Feeding and Nutrition :: arent turtles sposed to like meat more than veggies?

[pickerbp22]

My little guy refuses to eat pellets and any chopped meat. He will only eat lettuce and carrots. I thought when they were younger they were sposed to like meat more and when they get older they like the veggies more... idk what should i do

[Kemul]

You can try soaking the pellets in tuna water. As people say here, variety is key.
If you turtle is still under a year old, keep trying the pellets. Otherwise, you're
quite lucky. Some people struggle with their turtles because the turtles won't eat
veggies

[megcornell]

How large is Karl?
What kind of pellets are you offering?

From time to time, I try a new brand of pellets to mix with my reptomin ones, but my turtles tend to turn their noses at the other brands. They wouldn't touch wardleys at all in fact. So try another brand of pellets. If nothing seems to work, you can try dipping the pellets in tuna juice like Kemul said. Usually turtles can't resist that.

The important thing is that your turtle is eating, he or she will eventually find a pellet it likes.

Also, why are you trying to feed it chopped meat? That shouldn't be a part of any RES diet.

If you're really worried about his protein intake buy some feeder fish like rosy reds when you pick up other pellets- most turtles can't resist chasing them down.

[pickerbp22]

carl has no problem eatin everything. the problems my little guy flash. the map turtle. I'm offering reptomin food sticks(green ones), and the reptomin mini sticks that are in the Reptomin Select-a-food, and i offer wardley reptile sticks. The reptomin regular ones i figure he wont eat cuz they are too big. But he wont eat the mini ones either, and the wardley ones i break in half for him. He'll eat the shrimp and the krill from the reptomin select-a-food. but i try not to give him that because its supposed to be a treat as im told. But i cant just feed him veggies you know.

I buy a rotisserie chicken to make chicken salad, and i save a tiny portion for my turts. I cut it up in really small pieces for them. They all love it except my little guy flash. Thats what i meant by meat. Is that bad for them?

So he wont eat chicken, and he wont eat pellets basically, not matter what kind. He's not a vegetarian cuz he'll eat that shrimp and krill in a heartbeat! lol

[pickerbp22]

are there any other pellets anyone recomends me to try before i start soaking them in tuna juice? lol

[marisa]

Chicken once in a while is OK, just make sure it's the white meat and not oily.

If you think he's not eating the Reptomin because the sticks are too big, break them up.

[pickerbp22]

i'm breaking them up and he still wont eat them X (

[marisa]

Have you tried foods like crickets and earthworms?

For some other pellets, you could try Mazuri or Hikari.

[pickerbp22]

no i havent. mazuri and hikari are available in regular pet stores? i never heard of it. or would i have to order it?

[marisa]

Mazuri I think has to be ordered, but I buy Hikari in Petsmart.

[pickerbp22]

i gave a couple meal worms once. they all ate except for the little guy.

[marisa]

Mealworms aren't very nutritious. You might try an earthworm (much better). Since he's small, cut it into pieces he can easily eat---most turtles like the movement of live food.

Do you feed them together? If so, try feeding the map by himself.

[pickerbp22]

no i feed them seperately. and i didn't buy the meal worms. they were leftover from my friends lizard who passed away. they are basically all shell and not very nutritious, but they were free so i figured id try it out, why not right

[marisa]

They're not nutritious, and the skin (shell) is very hard to digest. I'd ditch them and try something else.

[pickerbp22]

i dont have anymore anyway. this wasnt that recent btw. i'm thanking mayb small crickets