Feeding and Nutrition :: They have stopped eating

[ClayCartersmom]

I have 2 turts, one RES and one map turtle (I think, looks just like the RES but has green ears). They have both cut WAY back on what they eat and the map turtle isn't eating anything. I was thinking it was because it's the winter, but they're inside. They have tons of minnows, all sizes (they tend to breed a lot). I have gone through all differnet kinds of pellets thinking that maybe they didn't like what I bought.
I'm not so sure that the mapturtle isn't gravid. She has slacked up on her activity a lot, not totally, just a lot.
We got them both as babies, one of my son's found the RES and then my mom found the mapturtle for my other son. They are 3-4 years old now, can't remember exactely when we found them.
I rearranged their tank when I cleaned it out, but that has never bothered them in the past.
I mainly just want to know if this is normal behavior for the winter months.
I would attach some pics but my digital camera won't work w/VISTA!!!
Thanks for any help, Jennifer

[megcornell]

Do you have a tank heater? If the water is too cool it will suppress their appetites. Adult turtles should have water around 75F.

[SpotsMama]

Some turtles do slow down somewhat in the winter months. How long have they been eating poorly?

Can you give us more description of their setup? Size of tank, gallons of water, temperature of water?

Are there any other behavior changes - lethargy, basking more, for example?

How big are the turtles (straight shell length)?

Is it possible that the turtles are eating some of the many minnows and that's why they aren't interested in their regular food?

[ClayCartersmom]

Since I made this post, they have gotten better. The temp is set at 74, it's a 75 gal tank about 3/4 full. They are both about 5-6 inches long. The RES basks a lot, the map is a lot more reserved and will only bask if nobody is home! I know this because I work upstairs and I catch her basking during the day when there is no noise in the house. I put some salad leaves in the tank and fed them some apple slivers. They still aren't eating as much of the pellets and aren't as agressive for them, but they did like the apples. We live in Memphis and those really bad storms came over us, (missed us thankfully). They are buy a window and haven't really been the same since. Maybe all of the barometric pressure changes messed them up or something!

[SpotsMama]

Could be that the weather upset them. You might bump the temp up some. Thermostates on heaters are notoriously unreliable. Have you measured yours lately with a thermometer? If turtles are too cool they lose their appetite and slow down. They are also more susceptible to disease if the water temp is too cool.