Feeding and Nutrition :: Can I force my baby turtle to eat?

[kathy07]

I have read in many websites that if your turtle is not eatting, it may be neccesary to force them to eat? Their advice was to mix their food pellets with mineral oil and feed them with an eye dropper. Is this true or are there other methods to force them to eat? My turtles have not eaten for about more than a week.

[marisa]

How long have you had them? They were eating well before? Has anything been changed in the tank? What are the water and basking area temps? Since it sounds like they're ill, I'd have the water at 80-81F and the basking area about 10 degrees higher.

Are there any other symptoms---excessive basking, yawning, open-mouth breathing out of the water, gasping, mucus from the nose or mouth, tilting to the side while in the water, swollen eyes, anything like that?

Force feeding can be tricky unless you know what you're doing...if the food goes down the wrong way, a turtle can choke.

If you're trying the same pellets over and over again, try some smelly foods---bits of hard-boiled egg whites, tuna or sardines packed in water.

[alkaiser]

I've had a similar problem, my baby RES wasn't eating anything until I fed him bloodworms. This went on with a month but as soon as I found out bloodworms were bad for him I switched him to pellets, which he started to eat to my surprise!

I guess the key is to get them to eat, with that yolk sack having been absorbed they probably haven't had experience eating much before. Force feeding, like marisa said, is like one of those last resort options. Try feeding him like a baby cricket or something turtles can't resist.

[DanielRES1180]

Bloodworms are bad ? Wow, one turtle site actually recommended them, and no it wasn't Petsmart or Petco.

[marisa]

If you feed them exclusively/as a staple in the diet, they're not the best. As part of a balanced diet, they're ok occasionally. Some brands, however, do fortify them with other nutrients.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I have read in many websites that if your turtle is not eatting, it may be neccesary to force them to eat? Their advice was to mix their food pellets with mineral oil and feed them with an eye dropper. Is this true or are there other methods to force them to eat? My turtles have not eaten for about more than a week.

When it rains, go outside and dig up some worms. I have never seen an RES/painted turtle pass up fresh red-blooded wriggling worms!

Are your turtles new? Did you just get them? If so, they might just be adjusting to the new surroundings. Also, check the water temp and make sure it is 74-80 degrees.

[mullman]

industrial girl-

Are you talking about plain old earth worms?
Cut it or just through it in whole?

[Jessica313]

you can throw it in whole.. my turtle loves them.. he can cut it himself hehe. i bet urs will like it too

[marisa]

If your turtle is small, it would be better to cut one into pieces.