Feeding and Nutrition :: Breakthrough!

[AV]

My baby RES *Churi* FINALLY ate something besides his pellets today!

I have been offering him so many vegetables, for the last month...but he's doesn't like anything....

today I decided to try fruit...so I gave him mango...and he LOVED it! I know that fruit should only be given once a month... but at least now I know something he enjoys eating!!

i have been reading other posts, and I will try the tough love. I won't give him pellets tomorrow, and just offer him lettuce...hope it works!

I know it's not a BIG deal but I almost cried when he ate the mango today!

[sonyj]

That's a good start. It's almost like raising a child... you have all the special "firsts" just like with a baby. Keep at it and he'll be eating his veggies in no time.

[marisa]

Congrats. Mango has a lot of sugar, but also contains beta carotene (Vit A). If you feed a small amount, you could offer it more than just once a month . Work on other veggies as well, try also aquatic plants (like anachris) if you can.

[kneecole]

Have you tried red leaf lettuce? That was the first veggie I got my guys to eat. I think they are attracted to the red.

[marisa]

I agree. The red areas on the lettuce are the first parts to be attacked by my turts (especially the eastern painteds). I think my turtles do have a preference for reddish/orange foods.

[AV]

I can't find any red leaf lettuce in the supermarket!

I live in Hong Kong, so it's hard to find some of the foods listed for RES turtles on this site, as they are not available in HK!

Such as live prey, we don't have large pet stores...more like little chinese shops that sell pets, food etc...it's hard to communicate with some shop owners as they don't speak much english! Plus, there are some who sell baby RES, but keep 30 or 40 of them in plastic containers with almost no water... and if there is water it's filthy! so I do not trust any of the advice or food they offer me as it's evident they do not know how to properly look after them!

I know they sell aquatic plants, but the names are written in chinese, and they shop owners don't know the name in english!

I guess i will have to print out pictures of the fish and plants i need and try and hunt for them myself...but still seems quite risky... as i may pick a plant or fish that looks similiar but may not be suitable for RES....

This place I'm talking about with all the shops was discussed in a previous thread:

http://redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3792&highlight=hong+kong


*sigh* I wish we had big franchise pet stores in HK

[marisa]

I've been to HK quite a few times (and love it )---Maybe things have changed, but do they still have Park and Shop supermarkets there? My impression of HK is that it's possible to find just about whatever you want, you may have to look for it (and pay more) but there is a wide variety of goods, especially for the ex-pat community.

[AV]

Yes Park N Shop is still here!


But the pet shops are still of VERY poor quality....

i want to buy some live fish to feed my baby RES, but I do not trust these pet store owners!!

[marisa]

Yes, I've seen some of those so-called pet shops, especially the ones for fish (and hatchlings). Very sad...

[AV]

Luckily, there is a Pet & Aqua expo this weekend in Hong Kong!

Hopefully I can get some good info, supplies and accessories there!

[marisa]

I saw your post on that. It sounds like an interesting event. Have a good time, good luck on finding the things you need, and let us know what it was like.

[AV]

Yeah I will for sure!

Maybe take a few pics and post them here!

[samandnelly]

Congrats. Mango has a lot of sugar, but also contains beta carotene (Vit A). If you feed a small amount, you could offer it more than just once a month . Work on other veggies as well, try also aquatic plants (like anachris) if you can.

Aquatic plants have no nutritional value, however. Or very little. They're just really for if they get the munchies.

[missibsu]

As far as I knew...aquatic plants had nutritional value...some more than others.

[sQuirtle]

I was just wondering.. the first time i put in sQuirtle's fake plants, he played with them & eventually tried eating them but figured out they weren't his food. but if i got him an aquatic plant he could eat, would it be bad since i wouldn't have control of how much he would eat and eventually lead to overfeeding?