Feeding and Nutrition :: Is it ok to feed my turtle just earthworms or regular worms?

[apny88]

Well my turtle is a picky eater and as far as I know he only eats worms, like those night crawlers, earthworm. I tried giving him shrimps and he doesn't like that either, so what else can a picky turtle would eat?

[BullDog]

Worms are fine as a treat. If you are getting worms from your yard, just make sure no one nearby has used any pesticides.

All the things you've listed are high in protein though, and should really only be given about once a month. A good portion of your turtle's diet should be of turtle pellets, which usually provide a pretty good balance of nutrients.

Also, try vegetables. There's a list of "what to feed" and "what not to feed" as stickies at the top of this forum.

[Take-One]

I give my turtles earthworms once every 3 weeks. Thats there favorite. (Other than minnows)

[TheComputerGremlin]

Take-One - If you are giving them earthworms every 3 weeks, you shouldn't be giving them minnows too ...

[blackforce247]

i dont feed my turtles worms. i cant find any stores that sell them. i only feed them processed food refrigerated lettuce and grapes. i dont feed them anything else since they wont eat them. so, when i have the time ill go to a pet store and ask them to give me a few varieties of food to them instead of 1 thiing

[Sgt. Pepper]

No its not ok to only feed them that. They need a balanced diet just like humans. If you offer them pellets and vegetables every day, they will eat it. Don't give in to begging. You have to give them what's good for them. If they're hungry, they'll eat. It could help to soak the pellets in tuna juices and then give them to him. High protein foods like worms, shrimp, and live fish should only be given once in a while as treats.

[Nettle]

Here's a link to the main site for more nutrition info:
http://redearslider.com/index_nutrition.html

[Take-One]

Take-One - If you are giving them earthworms every 3 weeks, you shouldn't be giving them minnows too ...

I switch between them I meant.

[Reel Girl]

Before I found this site, Sheldon was basically only getting earthworms from my yard, mealworms and some lettuce.
When I tried to give him pellets instead - no way - wasn't going for it!
So I gave him a mixture of mealworms and pellets, decreasing the amount of mealworm each day until he attacked the pellets alone - total success!!

[TheComputerGremlin]

blackforce - Pet stores carry these nasty little freeze dried crickets. I bought those for my turtle as the occasional treat because if you buy regular crickets, you have to keep them alive, feeder fish are feeder fish, and I don't trust any of the worms I could buy for bait or find in the yard. Check them out, they are nice since you don't have to keep anything alive! (Oh, I call them nasty cuz I think they smell nasty and the look pretty nasty too.)

[Gano77]

I have just fed my 3 RES earth worms. The only fertilizer here is composted
another good place to get worms is a bait and tackle store for fishing supplies.

[Gano77]

my family and I have inherited 3 brothers (R.E.S.) Gave em eathworms for a change. They were hesitant first. Than
It was like putting candy in their cage. They are doing some strange twitching with their arms, when their
Under water,face to face.????? Does any one know what this action is????

[steve]

It's usually them being territorial though it can also be part of a courtship. Either way, sounds like you might need to get a much larger tank or separate tanks.