Feeding and Nutrition :: Eat your Veggies

[Temptationsz]

My turtle does not eat veggies. I want her to start eating veggies but I don't know how to go about and doing so. I would love her to eat carrots and lettuce and all those lovely things she's supposed to eat, I just don't know how to get her to do so?

Also where do you put your veggies for your RES to eat? I was looking at my tank and there seems to be no place to really put the veggies without it floating aimlessly about the tank.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[BullDog]

A lot of owners suggest some "tough love". Offer them nothing but veggies for a period of time. As for how long to offer just the veggies, I'm not sure, since my guys took to veggies pretty well.

I usally just toss the veggies. Sure, the float (or sink) aimlessly, but it gives them something to do - chase the veggie, or hunting for it behind rocks.
Sometimes stuff will get stuck to the filter intake, but then it just acts like a veggie clip

[TheComputerGremlin]

I just started throwing lettuce in my turtle's tank (which just float at the top) and at first, he wasn't interested, but he's such a good little eater, he started eating them pretty routinely now. Try a couple different veggies (like romaine lettuce, red lettuce, carrots, cooked sweet potatoes, maybe some fruits), my turtle decided he really likes the dark dark green romaine leaves. Also, if you cut carrots in shredded lengths, they sink immediately to the bottom, but I guess they kinda resemble worms, my little guy went after those too.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Just let the lettuce float in the tank! When the turtle is bored, he will eventually go over to it & nip at it. It may take some time but just make sure he has lettuce in the tank every day. Throw in a nice big leaf! That green color will get his attention!

[Temptationsz]

I put in some for her today, and she's eating it. I guess it's because I haven't given her food for two days now that she is resorting to it.

Thanks =)
But, I have another question.
Do you all feed your Turtle everyday? I was looking at some of your weekly menus for your turtle and some of you feed it everyday with once in a while pellets for them. So it would be safe for me to keep putting veggies in there for her everyday? Would that result in her being overfed?

Thank you!

[BullDog]

Veggies like leafy greens are fine every day. If your RES is over a year old, you'll want to feed pellets every second day (the amount that would fit in her head if it were hollow).
I feed mine pellets every second day (about) and on the non-pellet days they either get some lettuce, and a couple times a week something like carrots or whatever else is in the fridge

[Temptationsz]

Will she eat it everyday? I figured because she was so hungry she just resulted in the lettuce today, but I was wondering if she would really eat lettuce everyday?

That is very helpful. Thank you. =)

[BullDog]

She may or may not eat it everyday.
Usually my guys nibble on it over a couple days, whenever they feel hungry.
I know there's a lot of turts who will scarf down a whole piece of lettuce every day though.

[TheComputerGremlin]

I think eventually your turtle will start eating veggies more routinely, it just takes some time and maturity.

[Temptationsz]

She loves the lettuce, she'll swim after it, I tried putting in some carrots that are shredded, not sure if she likes them yet. I saw her pecking at a few of them but not eating them. Hopefully she'll like em. Or well grow into them. I want to get her into a lot of the veggies, but she's still young.