Feeding and Nutrition :: Baby can't live on shrimp alone...

[JennJenn]

I got 3 RES hatchlings 5 days ago. One has been eating a couple little pellets and a tiny shrimp a day and then won't eat more. Another one won't eat at all, and the tiniest one will only eat the shrimp. He won't touch the pellets, lettuce, or anything else that I try to give him.

They have a basking area and light with a temp of 85, and the water is a constant 76 degrees. They also have a UVB light. I don't know what to do. I float lettuce in there and they don't touch it. I know that sometimes they won't eat for a week but I'm still nervous!

I know the little one can't eat just shrimp, what can I do to get him to eat his pellets? I don't want to starve him. And what can I do to get the others to eat?

[adam85491]

Soak the pellets in tuna water (not in oil)...you also need to offer veggies as well.

[SpotsMama]

Here's some pointers on enticing a turtle to eat. Sometimes just to get them started eating. If you try these and they still won't eat come back and let us know and we'll think about it some more.

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

[marisa]

If they're really small hatchlings, I'd up the water temp a few degrees (and make the basking area 88-90F) and see if the added warmth doesn't increase the appetites. You might try some live foods too---cut up an earthworm for them, for example. What brand of pellets are you trying to feed them? Try Reptomin Baby for a pellet if what you have is something different.

[JennJenn]

I have the Reptomin pellets. Luckily one has started eating. I have been offering veggies everyday but they aren't fond of them yet!

I am going to try to soak them in the tuna water and see if that works.

Thanks!

[marisa]

Hatchlings might take a little while to eat veggies (but still offer some). You might try anachris (an aquatic plant) and see if they nibble on that.