Feeding and Nutrition :: Human vitamins good for turtles?

[Nin10doGC]

Ok, so my turtle really needs to shed. Vitamin E is good for this so I've heard. Problem is she is not going after apple peel or blueberries. I put a little of some vitamin E oil on pellets and fed them to her, and she ate them. The oil is mildly acidic in a way, kinda like a lemon and is safe to eat, not bitter. Is this a good way to get vitamin E or what? She really needs to shed bad, plus her shell isnt in the best condition, even when I got her.

[TheComputerGremlin]

As long as she doesn't have the vitamin E oil a lot, it should be okay maybe once per week. There are other foods that have vitamin E in it, like sweet potatoes.

Shedding is an action of patience. My turtle has needed to shed for a long time and she still hasn't. So I just wait. When I bumped up her blueberry intake one week, all she did was shed skin. Increasing the vitamin E may not actually cause her to shed scutes.

[queenjane]

What if your turtle won't eat blueberries? Is there a kind of specially formulated turtle vitamin for sale somewhere? The PetSmart girl said she used something sold online, but I forgot what it's called.

[Nin10doGC]

After a few days, my turtle is now doing well and half of it's shell looks shiny and new. It hasn't shed yet, but it's current shell is looking better.

[Fuzzy Hamster]

You may want to try Jessie's (zoologist) recipe and adjust it to add the foods that your turtle needs (i.e. more foods with vit. E). It seems to have worked for pretty well everyone that has tried it with their finicky turtles.

Have a look here; http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17486

[Nin10doGC]

Today, I was graced with a stray plastron scute in my tank. I was so happy and the Vitamin E seems to be working good, do you think there will be any repercussions for using it? On another note, Ruby's shell looks so shiny and nice! I'll have to take a pic of it for you guys.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Well, there is nothing to imply that vitamin E is bad for humans, though some studies have shown it to not help out as much as people think it's supposed to. However, unless you can find precise amounts that should be given to turtles, I would only give a small dose at most once per week. I'd keep encouraging natural sources of vitamin E instead, as well.

Congrats on the scute! Remember they only need to shed every year or more, so you don't want to encourage the new scutes to start coming off as well.

[Nin10doGC]

Ok well thanks. Even if she has retained scutes should I just let nature takes it course?

[TheComputerGremlin]

Well, if she's shed one scute, the others may come off after the next week or two with a little vitamin E supplement. Then I would start to cut back and keep on trying with the veggies. But if the supplement is helping right now, it might be okay to keep using it until she has a new shell.

[David5]

It sounds like you're doing your best to care for your turtle! Vitamin E is indeed helpful for shedding and shell health, and there are several ways to supplement her diet with this vitamin. However, I would suggest being cautious when using vitamin E oil directly on food, as it could be a bit too concentrated for your turtle's digestive system.

For a more balanced approach, you could look into supplements specifically designed for reptiles. I’ve also recently come across Supra-Vita, which offers a range of vitamins and supplements that could potentially support both your turtle's overall health and its shedding process. It’s always a good idea to consult with a vet about the best products to ensure proper nutrition for your turtle.

Let me know if you’ve tried other supplements or if anyone has recommendations for improving shell condition!