Feeding and Nutrition :: Scared of the Romaine

[cprcheetah]

So my turtle is scared of the Romaine Lettuce. I have been putting it in his tank with him, and he ducks back into his shell whenever it floats over him. I even tried breaking it up into smaller bites. I am definately going to have to get another filter for him. I have already had to change his tank out twice. I am also going to probably try feeding him in a separate container. Less mess...maybe. His pellets are dyeing the water 'pinkish' which I don't like, am going to get other pellets for him. Any tips on how to help him over his fear of the 'unknown?'. Totally answers my question as to whether or not he was fed greens and stuff. Today was also his first 'free' roaming day. He thoroughly enjoyed it. He was acting almost 'stir' crazy swimming back and forth in his tank, so I thought he may want to stretch his leg a bit. He loved it. He was only out for about 1/2 an hour.

[sonyj]

Koopa always ducks his head in when I put the lettuce leaves in but once he figures out that it's food, he goes straight for it. I'd just keep trying. Hopefully one day he will figure it out.

[wetchikn]

my 2 guys are the same. They duck and swima way from the lettuce. Originally it took about a week for them to actually eat it. Now, although the still duck and act scared, I caught bright eyes laying on the lettuce leaf!

[cprcheetah]

Okay, he still hasn't eaten any Romaine, although each day I put a new one in there, he takes bites out of it and then spits it out so I have little turtle bites of romaine floating around the tank and clogging the filter! LMAO! Too funny! I'm hoping he's getting more and more used to it as time goes on.

[sonyj]

Try Red leaf lettuce, some turtles are more attracted to it because of it's colorful edges on the leaves. Maybe switching it up will get him going on it. Also have you tried any other veggies yet? Who knows he may take to something else faster and then switch to lettuce.

[cprcheetah]

He likes Carrots. That's all I have tried so far, but working on trying others.

[SebastianMillhouse]

If romaine lettuce was alive, I'd say that IT is afraid of my turtle. Give him one second to realize what it is and the lettuce won't even have a chance to float over his head!

[cprcheetah]

It seems as if he is eating it. He does make quite the mess with little bits and pieces all over the tank, but he munches on the leaves now! YEAH!!! We are making progress.

[wetchikn]

Great accomplishment...mine float ont he lettuce now in addition to eating it, however, now we are moving on to carrots and lets just say they are not impressed