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I can't find another topic that is concerning me so redirect me if I missed one.

My 8 month old RES male (I think), suddenly stopped eating pellet food, and wont eat veggies at all. He only goes for meat, I am feeding him minnows, guppies, and frozen beef heart. I am wondering if this is normal or a minor/major concern. He seems healthy though, very active, and big appetite, I feed him a small amount every day, a bit smaller than his head, and some times a feeder minnow. I see no shell problems or any physical problems either, so anyone have any advice?

What's the water temp? Does he have a healthy weight? If it's seasonal/tank conditions then he's just being picky. Try some different veggies or pellets and use a minimal amount of the minnows/guppies.

His temp is steady at 76F, he's about 4 1/2 inches at 8 months, and I don't have a scale so I can't accurately weigh him. So far for veggies I have tried romaine lettuce, carrots, zucchini, the frozen aquatic turtle food that is mostly comprised of plants, and cucumber. He doesn't take to any of them. I have also tried to steam/boil the veggies and he still doesn't like them. The tank is a 125 gallon glass aquarium 5 ft long, with about 80 gallons in it.

He's quite big for that age. I'd cut down and keep offering veggies even though he's not eating it. Maybe some aquatic plants which can live in the tank.

Wow, 4 inches for a 8 month old male slider!? Did you get him as a hatchling around a inch and a half? Or was he around 4 in. when you got him? Males don't grow that fast, well niether does females in natural conditions! I have noticed my females grew faster than my male is growing. He is 3 yrs old and barely at 5 in.

Mine is about a year and is 4 inches. He gets pellets every other day and lettuce just about every day. Is that too much?

The pellets are fed the amount of his head size. Maybe I should back off feeding him evey other day and just go every two days now. = : <

I got my guy when he was about quarter sized, the guy I bought him from said it was about 2 weeks old, and he didn't seem to know anything about turtles, because he thought he had Asian box turtles. I have cut back on feeding him, and am keeping veggies in the tank during the day, tossing them at night. Earlier he took a bite of pellet food, but spat it back out, and I have not been giving him as much meats.

@Into_the_Mystic - How does his shell look?

@HunterOfMadrigal - I'd also try some lettuce or aquatic plants... maybe use a veggie clip to help out.

steve wrote:@Into_the_Mystic - How does his shell look?

@HunterOfMadrigal - I'd also try some lettuce or aquatic plants... maybe use a veggie clip to help out.

A little peaked, and not flat... I will see if I have a picture to post. I figured if he was eating every other day, that that was fine.. now I am beginning to wonder

Peaked along the "spine" is pretty normal. Retained scutes might also make the other scutes looked peaked.

I have elodea densa in the tank, he takes bites sometimes, but not enough to make a significant part of his diet.

@Into_the_Mystic and HunterOfMadrigal - could you post pics of your males and their shells?

slider_keeper wrote:@Into_the_Mystic and HunterOfMadrigal - could you post pics of your males and their shells?

Will try to remember to do this by the weekend. I gave him nothing but carrot slivers this morning. How often does one feed carrots?

I feed a baby carrot once a month. They should be used as a occasional treat. I think once a month is a good amount.

slider_keeper wrote:@Into_the_Mystic and HunterOfMadrigal - could you post pics of your males and their shells?

I just have one.. His name is Skimmer.

As you can tell, he is finally starting to shed some for the first time.