Feeding and Nutrition :: How much is too much...lettuce?

[texasreb]

Before leaving for home yesterday (4:00pm), I threw an entire head of buttercrunch lettuce that had bolted into Frida's tank. This morning (7:00am) it was gone! All of it--except for the really woody stalk. From the garden, it was probably 2lbs. I did remove the wilted and brown leaves and cut the flower stalks off prior to putting it in the tank. The stalk was fairly heavy but I'm thinking the turt ate 1/2lb or more. Yikes!

Something interesting to note: my turtle prefers lettuce that has bolted over younger lettuce. I wonder if the bitter taste is more appealing to a turtle? It might be worth trying if you have a picky eater...

[steve]

They will overeat when given the opportunity. Interesting note but I think it might be based on individual appetite. People have notes how their RES spit out bitter tasting medication.

[texasreb]

Funny. I guess they do have individual personalities.

[untsmurf]

if your turtle is that veracious an eater, make sure and limit the amount of food you are offering. You can take the lettuce down to a shell sized piece a day to keep your turtle from gorging itself. Also, make sure you offer a variety of greens

[texasreb]

Yes. Thanks. My turtle went from a non-eater to a beggar in the few months that I've had her. Once she started eating well...I over-fed her. It seemed she was making up for lost meals the previous 6 months or so. I'm working on containing my enthusiasm and not letting her have all she wants.

[steve]

That's the right attitude. Making up for lost meals could cause a different set of problems.

[WorkinHard]

I usually have a couple full sized lettuce leaves in my tank... My turtles prefer pellets and shrimp and rarely eat the lettuce... A few nibbles from time to time... I think it all depends on the diet they are accustomed to. Mine like to play on the lettuce leaves and it helps to create a more "natural habitat" for them. Now that they are a bit bigger I've upgraded them to feeder fish once a week as well as the pellet and shrimp diet.

[xfallwithmexo]

We alternate their meals and feed them lettuce as a meal about 2-3 times a week. They love it

[Flipper&Clipper]

I usually have a couple full sized lettuce leaves in my tank... My turtles prefer pellets and shrimp and rarely eat the lettuce... A few nibbles from time to time... I think it all depends on the diet they are accustomed to. Mine like to play on the lettuce leaves and it helps to create a more "natural habitat" for them. Now that they are a bit bigger I've upgraded them to feeder fish once a week as well as the pellet and shrimp diet.

try this out for the veggies...

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=17486

[cutepanda86]

I feed Sheldon lettuce every other day (alternating with pellets). He scarfs it down (something I wasn't expecting as the pet store never fed him any). That's good except he then poops (something terrible) all over the place. Now I give him red leaf lettuce and a little romaine. Any suggestions as far as the lettuce goes?

[Thinkskater]

My RES and DBT both took to lettuce very well. The only two kinds I have tried is romain and red leaf. I have been given them a eight to twelve piece of red leaf 4 times a week.

[steve]

@cutepanda86 - do you mean how much to use?

Glad more people are using veggies?

[ElectricTurtle]

Tesla loves red leaf lettuce. He'll eat it, tear it up, play with it, and eat all the little bits. I tend to give him lettuce every other day with the pellets. When he poops it's really "leafy" I guess (breaks apart easily) and it smells a little weird. He's pretty regular though.

[cutepanda86]

@Steve - Yes. I give him a leaf every other day like I said and red leaf is the right stuff right?

@ElectricTurtle - That's what Sheldon does. As long as I'm not the only one I guess. lol

[Gracie Turts]

yeah...red leaf is just a different coloration of the green leaf lettuce. (aka hamburger lettuce)