Feeding and Nutrition :: Force Feeding an Adult Res

[CactusJohn5]

Per a previous post, My 8 year old adult female hasn't eaten in 3 weeks now, she has actually started to visibly be loosing weight (she was a bit pugdy). I have tried everything for food at this point. She is still swimming strong, and is very powerful, basking daily, sleeping regularly, just won't eat. Possibly egg bound, have been placing in a basking box daily for a couple hours each day, she just won't lay her eggs. At this point i know egg absorption is a major concern and calcium intake needs to be upped during this time, but she won't eat.

Is force feeding and adult RES something anyone has tried and is it even possible seeing how they need to eat in the water?

[ljapa]

I'd think it would not be successful and that it's more important to figure out why she isn't eating. I have read that one of the possible signs of eggs is a lack of appetite.

Perhaps a vet visit is in order?

[CactusJohn5]

yeah, she isn't eating because she is egg bound. A vet visit would be recommended, except the procedure for removing eggs is incredibly dangerous, the rate of mortality is about the same if I go to the vet and get surgery or just hope she can pass them on her own. I am sure she can go a while w/o eating, but it would be nice to be able to get her to eat something.

[steve]

Were you able to try the feeders?

[CactusJohn5]

Yeah, nothing, not even interested. It's like she doesn't even realize there is food there she doesn't even make any attempt to smell it or check it out, completely ignores it.

[steve]

Did you try holding it by the tail and letting it wiggle in front of her face?

[CactusJohn5]

Yeah, i have done that with just about everything, put her in the tub with my laptop webcam on her the other day with a TON of different foods and she didn't even small/nudge, taste any of them. She is still very active and strong, but can not lay her eggs (i actually finally felt one it is HUGE). Going to try to find some sand, but everyone is sold out right now.

Saw a post about frozen fish, like salmon or tuna (not canned) never tried the "fresh" stuff, at this point i think anything that isn't toxic is okay to try to get her to eat?

[AlexisAwesome]

Frozen fish is good for them. Don't feed them too much of it, though.

[CactusJohn5]

I am happy to announce that FINALLY she has eaten something! Cooked chicken, only 2 small cubes, but she did eat, not sure why or how, we did try to give her some reptile paste that is packed with vitamins that got smeared all over her face, i think she might have been trying to get the taste out of her mouth, SMALL victory but we will take it for now! Off to find some sand!

[dumbork14]

good for you and your turt!

[steve]

Glad to hear it!

[CactusJohn5]

And she ate again tonight, I took a goldfish out of the pond and shocked it, left it with her in the tub with about 90 degree water. She ate about 80% of it. Still no eggs even with sand ... ugh

[steve]

Yup... they are so picky with them.

[Green Mango]

I know that this post is out of date now, but in this situation the vet could give the turtle oxytocin to induce her, which would hopefully avoid the need for surgery. Mango had it and it worked well.

[steve]

You are correct. It's covered briefly in the care section, I sometimes forget to mention it as I do not know if they have read it or not.