Feeding and Nutrition :: questions, questions! :)

[my.lovely.turtle.]

Well, my beautiful turtle is so far just getting fed turtle sticks... I know, I know, not good.

So the other day I got two feeder fish. Niko seems to not even look at them or notice then. Do you have any idea why? The vet told me to get some so that he could chase them around and have some exercise.

Another question, how do I start feeding him different things? I'm kind of overwhelmed and I don't know where to start. I tried giving him a small piece of strawberry but he didn't want to go near it. Also tried some romain lettuce but nope, didn't go near that either. Please help,

I don't know where to start.


Thanks for listening to my stupid questions guys!

[Marcus.85]

Probably he has never seen a real live fish in his whole life. But as soon as his instinct kicks in he'll start to predate them.
Small turtles tend to take a while to get accustomed to veggies, so I wouldn't worry too much. Some people try to force 'em by not feeding for a day or two(or more) and then feed the veggies, or they mix em with/dip them in other more palatable food.
Personally I feed my turtles with, in order from most frequent to less: pellets, fish, shrimp, roman lettuce, carrots, peas, other veggies, mealworms, blatta roaches, earthworms, chicken liver.

[vear]

My RES wouldn't even look at fish either! I kept fish in there with him for months and he wouldn't even look at them. I think Marcus.85 is right, maybe they just don't realize how yummy they are yet! Once Tomi tasted the first fish he wouldn't stop chasing them. Your turtle will eat them eventually. How many feeders are in there? you should count them every day, with time you'll notice some go missing. Also, I notice when I get a lot more feeders he chases them right away, if I only get a few he leaves them alone. I think all the activity is too much and he can't help himself so he chases them... and eats them!

[my.lovely.turtle.]

How many feeders are in there? you should count them every day, with time you'll notice some go missing. Also, I notice when I get a lot more feeders he chases them right away, if I only get a few he leaves them alone. I think all the activity is too much and he can't help himself so he chases them... and eats them!

Hmmm, well I only have two... maybe that's the problem also! I'm not cheap or anything, I just thought two would be could fro some reason. I will have to get more!!!!

[vear]

How many feeders are in there? you should count them every day, with time you'll notice some go missing. Also, I notice when I get a lot more feeders he chases them right away, if I only get a few he leaves them alone. I think all the activity is too much and he can't help himself so he chases them... and eats them!

Hmmm, well I only have two... maybe that's the problem also! I'm not cheap or anything, I just thought two would be could fro some reason. I will have to get more!!!!

Ah - 2 will be hard to catch! haha. It is for Tomi. Get more, I get the minnows for 12 cents at petsmart. Last time I asked for 10 and somehow I got over 20!.... Even if he doesn't chase them right away at least the tank doesn't look so empty.

[my.lovely.turtle.]

I got niko ten more fish. He doesn't seem to look at them much yet, but hopefully we will!

[kachua-love]

My turtle would torture the goldfish I got. At first he didn't even bother acknowledging their presence, then suddenly one day it was like KHACHAAK i eat joo! Actually he didn't even eat them he just tore their tails up, he was playing with them. So I removed them. He doesn't even look at the one guppy left in the tank unless its eating his food. Apparently goldfish are like turtle junk food so you shouldn't get those, I didn't know. I tried the jello shot recipe and he gobbles it up like a starved Ethiopian invited to Henry the VIIIth's birthday feast. I'm not even exaggerating!