Feeding and Nutrition :: Is it too much?...

[Josie1023]

Hi everyone

I have 2 baby RES and I feed them both one ReptoMin (floating food stick lol) a day. I was wondering if feeding them lettuce as well as the sticks in one day is too much? Should I just feed them either the lettuce or food stick? Thank you!

Josie

[DavidY]

Feeding lettuce every day is good. Make sure to feed veggies from the list here --> http://redearslider.com/plants.html

[missibsu]

Veggies everyday is what you should be doing, regardless of pellets offered. When it comes to veggies though, variety is key. Check the what to feed lists and pick some different things to try. I noticed that dandelions are back for the summer, so mine have been getting their share of those and they love them.

[luv4sun]

i've got 3 baby red eareds and i've been researching them for about a year now, and through all of my studing, i've found that your sapposed to be feeding babies more protien. i also heard (form pretty much every web site i've been to) that you should be feeding them the size of thier head, including thier neck. i feed mine a veriety of, freez dryed simp and crill, comercial pellets, live worms, dandi lyons, and two different home made little fozen squar things. (one i feed a couple times a week and the other i feed one ever 2-4 weeks.) i feed them the size of their heads (each) every day and thier really heathy!

[fishcube]

I have a new 2" RES, and I've been feeding him about 3 times a day. Water is heated at 78 degrees. I feed mainly pellets, and some floating sticks that I make into small pieces. So, feed the amount of the head/neck per day? What other foods are good for his size? and what size of pellets can one feed this size of RES? The ones I'm using now are the smallest you can buy.

oh, and I also feed him Ocean Plankton.

He loves to beg for food and will throughout the day.

SK

[industrial_girl_2000]

Veggies everyday is what you should be doing, regardless of pellets offered. When it comes to veggies though, variety is key. Check the what to feed lists and pick some different things to try. I noticed that dandelions are back for the summer, so mine have been getting their share of those and they love them.

YAY! Dandelions!!!!!

[industrial_girl_2000]

I have a new 2" RES, and I've been feeding him about 3 times a day. Water is heated at 78 degrees. I feed mainly pellets, and some floating sticks that I make into small pieces. So, feed the amount of the head/neck per day? What other foods are good for his size? and what size of pellets can one feed this size of RES? The ones I'm using now are the smallest you can buy.

oh, and I also feed him Ocean Plankton.

He loves to beg for food and will throughout the day.

SK

3 times a day is WAYYYY too much. Once a day with pellets + lettuce is more than enough. Pellet amount is equivalent to the size of the turtle's head (w/o the neck). Just give them a few leaves of the lettuce. If they get diarrhea, then cut back a little bit on the lettuce. There is no set rule on the amount of lettuce, but as someone on this board pointed out, they can't get FAT from eating SALAD!

And don't be sucked in by all that begging....it doesn't necessarily mean they need more food. Turtles will literally eat till they throw up & then eat the vomit if you let them (I know because it has happened to my big baby many years ago). Gross, but true.

[fishcube]

Thanks for info. But, can't I feed him 3 times a day, a total of a heads amount? instead of one feeding?

About Dandelions. Our 1 1/2 acres if full of them.. Do I just feed the leaves? and how big of pieces do I place in water?

[DavidY]

Yes, if you spread out the feeding out through the day is fine. But you want to limit the amount to the equivalent of a head full every other day. You can spread that amount over several feedings if you want to, but keep track of how much. Actually, it's probably healthier especially for babies to eat several small meals than one big one.

Wild dandelions...just make sure they were never treated with pesticides or week killers or any chemical treatments like that. Otherwise, they are a healthy treat. The leaves are very healthy and contain vitamin A (in the caratenoid form which is better), vitamin C, calcium, antioxidants, etc. The flowers are supposed to be high in vitamins and other beneficial stuff, but I think they are best as an occasional treat. I remember reading that the flowers are very high in something that you wouldn't want to feed the RES every day.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Ditto for what DavidY said!!!!

Also, you don't have to worry about the size of the leaves. They will nip nip nip at them till they are gone. When I had my hatchling, I fed him about 5-6 baby romaine leaves per day (just toss in tank....they find it) and that amount seemed to be ideal. If I put more than that in there, the turtle wouldn't eat it so I guessed he had his fill. He also preferred the younger leaves (with smaller veins). He didn't like the thick white veins & would leave those floating.

Sheba (adult RES) gets a handful of these leaves.....prolly about 15 per day. She loves them & I have never had a problem with diarrhea with her. Sheba also is big enough where she doesn't care if there are white veins in the leaves or not. She just eats everything I throw in there.

[SpotsMama]

To add to what DavidY said, if you feed your turtle several small portions a day he will come to understand quicker that you are the source of food - and therefore the most important thing in the world - and he will love you all the more!

[Josie1023]

Thanks for all of your help!