Feeding and Nutrition :: They wont eat pellets!

[erinemcgreevy]

I have two baby res and they will not eat their turtle pellets! I have soaked them in tuna fish water and mixed then with gammarus, but still they wont eat. I even caught one of them taking a bite out of a pellet then spit it out, any other suggestions on making the pellets more enticing, or is there a brand that they seem to prefer over the others?

[grey goose]

How long have you had them? they may just be adjusting to their new environment, and you.....

[erinemcgreevy]

I've had them for about 6 weeks, they eat everything else, from minnows to an occasional bite of the aquatic plant.

[megcornell]

What brand are you feeding them and have you tried to feed them any other brands?
My turtle ate reptomin baby and then reptomin from the start, but some turtles are more finicky and there might be something in the brand that you use that they just don't like.
It's good that they're eating veggies, be sure and give them a good variety (look at the feeding stickys for feeding tips). The fact that the tuna couldn't bribe them makes me think that they really have something against those particular pellets, I think the next step would be to try a different brand.
If it weren't for the minnows, I'd say you had vegetarian turtles

[marisa]

How big are the pellets you're feeding them? Mine would spit out larger pellets out after they tried to eat them and couldn't (they'd give up on them fairly quickly). And regular-size Reptomin softens quickly and will stick to their mouths. If you are feeding larger pellets, try breaking them up. Also, if you haven't, try Reptomin Baby---most hatchlings really like it or at least learn to.

[erinemcgreevy]

I have tried three different types of pellets: ReptoMin Baby, Nutrafin Max Turtle Gammarus Pellets (which I break in half), and Zoo Med Natural Aquatic Turtle Food. They have taken bites out of/spit out both the ReptoMin Baby and the Gammarus pellets, they wont even touch the Zoo Med. I was also wondering if they were in any immediate danger by not eating the pellets? They currently will eat minnows, mealworms, gammarus, and the occasional nibble of an aquatic plant. They are definately not starving but I want them to be healthy and happy turtles. I just recently put them on a diet because one turtle, Murphy, had grown too quickly. I am a new turtle mommy and want to give then the very best!

[marisa]

I'd go really easy on the mealworms and offer cut-up pieces of an earthworm instead. Since they're healthy, you could try offering only pellets for a few days to see if they'll get hungry enough to eat them. Have you tried to get the scent of something smelly on the pellets---tuna or sardine juice, for example?

[erinemcgreevy]

I've tried the tuna juice, they were too smart to fall for that! Think I'm just going to deny them all food except veggies and pellets and hope that they will give in to hunger. Any ideas on where to get earthworms, I live in NYC?

[marisa]

Why not try asking at a shop that sells reptiles?

[erinemcgreevy]

That's a good idea! Right now I am just trying to be strong and only feed them pellets and veggies. They've got to get hungry enough to eat the pellets eventually, right?

[grey goose]

Well.......
My old Vet said that turts are like cats......they can be very fussy when it comes to what's on the menu.

[erinemcgreevy]

Well then I just got the two fussiest eaters of them all! I'm just worried about their general health. Turtles in the wild don't have pellets so why exactly do ours?

[grey goose]

Pellets are designed to provide them with all the nutrients they need...

[SpotsMama]

Pellets are turtle health food. If most turtles get to choose between tuna and pellets they will choose tuna. If I get to choose between chocolate cake and a salad, guess which one I'd choose? Of course, I have more will power than a turtle so I'd choose the salad (usually).

[erinemcgreevy]

I'm doing my best to stay strong. Murphy likes to beg and make me feel guilty. I