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My turtle wont eat her veggies

PostPosted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 1:38 pm
by PlaceboTurtle
Hey all,

About 6 months ago I inherited a female, adult read eared slider. She's been doing excellently in her new habitat in my classroom, but I have a fear about her eating habits. She doesn't seem to like to eat her veggies and I've tried a lot of different leafy greens, including both aquatic plants, such as anacharis, and leafy greens we would eat like collards and kale.

As an adult turtle, I have read that plant-based foods should take up a huge chunk of her diet, but she prefers to attack and destroy any plants I place in her tank rather than eat them. She eats her formulated food like it's no body's business, but I don't want that to be the majority of her diet as they are messy and it's simply healthier to have a more varied diet. She also lives with minnows and if she can catch them she can eat them. However, they're pretty fast and she rarely gets them. I also give her the occasional crayfish.

Any suggestions of plants that my turtle will most likely eat?

Re: My turtle wont eat her veggies

PostPosted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 4:29 pm
by steve
You might want to consider some aquatic plants, so they can survive in the tank if she doesn't eat them. They'll always be there for her to nibble on. Most of the some, some tough love will all be thats required. Give her the minimal amount of pellets (or none since she seems healthy) and continually offer veggies.

Re: My turtle wont eat her veggies

PostPosted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 7:16 pm
by ljapa
Everything Steve said, and check out turtle Jell-O shots

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=17486

Re: My turtle wont eat her veggies

PostPosted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:29 pm
by Into_the_Mystic
shaved carrots and boiled green beans.

Re: My turtle wont eat her veggies

PostPosted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 8:41 am
by Kansasslider
Yep carrots!

Re: My turtle wont eat her veggies

PostPosted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 6:34 pm
by penelope
... and dandelions or partially cooked sweet potato.
Whatever it takes to break the pellet bond. Once you get her hooked on something other than pellets it will be easier to move to a veggie that is optimal. http://www.redearslider.com/index_nutrition.html
Like Steve mentioned, you may have to try a little tough love.

Re: My turtle wont eat her veggies

PostPosted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:58 pm
by Kansasslider
Do keep in mind wild turtles don't eat carrots or sweet potato or jello shots. Mine like carrots and red leaf. But they love fresh fish shrimp and snails. And usually get a little of both. Give them a little of everything. I don't think we need to turn them into vegetarians.

Re: My turtle wont eat her veggies

PostPosted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:36 pm
by penelope
The topic is on how to get turtles to eat veggies.
I don't see anything saying that we are trying to turn them into vegetarians.

Re: My turtle wont eat her veggies

PostPosted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 5:25 am
by Kansasslider
Oops :D

Re: My turtle wont eat her veggies

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:40 am
by lovemyturtles
Jello shots with pellets added worked for me. I have heard that the San Francisco Diet comes highly recommended though I have never tried it.