Feeding and Nutrition :: few questions about feeding

[RiverChubbs]

I heard to feed turtles as much as would fit in their head and neck...each day while they were hatchlings and that they like a lot of protein when they are young...at what age do you start feeding them every other day? Right now my turtles are in a 20 gallon tank and they are 3 1/2 inches long each. I feed them as follows day one: 2-3 six inch long earthworms. day two: reptomin pellets about a tablespoon all together. day three pellets again. day four: romain lettuce or anacharis plant I put in a lot and take out what doesn't get eaten.....or gets too old. day 5 pellets day 6 pellets day 7 plants or lettuce. Is this ok? Anyone have any suggestions? When they were younger I fed them feeder goldfish, worms and dried crickets...but they only seem to LOVE LOVE LOVE earthworms now....they hate when I feed them veggies...they wait a few hours before eating them...to see if I'll feed them something else. I have also tried cooked chicken, pears and strawberries (they wanted NOTHING to do with that) they stopped eating the goldfish because they got too big. The goldfish were making the tank dirty too fast so I took them out. I was too much of a whimp to smash them and feed them to them.

[missibsu]

Pellets should be offered the amount that fit in the head, and not include the neck. You can switch to every other day pellets around a year. I think mine were actually a little younger. Veggies should be offered daily and in a variety...even if they turn their noses up. It could be you just need to find some veggies that they really like. I use mixed bag salads that don't contain spinach and mine love it. It's easier for me too! goldfish are considered junk food, if you want to try some live prey feeder guppies or rosies are a much healthier option. Check the recommended feeding list in the stickys for other options.

[RiverChubbs]

Thanks a lot. You are so helpful.

[marisa]

They each get 2-3 six-inch earthworms? That's a lot---my RES gets earthworms once a week, but he gets only 1 big one or two smaller ones at a time. You might have to stop feeding them for a while until your turtles start accepting other foods. A (heaping?) tablespoon of pellets four times a week sounds like too much as well.

[RiverChubbs]

Thank you I was wondering if this was too much...Is this maybe why they are growing so fast? Or does that have nothing to to with it...on the pellets it is a tablespoon all together (not for each one)....and I heard to feed them what they will eat in 5 minutes and they slurp those worms up so fast, like there is no tommorow. I put some cooked carrots in their earlier and one tried them and he looked at me like "Um excuse me, what is this?" where are my pellets? or worms...they liked the romaine lettuce ok and usually eat it when they realize nothing else is coming.

[missibsu]

If my turts were allowed to eat all they could in 5 minutes, they would be getting at least 3 times the amount of food that they should be. Remember, in the wild they wouldn't always eat every day. They may tend to eat more in one sitting, but may not eat again for a few days.

Growing too fast has it's own set of issues. It isn't healthy for internal organs, and if the diet is high in protein it can lead to pyramiding.

[RiverChubbs]

Ok Thank you...like I said on a site called www.petturtle.htmlplanet.com it said they crave mostly protein...when they are young...oh yeah that thought didn't occur to me, that they might not eat every day. How silly of me. So I guess it doesn't matter how old they are when you start giving them less protein...because in the wild...they might not get any for a week or so. I'm sure somtimes they might find a dead sishy on the bottom of the floor but....thank you so much...You all have been so helpful. So maybe I'll start feeding them One earth worm a piece but every 4th day...Instead of 3 a piece on one day a week. That would be more realistic to the wild. I like to try and get them variety...It is fun to see them try new things but sometimes in reality we get busy and tossing a plant...worm or pellets is the fastest way to ensure your turtles don't starve...but I guess I haven't been anywhere close to starving them...hahaha...Thanks for all your help. Let me know what you think.

[RiverChubbs]

Hi Everyone I have finally posted pics of River and Chubbs when they were babies, 8 months ago, check them out in the photo gallery if you like I am going to post some new ones next week...So who ever likes, can see how big they've gotten. Thanks.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I feed them as follows day one: 2-3 six inch long earthworms. day two: reptomin pellets about a tablespoon all together. day three pellets again. day four: romain lettuce or anacharis plant I put in a lot and take out what doesn't get eaten.....or gets too old. day 5 pellets day 6 pellets day 7 plants or lettuce. Is this ok? Anyone have any suggestions? When they were younger I fed them feeder goldfish, worms and dried crickets...but they only seem to LOVE LOVE LOVE earthworms now....they hate when I feed them veggies...they wait a few hours before eating them...to see if I'll feed them something else. I have also tried cooked chicken, pears and strawberries (they wanted NOTHING to do with that) they stopped eating the goldfish because they got too big. The goldfish were making the tank dirty too fast so I took them out. I was too much of a whimp to smash them and feed them to them.

I like how much effort you are putting into making sure your turtles get a nice variety of nutrition!

You can skip the goldfish....they are fatty & don't have much nutritional content.

[cam722]

That amount of food seems like a lot to me. yes younger turtles are more carnivores but you should limit the amount they get because as I'm sure you've read, too much protein can cause a host of physical problems from pyramiding to organ damage. You say your turtles are 3.5" .. how long have you had them?

Definitely stay away from the goldfish as they are too fatty and can carry parasites.

[RiverChubbs]

Oh, actually I measured them. They are over 4 inches now. I am definately cutting back on the protein because I have seen some turtles with pyramiding and they are not even attractive anymore and very unhealthy looking poorthings and they are in a Reptile specialization shop. You would think they would know. They are adults about 7" and 9" and they have goldfish in their with them so you can see this is why. Yeah I am going to print up a 7 days a week menu and it should have 3 days of protein and 4 days of veggies or vice versa? Or (they are 11 months old) are they old enough now to eat every OTHER day? I have had them sinse March 2006 (8 months).


********Here they are in April**********


**************HERE THEY ARE TODAY*******************

[flutterby]

Wow, I'd say you fed them alot of protien or had the water temps too high (or both), they should not have grown 2-3 inches in 6-7 months.

[RiverChubbs]

Yeah that is what I am thinking. Well I am glad I found this forum I am now taking the steps to getting healthier turtles and slowing down their growth cause at the rate they were growing this 20 gal literally would not last another season. Thanks everyone.

[cam722]

If you've only had them since March and they are already 4" .. proof that they've been seriously overfed protein. I'd start an every other day with pellets (only as much as can fit in their head of it were hollow) but offer veggies every day. As a rule they should only be around 3" at a year old, with about an inch growth each year after that.

[RiverChubbs]

Wow...bummer. Good to know this. Ok Yeah I was feeding them worms 3x a week and then it was getting kind of expensive and they were growing...so about 2 months ago I started worms once a week....Allright I'll write up my menu So I don't forget. Thanks again.