Hello All! So I have been sort of trying to make slight changes to Shelldon's diet due to a variety of circumstances. Shelldon Leo Kooper is a female RES, that is about 9 years old (It will be her 9 year anniversary with us this summer, and she was likelya bout 1-2 yrs old upon adoption, due to her being about 4 in. at the time of adoption). She is about 6 In. SCL now.
Her old diet was as follows:
Monday-Saturday: 4 Pieces of Romaine Lettuce (Each piece being about 1 Inch), 4 Carrot Slices (Each Piece being about 1 Inch), both in the morning.
Then 5 Zoomed Maintenance Formula Aquatic Turtle Pellets in the afternoon/evening.
Sunday: 10 chomps of a calcium block (Zoomed Banquet Block)
Every Other Saturday: A piece of Shrimp replacing the veggies.
The first change came around last month, as I had trouble keeping the calcium blocks good after removing them after the 10th bite. Fungus would grow, and I obviously could not give Shelldon gross Fungus-Blocks. So I started an alternating Sunday type deal, where one Sunday is Calcium Day: With Veggies in the morning and a calcium block (A whole one) in the afternoon. Then the following Sunday is a protein day: With a piece of shrimp in the morning and pellets in the afternoon. Shelldon has adjusted to this fairly well. She pretty much destroys the whole Calcium Block in about 15 minutes (Granted the blocks aren't huge, they aren't exactly tiny either XD). It leaves quite a calcium-dusty mess, which I clean up afterward (Sunday is Tank cleaning day). This isn't exactly much of a change, as Shelldon usually eats half of it weekly in about 10 bites from the old paradigm, so eating a whole one every two weeks isn't exactly much of a change.
Then the second change came around yesterday and today. I heard about the E. coli outbreak connected with romaine lettuce, and got very worried about Shelldon (though her health has been fine, and I checked with the current provider of my lettuce and they said it was not affected, or connected to the area linked to the outbreak). Better safe then sorry though, so I looked into replacement leaf for the time being, and saw that green and red leaf lettuce was better suited than romaine lettuce, and that they should be the "main staple", with romaine and carrots being used moderately. ATM I could only find Green Leaf Lettuce (That was organic anyway, I really would prefer giving Shelldon organic veggies, which the nutrition section also recommended). In a month or so, we will be moving back to an area that has a Whole Foods so I doubt that finding those will be an issue. Shelldon took to the Green Leaf Lettuce very readily (I figured she might want time to adjust, but nope, she is not a picky eater).
So I figured the optimal diet when I can gather the supplies is 3 Pieces of Green Leaf, (Each 1 Inch), 3 PIeces of Red Leaf (Each 1 Inch), and 2 Carrot Slices in the morning, and the pellets in the afternoon, with the alternating Calcium-Protein Sunday paradigm as described above (And crickets on holidays, Shelldon loves to chase them around XD)
ATM though, for the next month, it seems like it will be 6 pieces of Green Leaf and 2 Pieces of Carrots in the morning
I figured Shelldon's old diet could serve as an emergency "Backup Diet" in case a situation occurs where green or red leaf lettuce is not available., or gathering another type of green to use in conjunction with the carrots etc. etc.
I guess since this is a change, I want to make sure I'm doing things okay, in both Nutrition and how much I am giving her. Shelldon does not seem to be too fat or too thin (Took her to a vet in March, and he seemed to think she was at a good weight), so I think the amount is okay (I tend to think of it like a Mini Salad Wrap that can fit inside her head every day, with lettuce, carrots and pellets kind of put together in a wrap?). I think this would also be better for nutrition wise, but I want to double check that there is not anything obvious I am missing. Thank you.
What is the water temperature? 78 Degrees F
Did you use a thermometer? Yes
Are you using a water heater? Yes
How much water is in there? About 23.3 Gallons
Current Tank: 40 Gallon Tank
Tank Width: 17 In. W
Total Tank Depth: Around 17 In.H
Water Depth: 10 In. (Add 4 In. to Carapace Length)
Length: About 48 In L
Are you using a water conditioner? Yes
Are you using any filtration? Yes
What is the basking temperature? 88.2 Degrees F
Is there a basking light? Yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? Oasis Turtle Ramp (Large)
Is there a UVB light? Yes
What have you been trying to feed it? Vegetables and Pellets
When was the last time your turtle ate? This afternoon
How big is the tank/pond/enclosure?
Is the tank near a window? No
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? No
Have you read the Basic Care section? Yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? Yes
Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? No