Feeding and Nutrition :: Overeating

[maelunoc]

Okay, so in my infinite wisdom I put 10 feeder fish in with Socrates. I didn't think that he would be able to catch them all quickly and he'd stop once he was full. He's eaten them all. I put them in yesterday. He's eaten 10 feeder fish in less than 24 hours. Should I be concerned? Is he going to explode, or just have a big fat poo in a couple hours? He looks really uncomfortable. What do I do?!

[industrial_girl_2000]

Well, in the meantime there isn't much you can do except wait until he poops. And he WILL poop. A LOT. Now that you know he is so good at catching the fish, I would only put a few fish in there at a time (maybe get a small 1-gallon plastic bowl to keep the fish in where you can change the water every few days & will be like a temporary home for the fish until you put them in with the turt!).

Don't worry....everyone has overfed their turtle at one time or another. Now that you know, you can help prevent that in the future.

[jenaero]

There were a few occasions when I under-estimated my turts' hunting skills. They literally ate until they threw up. Not pretty.

[Nettle]

He's probably uncomfortable because he's trying to digest all that meat. Make sure his basking area is around 90 and he can have peace and quiet to rest.

It's gonna be one big poo!

[imderanged]

my turtle did that too a week ago. He took FOREVER to catch the 6 little minnows I put in his tank the first time. There was still one left. I didn't even see him accually catch them, and I wasn't really feeding them, so I thought they might have even died and then they were eaten. So I threw a dozen more in there. There were 4 left 3 days later! The other day he greeted me with a fish head sticking out of his mouth. And wouldn't you know, that one fish left from the first batch is still there! From now on I'm going to put fewer in at a time. I'm thinking of breeding my own guppies anyway. He seems fine though.

[Take-One]

Thats gonna be a tank cleanin!
Somebody had 2 turtles on Turtle times that ate 45 fish in 15 minutes.

[maelunoc]

should i feed him as normal today or give him a day without grub to make up for the massive protein night he had?

[TheComputerGremlin]

I would forgo the pellets for a day or two or three and feed him lettuce to help digest and get that meat out of his system, extra fiber and whatnot.

[Tenodera]

How big is he? If he is small he might be too full to eat. Just let him bask ( helps them digest ) and give him veggies today.

[imderanged]

my turtles only 2 inches and I do skip a day every so often if he has caught a fish or something. I don't think it's a problem to skip them every once and awhile, it's probaby good for their digestion.

[maelunoc]

awesome, thanks everyone! he had a nice big poo and is looking much more comfy. lettuce for the little devil today too!

[joeybsmooth]

Mr. T ate 10 at one time. Next time I put 5 in, an its been weeks and one is still there.

[industrial_girl_2000]

awesome, thanks everyone! he had a nice big poo and is looking much more comfy. lettuce for the little devil today too!

Yay!!! Glad to hear it!

[Tenodera]

I've kept turtles for like a year now, and have kept a total of 4 turtles, but i have NEVER ever seen turtles eating fish. None have ever been eaten. I guess I must be extremely lucky eh?

Every day I come home I count the fish, and I wait for the day to find one missing so I can congratulate my lil buddy for his first kill, have some fish myself, and after that,

I will mourn for the dead fish and probably buy a separate fishtank.

[marisa]

Turtles eat fewer fish in the wild than people think they do. So, it doesn't really suprise me when someone says his turtle isn't interested in them.