Feeding and Nutrition :: Help, my turtle won't eat!

[Mo Milazzo]

I have a baby Red Eared Slider turtle that is still very young. I bought him yesterday and he won't eat! I have offered crushed pellets, freeze-dried blood worms, and I've even hidden the pellets in deli turkey meat! He just refuses everything! I have him in a seperate feeding tank with the correct tempatures, but nothing works! Any advice? Thanks!
~Mo

[steve]

Don't use a separate feeding tank now. Minimize stress by not moving him around too much or by hovering over him. What's the water temperature? This is pretty important and you can keep it around 78-80F. Is his tank near a low-traffic area? What's his lighting situation like? How big is he? Where did you get him from?

[Mo Milazzo]

His water tempature is 75F. His tank is in my room which is indeed a low traffic area. He is by a window that shines in his tanks direction at approx. 11:45 AM- 1:15 PM. He also has a heat lamp that I use. The lamp's bulb is old though and will be replaced this weekend. I got him from Cecil's Turtles.

[steve]

Are you using a submersible heater? Sunlight through a window can cause temperatures to rise quickly. It can even cause dangerously warm temps, especially in smaller enclosures.

Try soaking some pellets in tuna water. Boiled white chicken meat is also an option. He might be interested in live prey too, consider getting some feeder fish like rosey red minnows.

[Mo Milazzo]

Today I upgraded his tank and bought a new heat bulb. I also bought some feeder fish and I've witnessed him eat 1. I am still trying to incorporate the pellets, but I'm happy he atleast ate something.