Feeding and Nutrition :: Suddenly stopped eating lettuce?

[emma]

I've been feeding my three turtles lettuce (green, red, romaine) for 5 years. Just a few days ago I fed them again and when I went to turn on their lights the next morning all the lettuce was uneaten in the tank.

I went out and bought new stuff because I thought maybe the stuff I had given them had been bad, and that's why they hadn't eaten it.

But the same thing happened. They just won't eat it.

How can they just suddenly stop eating lettuce like this? My only other option is pellets, but I like to give them lettuce to keep a variety.

[cutepanda86]

Sheldon has slowed his lettuce intake as well. He only ate half of what he used to eat. Not sure if its the switch in the season or what.

[steve]

I think thinks it's a change in season. It happens randomly once in awhile to me, so I just offer less.

[happycamper]

My Sheldon has recently been ignoring his lettuce too...

[cutepanda86]

Ah ok. I get that. Thanks Steve.

[emma]

They started not eating their pellets lately also. Is that also part of the season change or is there something else going on here>?

[cutepanda86]

That sounds like an issue. Something could be wrong with their environment or something could be wrong with them. Is the water a consistent temperature above 72 degrees? Are they basking? How is the water quality?

[steve]

So what are they eating now?

[emma]

Water temp is 75 degrees, water quality is perfect. I just cleaned their home yesterday. They bask regularly enough; not to much, not to little. I took them out one by one yesterday to feed them but they only ate a little bit of the pellets. I see now that they are just eating a much lesser amount of the pellets that I offer them.

[cutepanda86]

Ok so that's good that the water and basking is pretty regular (my Sheldon wasn't basking so he was eating less). I have to say I'm a little stumped. Is the habitat new? Sheldon wouldn't eat when he was stressed due to new surroundings.

[steve]

Maybe try a different brand?

[emma]

Nope, nothing is new. I will try a different brand, Steve. They are probably just sick of eating the same Reptomin pellets that they have been eating for the past 5 years.

[emma]

Any good brand recommendations?

[cutepanda86]

I've used Omega (or maybe Omega One) and Sheldon likes them. I also used another brand which I can't think of but bought at Pets Supplies Plus (also where I got Sheldon). I would definitely check out Petsmart as they seem to have the most varied selection.

[steve]

People have thought the color from HBH pellets to be enticing. As a regular pellet, more people have been using the Omega stuff with good results.