Feeding and Nutrition :: Diet... Am I doing this right?

[fluffytheturtle]

Ok. Like this hasn't been asked 9,000 times already.

But I have an RES and she is becomming more and more friendly. She lets me hold the Romaine lettuce while she eats.

So she is about 11" in diameter. I do not want to overfeed her. I feed her every other day. I give her 2 romaine leaves and frozen blood worms (2 pieces) and frozen aquatic turtle diet (2 pieces). Sometimes I will put in a few carrot shreds (4) and the other day I put in a grape with no skin and cut in half. (I know I shouldn't do the fruit often - just once a month or so)

And sometimes we will throw in a june bug or two (she ABSOLUTELY loves to devour them - yes it is grosse!)

I also have feeder fish in the pond but there are still a lot left in there. She doesn't eat them that often. If I bought more, would she want to eat them more?


Anyway, she seems hungry still after I give her that. Is it enough? I am not sure. She was a wild turtle.

[missibsu]

For starters what do you mean she was a wild turtle?

Wild turtles don't eat everyday because there isn't food available everyday. I'm not sure how you measured to get 11" diameter, but we measure the shell end to end (head to tail) straight length, so don't include the curve. Assuming that your turtle is not hatchling, it should be fed pellets every other day. Veggies should be offered daily and with variety. I don't mean offering a piece of romaine, so carrots, and tomatoes all the same day, but one day offer one thing, the next offer something else. Overfeeding veggies will give them the runs, so that is something you can watch for when it comes to knowing if you are giving too much. Like you mentioned the fruits should be offered as treats. The same goes with the blood worms and the feeders. I'm not sure about the frozen treat you are talking about. The thing is, you don't want a diet too high in protein. I am not sure on adding more feeders, it would have to depend on the turtle. You could experiment and see. If you want to add some cuttlebone, it is a good source of calcium and will give your turt something else to munch on. It's found in the bird section, and don't forget to remove the hard backing before breaking it up and throwing it in.

[fluffytheturtle]

Well, I live where RES turts are native. She came to my house one day and I put a pond in for her. She seems happy. I didi not know that bloodworms were a treat only. I thought they were a staple-thanks for the info.

I tried pellets but she doesn't seem to eat them. I will try to measure her with a measuring tape in a bit. She is an adult turtle. She knows I feed her so I will try pellets with nothing else right now and see if she eats them. She scarfs down the romaine.

[fluffytheturtle]

Ok. I measured her. She is 11" from tail to head and with her neck extended about 12". Now the aquatic turtle diet has: carrot, anacharis, krill, romaine lettuce, turnip, pollock, bloodworms, dandelion greens, spirulina, algin, menhaden oil, vitamin premix: wheat flour, vitamin A acetate, choelcalciferol (source of vitamin D3), vitamin D12 supplement, riboflavin, niacin, calcium panthothenate, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfte complex, hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, inositol, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, betaine, d-alpha mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E).

Crude protien..Min. 2.1%
Crude fat........Min. 0.3%
Crude fiber.....Max 0.8%
Moisture.........Max. 96.0%

They are little frozen rectangles that you drop in the water. About 1" high and 1/2 an inch wide.

[missibsu]

Where do you get the turtle treats? Last time I checked my petstore didn't have a frozen food section, lol!

You could try soaking the pellets in some tuna juice. The strong scent will get her attention. There is a feeding list sticky in the nutrition section too for other foods you can feed.

How big is your pond? I'd love to see pics of it.

[steve]

I would offer more lettuce or try different varieties of aquatic plants for her to try. And get those pics up...

[tissigirl]

When you measure your turtle you should just measure the shell. Do not include the tail or head. What missibu meant was measure just the shell from the tail end to the head end, without the curve.

[marisa]

The aquatic turtle diet is good--I've used it with hatchlings. It's low in protein and has the ingredients/vitamins you mentioned. But it does contain a lot of moisture, and I'm wondering how much food a turtle the size of yours is getting with two cubes...You might also try some earthworms and see how she likes them. If you put aquatic plants in your pond (how big is it, btw?), your turtle will most likely get an assortment of snails and other bugs as well.

[fluffytheturtle]

The aquatic turtle diet is good--I've used it with hatchlings. It's low in protein and has the ingredients/vitamins you mentioned. But it does contain a lot of moisture, and I'm wondering how much food a turtle the size of yours is getting with two cubes...You might also try some earthworms and see how she likes them. If you put aquatic plants in your pond (how big is it, btw?), your turtle will most likely get an assortment of snails and other bugs as well.

You mentioned earthworms. Do they have those at pet stores? Also, what is your opinion on the bloodworms?

pics available very soon!

[fluffytheturtle]

Fluffy



Fluffy Enjoying the Pond



Fluffy eyeing the June Bug in its last seconds



Fluffy and her big feet



Fluffy shell view



Turtle Ladder close up

[missibsu]

Two things...Since you turt is able to climb over the edge, do you have a wider barrier to keep her from esacping?

Also, how big is the pond?...do you have frogs for the lilly pads? lol

[industrial_girl_2000]

You mentioned earthworms. Do they have those at pet stores?
pics available very soon!

I always just dug up my own earthworms. We had an organic garden & compost heap in the backyard of my parents' house & every time it rained, I went out there with shovel in hand!

They have earthworms at fishing stores, but you never know how those were treated so I try to stay away from those.

[fluffytheturtle]

Two things...Since you turt is able to climb over the edge, do you have a wider barrier to keep her from esacping?

Also, how big is the pond?...do you have frogs for the lilly pads? lol

Well, since I have taken the pics she has destroyed the lilly pads! She didn't want them I guess. They were in her way. She tipped the pot over once to use it to hunt fish in a "jungle" under water and I moved it. Then, they were all out of the pot! Now they are gone! LOL!

I want to put more plants in for her. Those lillies were kinda expensive. Any suggestions?

Also, she is fenced in.

[missibsu]

Any kind of water plant is safe for them to eat, and my guess is, if you put it in, she will eat it. If you want the look of plants you could try some fake ones. She may try to eat them at first, but will quickly learn that they aren't real.

[marisa]

fluffytheturtle---if you have land that hasn't been exposed to pesticides, then you could just dig your own worms (I do in the summer). Walmart also sells troutworms (which are probably earthworms). I've bought in the past and given them to my turts on occasion---they like them just fine.

I think bloodworms as part of a balanced diet are OK. I've usually used them with hatchlings, though, mostly to get them to eat. They seemed too small for larger turtles to me.