Feeding and Nutrition :: One big fat slacker

[DanielRES1180]

Ok, how do you people manage to keep up the feeding schedule with the nutritional balance (veggies, fruits, cuttlebone, pellets, etc.)?
To tell the truth, I stopped the fruits veggies thing with my turts (as some of the older members might recall) since like... last May because it was too much trouble to slice some stinking food every week with the schedule I had. And it turns out this year it just got busier. So basically, I've stuck to a pellets-only diet over the past months.
I truly feel guilty giving such a lousy nutrition to the little guys, but my clock is too tight right now to go through the recommended veggies thing.

SO...........
ppl with busy schedules, how can you offer the good nutrition for your turts while keeping up with your life?

[turboturtle8]

Any type of lettuce will do just put it on a veggie clip and they will be good to go.

Maybe try to go with blueberries or easier fruits that you don't need to cut up

Remember those are considered a treat though

[grey goose]

They really don't need fruits on a regular basis. Just clip a piece of romaine to the side of the tank...Very few people are as busy as I am this time of the year, but everyday I always take some time for myself, and I always make time for my turts.....

[DavidY]

My turtles wolf down the lettuce right off the surface of the water when I drop it in. You can get the bags of Romaine or Mixed Greens at the grocery store and just drop in a couple of pieces every day. Between that and the pellets they should be ok. Also if you have a couple of different brands of pellets that will add some nutritional variety too.

[octpusgirl8]

I buy a head of red leaf lettuce every week, and when i get home i cut the bottom off, wash the leaves, and put them in one of those big ziplock bags with a few paper towels. The lettuce stays fresh and crisp for over a week that way, and all i have to do in the morning is take out a leaf and stick it in the veggie clip. When i get home at night i take out the stub that's left and net out the floating bits of lettuce leftover. It takes less than a minute in the morning, and only a couple at night. When i have more time i like to give him other things, like carrots (he goes nuts for them!) or other veggies on the good to eat list (he wont eat anytihng else yet but i still try).

[ajozwiak]

I buy dandelion leaves at the store and clip them right to the side of the tank. It's easy and they love them!

[Starchick]

I buy a bagged salad mix, usually green leaf/radicchio/carrots and toss some of that in every day, along with the pellets. It takes no more than a minute to grab it out of the fridge and throw it in. I usually pick another fruit or veggie to mix in but a lot of times I'll skip that because I don't have time to cut it up. But at least I know they're getting some variety.

[industrial_girl_2000]

When I saw the heading "One big fat slacker", I thought for sure this thread was going to be about Sheba. LOL!!!!

I keep Romaine or collards around in my fridge & every day before I leave for work, I toss in a few leaves so she can snack during the day. Every 2 days I feed her pellets in a separate pan of water. It's really not a lot of work, and then she gets green veggies every day. About once/week, she get a blueberry or strawberry (I like to eat berries so I always keep them around the house).

When I boil a sweet potato, I freeze portions of it so that it doesn't go to waste. Then I will let one of the portions thaw during the day on one of her "pellet" days, and feed her some sweet potato with a spoon along with the pellets. This is about once every 2 weeks.

I'm pretty lazy too but as long as they continue to get some natural fresh foods daily (like tossing lettuce in the tank...I don't even use a veggie clip!) then they are fine.

[DanielRES1180]

My morning schedule, usually also the feeding time, is all packed with to-dos and chores along with feeding, so it's all- you know, bleh (my way of saying a mess).
There's pretty much nothing to do in the afternoon after school, besides my really early dinner (mine's like at 4:30), which nobody messes around with , in short of a terrorist situation or something. So I could move their feeding time to the afternoon, then.
You know, I really like that, once I think about it. Sound good?

[industrial_girl_2000]

Anytime of day is fine as long as they get fed!

[megcornell]

I personally think that all these variety filled feeding schedules aren't necessary. If you have the time, that's wonderful, but I really don't think turtles take the time to appreciate that Monday is dandelion greens day versus Romaine Tuesday. I just drop in whatever veggies I have, usually a form of lettuce or carrots with the occasional grape to add to Leo's diet. I don't really stress about it. And in terms of veggie prep, I wash off whatever I'm feeding, just the same as I would for myself.
Don't stress about not being able to stick to a luxurious eating schedule, any veggies are better than no veggies, so feed what you have time for.
Also, be sure and make time for yourself everyday, that's important. It sounds like you're a little too busy and a little stressed . Life is too short.

[marisa]

Amen to that.

My turtles get variety, but they also get whatever I happen to have on hand. A lot of the veggies they eat are ones that I like as well (even the dandelions). But if I've bought a cantelope, for example, there's no way they're only going to get some of it only one time.