Feeding and Nutrition :: how much is enough?

[yomama]

How much is enough for my turtle res?
how much food i mean.
I have those large sticks reptomin and turtle bites, and shrimp.
What shouild be my daily diet for my turtle, other words
how many pellets each day and shrimp?
how much is enough?
He's 1.5 inches

[Nettle]

Pellets: As much as would fit in his head if it were hollow (not including neck).

Bites: What kind of bites are they?

Shrimp: Shrimp should be limited as a once a month snack and used instead of pellets for the day. Too much protein and his shell will start pyramiding.

[yomama]

kind of bites? like what kind of size?
its pretty small...like the * sign on ur keyboard, about that size.
hollow?
yes i didnt feed the shrimp that much.
so pellets as much as it can EATT??!?!?!?!?

[TheComputerGremlin]

Heavens no! Not as much as the RES will eat or they will just keep going. The question is what kind of bites are they, like HBH turtle bites or something else. You need to estimate the size of the turtle's head, imagine that's the size of their belly. For my 3.5" RES, he gets 5 Reptomin pellets and 4 HBH turtle bites a day. So, (not that this is a great estimation) for a turtle half that size, half the portions. 2 Reptomin pellets broken in half and 3 or 4 bites PER DAY. I know, it's not much, but it'll prevent pyramiding and getting a fat turtle.

My turtle's diet is pellets in the morning, and a shell sized piece of lettuce in the evening. I alternate the lettuces and throw in carrots a few times a week too. Then you can continue adding veggies as they're more receptive.

[Just Jule]

OK so Jax let me be sure I am understanding the portion sizes...........

Pellets to fit inside empty head...I got that part. It's the veggie part I am confused on. I have 2 RES 2" each and give them veggies every day. They love them and eat all but am I giving too much? For instance tonight I gave pellets and 4 large basil leaves and a handfull of romaine. All of it will be pretty much gone by morning but ..............Is this too much??

[TheComputerGremlin]

I guess you can feed too much veggies. Some people space the veggies out over the day so that the turtle can eat it over many hours. I've heard people say for full grown turtles maybe 2 romaine leaves a day? I'm sticking with the shell-sized piece once a day, it seems to work and is eaten before morning. Too much and their stool can start to be runny and gross.

[Just Jule]

Thanks, I think maybe I've been giving a little to much lettuce. I'll cut back immediately.

[yomama]

hey jax.
yes it is HBH type

[TheComputerGremlin]

Yeah, then I would say 2 sticks and 3-4 bites a day should do it. It worked for my turtle, at least, and he's grown and so far, no pyramiding, so I guess I'm doing something right! I was breaking it into two meals when he was younger, but now I've switched to once a day.

[yomama]

thanks jax!