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Turtle Jello Shots

PostPosted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:33 pm
by zoologist
[new and improved recipe]
1 cup pureed veggie mix
-1 bag kale
-2 medium carrots
-1 medium tomato
-skin off large apple
-1/2 sweet potato
-1/2 cup blueberries
-1 can tuna in water
-1/2 cup calcium suppliment

(note: above ingredients are for 'shell matience' AKA- your turtle is not shedding correctly)
1 cup boiling water
2 packets knox gelatin


pour 1 cup pureed veggie mix in a large bowl. sprinkle the 2 packets of gelatin evenly over the veggies and mix in. add one cup of boiling water and mix until gelatin is dissolved. spoon into molds. sprinkle reptomin or other turtle pellets onto the tops of the molds. let set for 2-3 hours.
gelatin is good for about a week, freeze any unused portions.



[original recipe]
Ingredients:
1 cup of pureed veggies
2 tbs ground turtle pellets (reptomin, mazuri, etc.)
1 tbs calcium power OR ground cuttlebone
1 tbs flaked tuna (optional)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cool water or cool tuna juice.
2 packets Knox Unflavored gelatin

directions:
in a bowl mix the first 4 ingredients on the list until well blended. add the two packets of knox gelatin to the cool water and stir for 1 minute. let sit while the water boils. add the cool water with gelatin to the boiling water and stir until the gelatin has dissolved. Pour the geltain mixture into the bowl of veggie mix. Stir until blended and portion into ice cube tray molds. finish by sprinkling turtle pellets on top of the mixture. Place in your fridge and allow them to set.
Once they have set, pull them out of the mold by using a tooth pick and cut them in half or fourths (depending on the size of your turtle). place pieces in rows on a cookie sheet and freeze. once frozen, portion into plastic containers. Serve frozen. Makes about 64 servings.


FAQ:
Won't the jello shots cloud my water?Not so much. when the turtle rips the food apart it usually comes off in large pieces. however, i've noticed after they've been frozen a while there is a slight mess, but nothing a good filter can't handle.
*note* if the shots are clouding up your water try using less water or more gelatin next time you make them.

Don't you worry that freezing them will deter from the nutritional value?
It will not deter from the nutritional value. Cooking the vegetables before hand will, however, so that is not advised.

What consistancy does frozen gelatin have?
the turtles seem to love it eat it frozen, when its rock hard. after it defrosts it is not as firm as fresh gelatin but it shouldn't be a problem.

You told me to grind up all of those vegetables and only use a cup. what should i do with the remainder??
portion it into 1 cup incriments, pour it into a plastic baggie, suck out all the air and freeze. these will last until the next time you need to make shots. You should have about 3 cups remaining.


[admin note]
I've made this worthy post into a sticky. It can be an interesting way to offer a treat, add additional greens or tempt a reluctant turtle. Please be careful of the ingredients used and always offer fresh vegetables in addition to variety. And let us know how it turns out!

PostPosted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:36 pm
by zoologist
Torti enjoying her late dinner:

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PostPosted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:37 pm
by Daniel3507
haha. when i read the topic turtle food was the farthest from my mind.

im going to have to try this though. it'll be a nice change for cujo

PostPosted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:37 pm
by untsmurf
What consistency does frozen gelatin have?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:47 am
by AllisonChains
Daniel3507 wrote:haha. when i read the topic turtle food was the farthest from my mind.

im going to have to try this though. it'll be a nice change for cujo


You aren't the only one!

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:42 am
by mzkitty23
yep, mzkitty DOES swear by it!!!! anybody that's having trouble getting the cuttlebone in them...here ya go.

mine likes it unfrozen. i've found that if i put big chunks in, he takes bites and he likes that. so i do freeze some, but thaw before giving it. it is exactly the consistency of a jello mold.

as for the mess, i have some long-living feeder fish that he never ate and they always clean up the little bit of crumbs he leaves.

i made a batch last week. my guy is trying to shed so here's what i put in mine...
romaine/green leaf lettuce/turtle pellets/a bit of tomato/apple skin/tuna/cuttlebone

mmm, mmm good! I think this the best thing EVER. and a great way to get anyhting you need to get in the turt, in the turt...lol. Krueger WILL NOT touch a veggie/fruit/pellet of any kind, any way I offer it other than this!

those of you trying it because the turt won't eat veggies, i suggest putting more tuna the first time..then gradually decrease each time you make a batch...(warning: it doesn't smell good going in or out with lots of tuna in it..lol, but SO WORTH IT).

Krueger is eternally grateful to zoologist for this!

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:59 am
by Selera
With these Jello shots how much do you feed the turtle? Same amount as though it was pellets a heads worth?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:00 pm
by zoologist
the jello shots come out the size of an icecube and you cut them down to the size of the turtle's head. so basically its eating a big block of food the size of its head.
so yes, same amount as pellets.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:14 pm
by mzkitty23
yeah, i give mine about 3 "cubes" every three days. he gets other treats sometimes.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:54 pm
by Mandyb
thanks for the recipie...i tried makng it today they are freeezing hopefully the turts like it...or else im going to end up with a bunch of frozen ucky jello hehehe

PostPosted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:26 pm
by xfueledbykatie
im stoked to try this :D
woohoo.

PostPosted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:19 pm
by Mandyb
Yay it worked! the turts loved them...well one anyway she didnt give the other one any oppurtunity to eat some....Hog lol

PostPosted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:34 pm
by WeeSnack
I make mine into jello and then freeze the jello pieces... thats okay right? I just throw them in there frozen and they eat away at them as they thaw.

PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:58 am
by spaceapple
Thank you for posting this recipe!

I tried making my own variation yesterday and Piper, who has hardly even touched a vegetable before, loved it! She has problems with biting pieces of food that aren't extremely small (such as the tiny reptomin baby pellets; I have to break them in half!) so the jello consistency of these treats was perfect for her.

Michelangelo, on the other hand, still thinks he's too good to eat any vegetable that isn't red or purple. He only ate the decorative mini krill I put on top... Guess I'll have to make him a special batch!

PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:30 pm
by xfueledbykatie
my turtles would NEVER touch a vegetable before this.
this is an amazing "invention" hah. ive never seen them eat
so fast.