Habitat - Indoor :: Trying new things...

[daredevilgirl013]

I tried to start Michelangelo last night on getting fed everyday. This is going to be interesting. He kept begging as he knew I was in the room and he was literally pouting because he saw the fish get fed, but he didn't. So I gave him a pinch of food and he stopped. I guess what I'm going to have to do is gradually lower the food amount until he realizes on certain days he will get none.

I just wish he wouldn't beg! Plus he kept looking over at me as if to say Excuse me, you feed the fish but not me?! How could you!

[missibsu]

My gosh staman...how big of a set up do you have? I have my two sliders, about the same size as yours, and I can't imagine having anything more to add to the tank. I've already started looking for great deals on another set up. I have one 75 gallon, but I have started noticing some aggression, and I fear that a seperation may be in the future. It's only happened once, and it doesn't happen with the general greens, or pellets. It's grapes. They both have to eat the same one. Next time I will cut them up in smaller bite size pieces and I think that will help.

[Giddy]

Does he have anything else to do in the tank?

In know mine play with a sea sponge in the tank, the larger river rocks, hiding in the plants, etc.

[doomsdaybob]

I've cut my turt back to pellets every other day w/ greens and carrots everyday. She can't get enough carrots, she will ignore even the pellets waiting for the carrots. Does anyone know how much is too much when it comes to greens and such? I think she's getting enough and is growing at what seems like a good rate but any time someone comes to visit you'd swear I was starting her. She goes nuts if she even remotely thinks you'll give her more food during the day.

If anyone is interested I've been using the Publix brand Matchstick carrots. She loves to grab them try to eat them all in one bite but can't do it. Also good for hand feeding just watch you fingers when they get to the end. I'm also using the Publix Spring Mix bagged salad. Nice mix of baby greens. Usually nothing left in the tank by noon.

[missibsu]

I use the spring mix too, just be sure there isn't any spinach in there. I read somehere on here that spinach isn't good for them because it blocks the turts ability to absorb calcium (at least, I think that is what it was).

[sonyj]

Doomsdaybob, I've heard not to feed carrots more than once a week. They are a veggie that is high in sugar content. I used to give carrots 2-3 times a week but have cut it back to once and am giving squash, zucchini, peppers in place of the carrots I would have given along with the greens for more variety. I wouldn't overfeed carrots but a couple of times a week in a balanced diet probably wouldn't hurt.

[missibsu]

Sonja...what kind of peppers do you feed your turt? I don't remember seeing that on the list. I was just thinking it would add some variety to what mine are already getting. Oh and thanks for the mention of the carrots, I was so focused on that spinach thing that I forgot to go back and add that one. I can't believe how much I have learned on this site!

[sonyj]

I give him red bell peppers on occasion. They are sweet as well, so they aren't offered daily. Maybe about once a week.

I've found a trick that helps me always have a variety of veggies to offer. I will buy the peppers, squash and zucchini etc, while they are on sale at the store and slice them into edible sizes for Koopa. Then I freeze them on a cookie sheet so that I can place them frozen into my vacuum seal bags(the vacuum sealer would mush them flat if they weren't frozen first). I just take out of the freezer what he needs for a feeding and thaw it in warm water thoroughly before giving it to him. It works well, and he always has a variety of fresh veggies.

[missibsu]

That's a great idea...thanks for the tip!

[Giddy]

I buy organic chunk veggies for my goldfish. Just pop a few in a dixie cup, micro for about 10 seconds, ready to eat, and needs low freezer space.