day, you can feed him a WHOLE head full each time.

You can give green leafy things every day if you wish. Or you can alternate with pellets. It's hard to overfeed with green leafy stuff (if he eats too much he will get the runs then you'll know to cut back!)

Once a month or every few weeks you can give a special treat like some shrimp (my turtle would jump through a hoop for a shrimp). Some people give their turtles minnows or guppies for a treat about once a month.

[crock1120]

I feed mine about a half a head everyday. Every three weeks or so I get about 5-8 guppies and throw them in the tank. My turts love to chase them and corner them. It gives them a little bit of extra exercise which i like to see them getting. But definitely a half a head every day or a whole head every other day and they'll be fine.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Feel free to offer dark green leafy lettuce daily too.

[marisa]

Too many pellets. Feed a head-sized amount every other day, alternating with other foods. You can offer plant matter daily.