Feeding and Nutrition :: Paco still wont eat!!!

[Ozzyy]

paco still wont eat. ive put all kinds of veggies pellets and sorts. but he just nudges them and then ignores it. i am starting to worry. he is very active and basks normaly.. but he JUST WONT EAT. he will stare at his food. stalk it. nudge it. then move on to something else. ive tried the tuna thing he ate a cricket once.. but he wont even touch those. what should i do?

[steve]

What is the water temperature?
What has he eaten?
What has he not eaten that you offered?

If he is a hatchling, he won't be interested in veggies... pick up some guppies or minnows at a petstore for him.

[Ozzyy]

well he ate a worm and the tempurature is about 75 degrees. he nibbled part of pice of lettuce ignored it. at a cricket once.. then ignored it. ate half a worm (just now) wont touch carrots and used to eat pellets.. wolfs down bits of dog kibble though

[SebastianMillhouse]

I am NO expert on turtles but I think you should raise the temp to at least 78 degrees. Warmer water helps them eat.

[cprcheetah]

My tank is at about 78 for an adult turtle. He may be a little cold. Are you sure he's not eating at night time or anything? Any other changes? Is he still really active?

[scripta_elegans]

For a hatchling, the water needs to be between 78-80. If you have a water heater, it needs to be set @ 78. If you do not have one, I would say carefully put a little warm water in at a time to bring the temp up to 80, and keep doing this to ensure proper metabolic function. You can get a water heater on ebay for 2-3$, which makes it far easier.

[Ozzyy]

ok that should work
ill try it

[steve]

Have you tried dipping some pellets in tuna water? Smelly foods do get their attention.

[Ozzyy]

i put a dog food pellet in once ill see if that works... i really worried because ive had him for almost two months and he pretty much hasnt grown if not that then not grown at all. hes still very active though. he still bask normaly and is swimming around ALOT. i put a worm in the other day and he ate half of it (it was a fairly large worm) so he may be full. but ill try the dog food just the same

[cprcheetah]

Ok, how big is his tank? Are you sure he hasn't grown? Have you measured him?

[Ozzyy]

he was about 1 inche when i got him. and he is 1.2 inches now (so hes grown a little) his tank til a giet a bigger one in a week. holds about 6-7 gallons and he is VERY VERY active and basks normaly. he ate a large worm the other day.... perhaps he may be full. i havent tried the tuna thing yet (i have not tuna at the moment) but i will get him some rosies tommorow and see how he reacts to that

[Ozzyy]

ok i got a thermometer and it sid the watter temp was at 72 degrees it is now at 80 degree and i am fixin to get a water heater after i get a uvb lamp

[cprcheetah]

Sounds like you are on the right track. How is little Paco doing? Is he eating yet?

[Ozzyy]

um other than the worm two days ago ... no. i change his cage at least 3 times a week cause i dont have a fillter yet. and the water gets dirty really fast. could this be why hes not eating. i got a thermometer and his cage temp is now at 80 degrees-76 degrees. i put another dogfood pellet in today. he nudged it and floowed it around as it floated. then went to bask. he wont eat the pellets or lettuce though. i tried a cricket.. he ate one once but wont touch em now. he still seems healthy. basking and swimming normaly and he also seems happy.. a bit skittish but happy. mabey hes needs privacy when he eats. hmmm i should try that.

[SebastianMillhouse]

I would suggest getting a Stealth heater. Mine is the 8 gallon model in a 10 gallon tank. They are cheap and plastic so they won't crack. I put some refridgerator tubing around the cord that's in the water so in case he decides to bite it, he won't expose the wires.