Feeding and Nutrition :: Baby sleeps too much, won't eat.

[Kansasslider]

That's a good question. Were its eyes open during feeding time? You can also buy some feeder fish and cut them into small pieces. How large is your turtle in the 40 gallon tank. If its much larger you will have to make sure it doesn't pick on the young ones if you plan on putting them together.

[Peat-a-peat]

Ok Kansas, I will probably try that in a day or two if he doesn't start eating this stuff. I saw the Zoo Med hatching food but I didn't know what better it would do than the Tetra I have now, I thought the shrimp was what made them eat because of the smell? I mean right now he just doesn't seem interested in life, much less food I drop in.

Okay, I'll go ahead and separate them and focus a better light on it. I have both of those, I'll give it a shot. Just cut some boiled egg white and the tuna straight from the can? No his eyes don't seem to like being open. It's weird though, I can see the pupils kinda moving through the lids. He will open his eyes when he is in the water but above it, and he seems questionable under water, but he does open them underwater, it just takes a while. Last night when I was feeding him was sorta scratching at them with his arms/legs. Again he doesn't drop to the bottom unless he swims down, all the other time he merely floats.

[Peat-a-peat]

Speck I got in August last year, he is about 2.5" long and they are about 1". I don't plan on putting them all together until at least they start having a bigger appetite/start growing, because Speck is also growing rapidly. However I am looking forward to transferring as soon as possible since the little ones don't have UVB on them.

[Kansasslider]

My little one did the same eye scratching. I was just persistent in making him wake up. And yes the shrimp is fed because of the strong smell. I think the hatchling formula is made to look like the food breeders feed hatchlings.

[Peat-a-peat]

Okay, so wake him up every hour. Gotcha.

That makes sense. I'm going to give the bloodworms a few more times before I go to the store again. If it doesn't, should I get the hatchling stuff or look for shrimp at Petsmart?

[steve]

If his eyes are swollen, then he might have a vitamin deficiency. If you have any cod liver oil, I would apply some to his eyes.

[Kansasslider]

Steve, my baby dbt did the same thing with his eyes. Wouldn't open them but you could see his eyes moving when they were closed.Peat, don't wake your turtle every hour just once or twice a day to eat. I would get some shrimp but while your at it you could get some hatchling formula food as well. If I had to bet money on it I would say it will eat shrimp.But nothing is for sure. I wish you luck.

[Peat-a-peat]

Okay, thanks Steve and Kansas. I don't have any cod oil but if it gets worse I might buy some.

The shrimp will do better than the bloodworms? None of my turtles really reacted to the bloodworms, even Speck didn't eat them as well as the ReptiMin, but he and Turtle 1 both did eat it anyways. Again, Turtle 2 hasn't even looked at the food. I pick him up and place him back in the water and he just floats lifeless with his eyes shut like you were saying, Kansas. And I leave and come back five minutes later and he's just sitting on his rock under the heat light. But if you feel so strongly that shrimp will entice him to eat, I may try to pick some up later tonight, so please respond.

Thanks ya'll. . . Keep prayin'. . .

[Swimmy97]

I got them December 4th. They were close to the same size. The small one sleeps on the dock pretty much all day. It eats well so I'm not concerned. This picture was taken today. I can't believe the size difference.

That's a pretty large size difference. They sure are cute though.

[Kansasslider]

Sorry peat. Didn't see your post till this morning. Did you get some shrimp and did it eat any?

[Peat-a-peat]

Sorry peat. Didn't see your post till this morning. Did you get some shrimp and did it eat any?

I haven't yet, but I will this afternoon.

[Peat-a-peat]

Went to Petsmart and got both ZooMed hatchling pellets and Sun dried red shrimp. I put Turtle 2 in a 6x3" keeper and he has been in there for about half an hour. Good news is he has perked up quite a bit. He will go through equal spurts of floating with eyes closed like dead weight and then the next minute swimming back and forth like crazy. So happy because it looks like he has energy. Bad news is the only time he interacts with the food is to push it away in his vigorous swimming spurts. Any other suggestions? I will try again tomorrow after morning church and tomorrow night some egg whites.

[Kansasslider]

Hopefully it will start eating soon.

[Peat-a-peat]

Well. . . an update on my turtles. . .

I had separated the two little ones into different tanks, but the heat from the lamps wasn't enough for one of the tanks, so I moved both turtles into the smaller of the two, the 6"x3", and the stronger lamp over it and the water feels fine to me. I've taken them both out into a tupperware container to eat at separate times once or twice daily. Turtle 1, the one that had been eating, has pretty much stopped eating altogether now, although it's possible he just doesn't like the hatchling food, so I'll go back to the ReptoMin and see if there's any difference. Turtle 2 still hasn't eaten and it has been exactly two weeks since I got them. Turtle 1 will still sink to the bottom but Turtle 2 always floats now. I am very concerned about both of them. The water temp feels right, I use dechlorinator since it seems like such a small tank, I change it every three or four days. There's a warm rock with a light focused on it and they have each other. What am I missing?

Another concern I want to put out is Speck. I've noticed when he basks, when he is dry and his eyes are closed there are small lines of white outlining his eyelids. Is this something I should worry about?


Peat

[Kansasslider]

I'm at wits end to your situation. Feed then seperatly once a day. Throw in some of all the food you have bought and leave them alone for a while. Are your water temps and basking temps normal? I just don't know what else to tell you at this point Sorry!