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I've feed my hatchlings too much the first 2 weeks before I read that overfeeding is bad.

Now, I notice that their shells have grown, but the middle of their shell sticks out a lot like a giant hump. Is that a sign of pyrmaiding?

I cut it down to about 1-2 baby reptomin sticks w/ lettuce avalible all the time. Is that okay?

Can you post a picture?

2 foodsticks per hatchling is a good amt per day (rule of thumb is however much you could fit inside the turtle's head if it was hollow, not including the neck!). I know that a little extra lettuce per day is good for them too.

I'll let someone else answer the question about "how much" lettuce, because I have a new hatchling too, and boy is he a hungry little muncher! He totally ate his anacharis plant the first week I had him (nibbled it down to a nub) so I have been putting romaine lettuce in as a substitute which he has also been eating like crazy!!!! I am also a bit worried that it is too much. What do you guys think?

Feed them as much greens as they want, I always leave some floating in the tanks. It very hard for them to get ovr weight eating salad!

Turtle addict wrote:Feed them as much greens as they want, I always leave some floating in the tanks. It very hard for them to get ovr weight eating salad!

Thank you!!!!! I feel much better knowing this!

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7575

Here is a link to the photos I put up in the photo gallery. Do their shells do like pyramiding?

that's about what my little ones look like, i think you're okay.

Okay, You shouldn't feed them letuce unless it is dark lettuce or iceberg, because letuce has beraly any nutrition in it, it does nothing... Your turtle could just be growing weird... How big of an aquarium are you keeping him in?

Lettuces are fine, the one with no nutritonal value would be only the iceberg. I feed mine romaine, red leaf and green leaf, so do the breeders, and the vet I know.Persoally I have been feeding this way for over 5 years and ALL the ones I have raised from babies have perfect shells. Watch spinach since it can bind to calcium but once in a while is fine since it has alot of vitamins they do need in it. Keep the diet and greens varied and all is good.

rocketright wrote:Okay, You shouldn't feed them letuce unless it is dark lettuce or iceberg, because letuce has beraly any nutrition in it, it does nothing... Your turtle could just be growing weird... How big of an aquarium are you keeping him in?

This may be wrong but wasn't iceberg a filler??

Woops, Yah!! Sorry, I ment to put it's bad!! Thanks!

They can get addicted to iceberg, and will refuse all other food. Even starving themselves. Iceberg is not good for any animal.

Okay, lets get back on track, my turtles are starting to look like that too , i want to kno if they are okay or not

they look darling and healthy. Pyramiding refers to upraisings in each little individual scute, not the shell as a whole. And iceburg is the devil. People shouldn't eat it either.

If their are bumps coming up on each scute then cut back the protien. Under 2 inches they get it daily, with greens also. From 2-4 inches every other day on the protien. After 4 inches I cut protien down to once a week. Protien is found in pellets and meats. Giving them unlimited supply of greens {the more variety the better, just no iceberg and watch that spinach} keeps them happy. Once a week a treat of fruit, veggie and meats helps break it up. I try to keep the meats to stuff I cook, chicken, beef, liver, seafood. Bake or boil a section of whatever I make for dinners with no seasoning. Never lunch meat.