Feeding and Nutrition :: how come RES turties can only eat fruit once a month?

[aznxturtxlover]

just wondering, but why can we only feed our RES turties fruit once a month? does it give it too much of a kind of nutrient or something? ? ?

[marisa]

I do feed my turtles fruit more than once a month, especially fruit that's in season (I know this has been said a number of times in different posts, but honestly, there is no "rule" to my knowledge that says fruit can be given just once a month).

That said, some fruits are better than others (cantelope and apples are good, for example; avoid citrus fruits). And feeding too much fruit will upset the intestional flora and cause diarrhea.

It is, however, better to concentrate on getting your turtle to eat leafy greens (see the list elsewhere). An occasional bit of fruit is fine as part of the overall diet--you just have to make sure it's just an occasional part of the diet. If you know that your turtle's diet is a balanced and healthy one, I don't think feeding fruit more than once a month is necessarily a bad thing (feed a smaller amount when you do).

[aznxturtxlover]

*thx*

[sonyj]

Also, fruit is higher in sugar content than many vegetables (some more so than others). I too feed fruit more of when I have it on hand rather than the once a month rule. Some times it's once a week and then at other times it might be several weeks depending on what I buy at the store during that time. Apples, grapes and cantaloupe are good to try.

But as Marisa pointed out, it's extremely important for your turtles to have a well balanced diet.

[aznxturtxlover]

but if i give them fruit like once a week, then how much, head size?

[DanielRES1180]

I would think very little, like a few small pieces or something.

[aznxturtxlover]

i know SMALL. but how small is small????????

[DanielRES1180]

1/2 cm each side I guess.

[DanielRES1180]

Maybe the size of the diced carrots in the canned vegetable soup.

[TNTurtles]

lol or the tip of your pinky =)

[missibsu]

1 cm x 1 cm? Down to the real specifics now, huh? lol

[marisa]

You have babies, right? Their heads are quite small. I'd cut tiny pieces with the total amount being slightly less than the size of the head for each. And I'd take into consideration the type of fruit being given. Grapes are really high in sugar, I'd give just a few tiny pieces.

Your turtles are hatchlings and their digestive systems probably won't deal well with a lot of fruit. If you see loose, runny stool after giving fruit, you know it's probably too much for them.

Really try getting them to nibble on leafy greens (pieces of dandelion, red-leaf lettuce, romaine, anachris (an aquatic plant) if you can find it. Better to concentrate on those than fruit.

[DanielRES1180]

There we go! missibsu really nailed it this time .

[aznxturtxlover]

what is "stool"???
is that another word for their poop?

[missibsu]

yup!