Feeding and Nutrition :: I'm lucky!

[slider_keeper]

Toku has loved all types of food I have offered over the years. I haven't found anything he won't eat. Maybe he will eat pizza;) Just kidding...... DO NOT FEED YOUR TURTLE PIZZA! I'm just very thankful that I don't have to buy a certain brand of pellets or only one or two types of vegetables. This allows me to be able to give him such a variety of food items. Which is a very important diet for a healthy turtle. Just thought I would share my luck. I know not all turtles are the same and some can be more stubborn than others. One word of advice don't give in to your turtle when it comes to his/her diet. Make your turtle give in to you, trust me he/she will eat their veggies. Remember your turtle should have a smooth shell that from a side view looks like a aircraft wing.

[cutepanda86]

^^You are as Sheldon does not enjoy Turtle Jello Shots, carrots, or kale (no matter how many times I try to feed him that stuff, just won't touch it). Took him a long while to warm up to cuttlebone (even now, I have to break it into tiny pieces). But at least he'll eat his red leaf and reptomin.

[darla1699]

@sliderkeeper-I wish I'll have the same luck. I'll be the happiest mom if my turt eats everything I put in his tank

[slider_keeper]

Keep trying they will eat what you give them it just takes some longer time than other;)

[steve]

Glad you didn't give in! I think after awhile they adjust and are happy little campers. Sure they'll beg, but they give up sooner

[slider_keeper]

That's another thing Steve. Toku doesn't beg but instead he can tell when it is feeding time every morning when I wake up he gets fed any other time after his feeding he just stares at me but no begging what so ever sometimes he doesn't even pay me any attention. He just keeps munching on the lettuce or whatever is in the tank that day.

[steve]

My guys definitely know when it's dinner time because they stop basking and wait for me to feed them. It's kinda creepy since it's dark except their basking lights. Sounds like Toku is not that much of a pig... anything I put in the tank is eaten right away.

[darla1699]

Same with mine. Doesnt always beg if I feed him at his normal feeding time. I noticed that he only begs when I'm a few hours late with his meal. But he would always swim over and stare when I approach the tank. if I dont give any food then he swims away. I also noticed that we wont go up to bask until he had his meal.

[cutepanda86]

Sheldon does this cute little thing when I get home. He'll swim right up to the filter, climbs on top, give these big puppy dog eyes. Then I know it's dinner time. lol

Quick question, regarding luck and basking, how do you guys keep the water cool enough for your turtles to bask in the summer? With the house in the balmy mid-70's, the water is more like bath water and he never wants to get out. I take him outside so he at least gets some sun but I'd like to get him to bask all year round. (in the winter, I have no trouble).

[slider_keeper]

Yeah, if I put it in his tank it will get devoured but he doesn't beg for it. Only at feeding time will he get excited but no water splashing.

[slider_keeper]

@cutepanda86- you need to cool his water down. The best way is to use a Chiller but they come with a expensive price tag. The most popular economic option is using plastic bottles, fill them with water and put in the freezer to freeze them then put in the tank. Repeat as needed, however this doesn't cool all the water in the tank only immediately around the bottle. Another way is to cool the ambeint tempurate in the room of the tank, i.e. a/c, fans, or positioning a small fan that blows on the surface of the water to cool it. The easiest option in a/c thats what I do. It works perfectly.

[cutepanda86]

^^The a/c would be great except my dad refuses to keep the house cooler than 76 (doesn't help the water temp). The vet says if he won't bask to take him outside for real sun (she said it's better than a bulb, but obviously the bulb is more convenient). Once it cools down around here it'll get better. I've been using ice cubes so maybe the plastic bottle idea will help. Thanks!

[slider_keeper]

yeah your vet is right about that, the sun is the best light we could give our turtles but unfortunately in most of North America that is impossible to do about 6-8 mos. out of the year, due to weather. I is a great idea when the weather is nice and the water can be warm enough from the elements then always try to take the turtle outside. For instance, I had Toku outside today in a large kiddie pool for a good 4-5 hours. There is a branch in there so he can bask and get the real rays that benefit him more than anything out on the market! I keep my house at 77 and the tank stays at 78-79. What size is your tank? A small amount of water will heat up faster than a large amount of water. The larger the amount of water the easier it is to hold a constant temp, atleast that is what I have found to be true for me. Your turtle could be basking but won't do it unless there is no human presence in the building!

[cutepanda86]

^^^I have a 15 gallon tank (I'm working on saving up for a bigger one) with about 5 gallons of water in it (otherwise, he's pulling a Harry Houdini and get out). I think I will try your bottle idea as they would take up enough room to bring the whole thing down. You're probably right about basking. Sheldon used to bask and not care who was watching but now he has become a little more sensitive to it (probably because we're fighting fungus at the moment and he despises being handled for the time it takes to ointment and later remove it).

[PridgNYC]

Central Air kept at 73. During the winter the heat is kept at 70-72.