Feeding and Nutrition :: Am I underfeeding?

[Gurgi's Mom]

Hey All,

What are signs of underfeeding?

Is the timing of feeding more important? For instance, is feeding protein every other day more important than feeding 1/2 the amount everyday?

I am currently offering Gurgi 3 pellets, lettuce (as must as he wants), and cuttlebone (as much as he wants) every day. Going through all the different post, I think that is underfeeding him.

Treats include carrot shavings as you see in the picture once a month.

[steve]

If you keep a close visual eye on him, then you can give him more. Feeding protein everyday would be more important with hatchlings, though I use 1/2 the amount everyday because of their age. He does look good, so maybe a slight increase is justified.

[Gurgi's Mom]

Thanks Steve!

I'll continue with his current feeding schedule and add one pellet for now. He has turned into quite an eating champ - he tries anything I give him. I guess I couldn't have asked for a better first turtle.

[steve]

How big is he now? How many do you think would fit into his head?

[Gurgi's Mom]

2.75 inches

I would say 4 would fit. He is able to swallon them whole. I am currently feeding him ReptoMin, and not the baby size, and he still swallows them whole. Occasionally, I substitute a wheat-germ koi pellet.

Don't worry I am more concerned with over feeding. But at the same time I don't want to hurt his growth.

[Litch]

Keep up with introducing him to new, safe foods. My ex never fed her turtle anything but pellets and I can't get her to eat anything else. I tried lettuce the other day and she just ignored it. Before she got her new tank, I had my brother put one of his feeder fish into her tank. She seemed more interested in chasing it rather than eating. I'm going to try some cherry tomatoes later and see if she will go for that but I want more than Reptomin in her diet.