Feeding and Nutrition :: aeryn just ate all of john's food!

[pumpkinsherbet]

(if this is too much or too little, just say the word)
everyday i put in 4 pellets (2 for each turtle) and they get fresh veggies every other day. i put in the 4 pellets this morning. just a couple minutes ago i watched as aeryn came out of hiding, swam to the surface and snatched all 4 pellets. i put 4 more in, hidden a bit (by john's hiding spot) but she found them, and now there's no pellet in the tank.

yesterday i was privy to watching both john and aeryn tear up their own little peas, so i do know he's eating. but aeryn's such a little hog, i catch her eating quite a bit, and john scavenges. is there a way i can ensure the tank mates get an equal diet?

[jenaero]

The only way to really make sure they each get their share is to separate them for feeding. Feed one in the tank, feed the other in a dishpan of shallow water. If they're babies, that sounds like a good amount depending on the size of the pellets

[pumpkinsherbet]

it's the baby pellets, the guy at the pet store has 2 turtles as well so he's helped me a lot with turtle care and he helped me find the right food.

also, slightly OT, but how often should i feed them live fish and tuna? and how much should i break down the tuna for them? are those considered ''treats''?

[jenaero]

I've never fed mine tuna. It's generally used to get picky turtles to start eating when they refuse everything else because some turts can get hooked on that easily. Mine will get feeder fish (rosy red minnows or guppies) maybe once a month, usually less.

[pumpkinsherbet]

ah okay. well they don't need to be coaxed into eating so i'll leave the tuna alone. thank you!

[Turtle addict]

You can move to regular reptomin, I never us the "baby" stuff. When mine are smaller I just break the reptomin in half, alot cheaper. I would feed about 2 full reptomin sticks, broken in half to any over 1 inch up to 2 inches, then switch to Mazuri since that has less protien in it. Also you can add dark leafy greans to the tank and they can munch those, that way there is always some kind of food.

[marisa]

I still buy Reptomin Baby for my painteds when I can find it, and they're a little over two years old. The baby pellets have a little less protein in them than the Mazuri (which has only slightly less than regular Reptomin) and a bit more calcium.

One of the commercial foods my RES gets is Mazuri. The balls (they're not pellets) are relatively large, though. No problem for him, since he's rather large. I think, though, that for a small turtle, they might be difficult to get down, at least until they're softened and can be broken apart.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I still buy Reptomin Baby for my painteds when I can find it, and they're a little over two years old. The baby pellets have a little less protein in them than the Mazuri (which has only slightly less than regular Reptomin) and a bit more calcium.

Good to know! Thanks!