Feeding and Nutrition :: getting on track after overfeeding my turtles

[Turtlegrandma]

Ok, so now I realize I have been overfeeding the little dudes...what to do next?

I have been giving them Turtlebite pellets every morning and evening, one or two at a time until they lose interest....then stopping. I thought this was the correct way to do it. They are 7 months old, both males, about 2.5 and 3 inches large.

Should I feed them only once per day now?I bought Reptomin last night, with a variety of krill, shrimp, etc. and they went crazy for it!!! I get the idea of how many would fit in their head...for regular pellets, do you just vary a bit of shrimp, etc into that?

Are they going to feel like they are on a diet if I give them less now, or only feed them once per day? Or will it be natural to give them less...I know I am always hungry on a diet, so I don't want them to feel deprived!

Thanks for your feedback, (no pun intended!)

[mkoby]

The shrimp and krill are a treat. They should only be fed occasionally.

You can still feed them twice a day if you want. You just give them half of their serving per feeding.

Lettuce or other veggies can be given all day. I usually leave a piece of romaine or dandelion in the tank in the morning and if there is any left, I take it out at bedtime.

[marisa]

It takes a while for them to them to lose interest, doesn't it? Which means they can eat far more than is good for them. Half a head size twice a day or once a day, it's up to you. If they're growing too fast, feed even less than the head size. When you give other foods (like the shrimp, for example), skip the pellets all together. You can give some plant matter (veggies, aquatic plants) daily.