Feeding and Nutrition :: Not Eating Anymore...

[GrumpsMom]

Hi All!
I haven't formally introduced myself yet to this forum, but I am so worried about DaGrump. We have had the lil critter almost 3 months now and the eating habits were fine at first and as of late it has basically stopped.
Its almost been a week now (7 days)
DaGrump is approx 1.5 inches (shell). The lil critter was a rescue from my sons cousin.
I have tried everything under the sun....crickets,krill,guppies,tuna,floaty sticks,pellets & lettuce & nothing is working!
DaGrump basks under a UV lamp (10-12 inches away) & has some nice digs.....10 gal aquarium, heater regulated to 76-78 degrees, filter and a floaty thingy for basking.
The lil critter is active & still swims all over .
Shell & Eyes look good and skin is shedding a bit .Will post pix straight away as I need to figure out the digital camera first! LOL
I saw the post on Mazuri and was pondering trying that too.
Is this type of behavior "normal"?
Still not positive on gender of DaGrump either.
Any suggestions?
DaGrump is staring at me as i type this......
Thanks one and all!

[SpotsMama]

Hi, I sympathize with your concern for DaGrump. Little turtles can get under your skin.

I think you're right to be concerned about a change like you describe. There's a whole array of problems that could be causing your turtle's lack of appetite. It's important to get him eating again soon.

The most common cause of lack of appetite is temperatures too cool but at 76 to 78 that's not going to be it. Go ahead, though, and boost the temp to 80 in case he needs a boost to his immune system.

Another cause of lack of appetite is respiratory infection. This can be fatal if not treated right away, so keep an eye out in case he starts showing other symptoms - lethargy, swollen eyes, difficulty submerging, swimming lopsided, mucus on the nose, breathing with the mouth open or yawning a lot. the turtle doesn't have to be showing all these symptoms but if he starts showing several I'd report it to the vet ASAP.

Other causes that come to mind - parasites, swallowed gravel, being bullied by a bigger turtle, infection. Since there are so many possibilities, I'd get him to a vet and have him evaluated.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

[marisa]

Welcome to the forum. Just curious, but when your turtle was eating, what exactly was he being fed?

You said he basks under a UV lamp----a UVB light? If it is a UVB light, it won't give off much heat. Does he have a heat light as well? On the other hand, if the UV light gives off heat, it's not a UVB light, and he should have one as well as the heat light. (He needs both lights.)

[GrumpsMom]

Thank you for the quick responses SpotsMama & Marisa! I truly appreciate them.
Grump basks under an Exo-Terra light purchased at our local pet shop, Marisa.
As for food its been a variety of the items I listed in my initial post, mostly Zoo-Med Can o' Shrimp & Krill. Grumps not big on any of the pellets & sticks food stuffs.
Will be keeping a close eye for those symptoms you noted also SpotsMama.

Thanks

[SpotsMama]

Those Exo Terra bulbs are incandescent, aren't they? Don't they get hot, like a regular household light bulb?

I don't think any of the Exo Terra bulbs provide the UVB that marisa was asking about. Even though the package says "full spectrum" it's not providing the kind of light a turtle needs.

In a setup like yours you actually have to use two different bulbs to get the light your turtle needs. The bulb you're missing is a UVB bulb. It will be flourescent and cool, as opposed to your hot incandescent Exo Terra. The flourescents come in both tube form and compact form. See which form would best suit your setup.

The UVB light is critical for a turtle because it causes his body to manufacture vitamin D, which is required for him to metabolize calcium. Turltles have to be able to absorb a lot of calcium to keep their shells and bones healthy.

By the way, when your Exo Terra burns out, you can replace it with a regular household light bulb, which will provide all the heat your turtle needs.

[GrumpsMom]

Evidently this light is UVB as I can touch it directly w/o any pain at all..lol
(It is in tube form also) The lamp/light stays on all day usually 9a-11p.

Thanks again!

[SpotsMama]

Ok. If it's a tube and you can touch it it's flourescent. I don't suppose you know what the UVB percent output is?

So is there a second light that's hot like an incandescent? They need the heat bulb to motivate them to bask and to boost their metabolism so they can digest their food thoroughly.

[RunninWideOpen]

Someone above mentioned the possibilities of gravel causing DaGrump not to eat. Do you have gravel in the tank? These guys will eat gravel for some reason if they possibly can. One of my larger turtles tried eating a rock that was nearly 3/4" in diameter.

If you have any gravel or rocks that you think there's any chance your little fella could get in his mouth, that could very well be the problem and that would need immediate attention.

I hope he's okay! i I know what it's like to be worried about these little guys.

[GrumpsMom]

No I don't know & no not a second light at the moment....Thanks for telling me that good info SpotsMama...
But Grump does love the Lava Lamp thats nearby! LOL
Dang this lil critter sure has me wrapped...Gotta love 'em

[GrumpsMom]

Thanks for everyones concern as well as very helpful suggestions and comments!
There are smooth riverstones in DaGrumps tank Tohmit...Gravel seemed owner/cleaner o' the tank person unfriendly to me.
Thanks !

[steve]

Has Grump been eating? Does he have some privacy to eat? What if you hold a live minnow, cricket or earthworm to his face...

[GrumpsMom]

Come to think of it Steve, seems like the non eating started after we added a guppy for about a week. Grump tried to catch the guppy but the lil bugger was too quick! Could the guppy have possibly done him harm? Like brought a germ or some kind of parasite into the tank?
Grump was eating regularly before the guppy, mostly Zoo-Med Krill, he has huge distain for any and all pellets or sticks. I will try the live minnow/cricket/earthworm suggestion & see what happens. Heck I will try just about anything to get him to eat!
Funny he never was a shy eater but what can I do to give him some feeding privacy? He would always snatch up the food from the dock and drag it into the water and feast away.
Thanks for the thoughts!

[GrumpsMom]

GRUMP UPDATE!!!!!
Great news DaGrump had a bite this morning ...I am so thrilled you cannot imagine!!!!!!! It was a small bit of sardine...Woohoo I am doing the happy dance!!!!!
I hope sardine is ok for him????

Also, was playing with my digital camera to post a pix of DAGRUMP and was wondering if the size meets requirements...I am Technology Disadvantaged you see.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I dont think sardine is OK, but if you only fed it once then it wont do harm. Anything meaty should be a very, very rare treat. Remember that, I'm glad grump is doing better,

[RunninWideOpen]

I thought it was good for younger turtles to have more meat?