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HI EVERYBODY!

As you all know my dad has a turtle, been had it for a year, and has left it in 1 in of water ever since. But then i stepped in and gave him my 10 gallon. Okay so he brought it home and i gave him instruction. By mistake, it was brief. So now he had the tank filled to the top, with 3 fatt goldfish, and apparntly, the lil guy isnt eating. But still alive? How is that. I assume, because my turtle pebbz ate his dung, that all turtles do. So now that turtle is living off of poo. Fish poo. I think it will make him sickly. I also think hes not eating because he is uncomfertable w/ his surroundings. You cant take a turtle that has lived in 1 in of water all his life and suddenly throw him into the ocean. It'll scare him. And third, i think the fish scare him. And in order for him toget comfortable, my dad needs to take the fish OUT.


SO i gave my dad these instructions:

1. Take out fish and thouroughly clean tank w. hot water and brand new sponge.
2. Fill tank less than half way. So that he can raise the water gradually.

I told him that turtles are messy enuf as it is, that fish and a turtle would cause parasites. I know, because my dad doesnt clean the tank often.


I think if my instructions are followed, the turtle will get comfortable enuf to eat in 1 1/2 weeks. What do you think? WHat else do you think causes not eating? Do you think my instructions will help the turtle eat?? My dad said cometimes he sees the turtle just floating in the water, and he starts swimming when the fish bump into him. I mean these goldfish are MASSIVE. i really think he mite be scared of him. The gold fish are so big they look like they could swallow him. POor turtle. Weell let me kno if u have any advice i should tell my dad, thanks.

????

PS: Pebbles has been put into the big pond, Mary emailed me recently and told me. I wonder which head is his... n_n im sure hes happy. I wish i had that pond in my backyard.

How many inches is the turtle? I really dont think 10 gallons is enough, assuming it is more than a couple inches already.... You need 10 gallons per inch per turtle... and... what was that turtle in before if 10 gallons is an upgrade? You need to look into getting a much bigger tank soon. Does your dad have all other necessities? UVA/UVB lighting? A place for basking, where it can completely dry out its shell? A filter? A heater? Its sounds like 10 gallons is an upgrade compared to what it was in before... What is its diet like? Giving as much information about your current setup can help us help you!

What exactly is it that the little guy won't eat? What is your dad trying to feed him?

My little ones weren't eating when I got them a couple weeks ago. They had been kept in about the same conditions. I finally got them to eat one thing (mealworms) and now they're eating everything and begging for more.

Also, is the water temp high enough? If the water temp is too low the won't eat.

What's the name of the little turtle in the tank? I think you are right that the turtle shouldn't be in a tank with three big gold fish. They probably do scare him.

Does he have something to bask on? Turtes need to be able to climb out on a completely dry spot - someting like a log or a raft - to dry out every day, and also to hang on to and rest from time to time.

To get him to eat, he needs:

1. Clean water
2. Water the right temperature (78 to 80 degrees for a little one - you HAVE to measure it with a thermometer, you can just tell by feel if it's right).
3. Less stress (having the tank all to himself should help).
4. Food that he likes. What is your dad trying to feed him? Here's some info on how to entice a little turtle to eat:

http://www.redearslider.com/entice_eating.html

Can you give us a picture of his setup?

PS. Those pictures of the pond are fascinating. How many turtles live in that pond? Where is it (like what state)? Is Mary a turtle rescue person?

Yeah, have to ask, are those all turtle heads? It reminds me of that commercial where the people in the office pop up out of their cubicles like gophers!

Hi, thanks for tha reply


okay it was my set up that i gave my dad and i gave him everything, Turtle Clean Filter 318, Heater, Basking Dock, 10 gallon, UVB Lamp light, clamp lamp... and thats about it. The heater is set at 80... at least thats what he told me. And... Well he had it for about8 months now. When we bought it, it was in a small lil container... you know the ones with the palm tree... Lets just say the container was so small its about the width of the turtles shell, and about 5 quarters long. To small to turn around. It was in that condition for 8 months, and is still living. It probubly has mental problems by now :'(

Im sure the turt didnt grow. And the 10 gallon is paradise compared to previous living conditions. My dad is feeding baby reptomin. But he says he puts the turt in a separate container to feed (cuz of tha fish) and the pellets are there all day. Not touched. It seems to me the turts living off of poop.

I dont even know the turtles name. My lil sis made up some wierd name and i dont remember it. But i did try to give him all the info and how to prevent illness and stuff (since my turtle had gotten sick a few times) I gotta wait til he emails me back. I told him to take the fish out i hope he does it.

Oh yeah those are all turtle heads.

Ok that's good about the setup. I remember now.

maybe the water in that separate container is too cold. Does he leave the turtle in the separate container all day? That's too long. He needs to spend the day in his tank. If he's going to come out for feeding, it should just be for a very short time.

Is your dad going to take those fish out?

Does your dad know about this site? We could help him if he'd come on the forum.

He leaves it in there so it could eat, but it never eats...I think all day.

I should have word from him tommorow about the fish. I told him about this site, but he just said he'd get all the info from me so thats why im here

OH MY GOD!!! that is a huge pond!!! my turtle is also called pebbles
wow i'd visit that pond every day...so many turtles!!

how big are those turtles in that pond?? there heads look huge!! In the first pic you can see them all pretty well, Im surprised!

I would try feeding the lil guy in the 10 gallon tank. It might be freaking him out to keep being put in a seperate container, and that's making him not eat. If you can get him to eat in the 10 gallon tank for a month or two, and then try starting to use the seperate container again.

Also, my baby turtles didn't like the pellets at first. The first thing I got them to eat was a mealworm.

tohmit wrote:I would try feeding the lil guy in the 10 gallon tank. It might be freaking him out to keep being put in a seperate container, and that's making him not eat. If you can get him to eat in the 10 gallon tank for a month or two, and then try starting to use the seperate container again.

Also, my baby turtles didn't like the pellets at first. The first thing I got them to eat was a mealworm.

I very much agree with tohmit, the turtle may be a little scared to eat outside the tank. Your dad should try feeding the turtle in the tank for a little while and slowly start feeding in a seperate container.


And, whoa! Your turtle must be living in paradise right now! That pond is so big! I'm realy happy seeing all those turtles rounded up like that,

Any chance you could visit your father and physically set up the tank to show him how it's done and how to feed him as well (try some live food like an earthworm).