Feeding and Nutrition :: my turtle STOPPED eating

[Thismegan]

My RES is around a year old. He has been eating 6-8 pellets every morning. My husband and I left this last week out of town so my mom and sister fed him while I was gone exactly what I do, about 8 pellets in the morning.
They both separately said he acted weird, and scared, and wouldn't eat, they thought he was depressed or something.
So this morning (first morning home) I fed him and he came up and acted excited, but ate only 2 pellets. I just again tried to feed him 1 he went up and opened his mouth and then backed away and didn't eat it.
Is something wrong? I know I need to introduce vegetables and more variety to him. Is he sick of his pellets? Is he depressed? Is he sick? what in the world is it? I am worried. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. Thanks,
Megan

[steve]

If the setup is fine (water temps, basking temps) and your turtles are not showing any other symptoms then I would just continue to offer it. Let us know what happens tomorrow or the next day.

[SpotsMama]

Maybe he was upset by the change in his routine. Hopefully he'll start eating again when he settles down and feels secure again. Keep an eye out for other symptoms of illness - lethargy, yawning a lot or breathing with the mouth open, swollen eyes.

What's the temp in his water? If it's too cool, he won't want to eat.

[Thismegan]

The temperature in the water is 70 degrees. Is that too cold?
He did just eat about 5 pellets this morning. He seemed more himself. Maybe you are right, he was upset by the change in his routine. I am going to go to the petstore today and get some cuttlebone and some anacharis to see if he would like that. Any other suggestions?

[N4784N R4613]

Yeah, you should bump the water temp. up to 76-80.

[SpotsMama]

N4784N is correct. The water is too cool. Not only will it depress his appetite but it will make him more vulnerable to infection. I'd bring it up to 78 or 80 degrees.

Cuttlebone and anacharis would be excellent additions.

[marisa]

Has the weather become cooler in your absence? If he's about a year old and healthy, and the water temp has been at 70F, I'd increase the it to about 75-76F and see if that doesn't help. You might also get a second brand of pellets to rotate with the ones he's getting now.

[Safdar]

Do you have a heater for the tank?
If its winter season where you are, then the water will need to be heated.
so that it stays 78-80 and not fall back down

[Thismegan]

My turtle is back to eating like normal. I bought cuttlebone, they were out of the anacharis at the pet store, but he ate some of the cuttlebone and had a worm today. So I am beginning to think that he is use to us being around, he is in our living room, where we usually are at. It sounds crazy, but I am almost thinking he missed us while we were gone!
Thanks for all of the advice, and I still have yet to get a heater, and I plan on going to the store tomorrow and getting one.

[Safdar]

Good to hear

[emma]

great.