General Care Discussion :: Growth rate

[Sarah89]

I have had my little baby turtle for going on 3 weeks now. When i first got him he was so tiny. He has grown a little since then, and I was just wondering what the average growth rate is? I heard from somewhere it's 4" the first year, and then another inch every year after. I was just wondering because I saw a post on here that someone said there turtle grew to be 2 1/2 inches within 2 months, and was about the same size as my turtle at time of purchase.

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I love my little turtle so much!! He is so cute. When i wake up, he knows it's time to eat. Also when i get home from work. He also seems fond of a game my boyfriend started with him, where he drags the tip of his finger against the tank, under the water level and Little Turtle chases. He doesn't play so much when I do it, I guess it's a boy thing (although I have been informed it is too early to know the sex of my turtle, the man at petco said he was a male.) I think about my little turtle all the time now, and can't wait to get home to check on him. I couldn't believe that instantly after I bought him all my attention was on his well being. I have him all set with the standard supplies, and a few decorations. Tomorrow my boyfriend and I are going to get him a few more things such as a cuttlebone, a few more plants ( He has nibbled so much on the batch of anacharis!) and i know they enjoy eating live food but he isn't quite big enough for a rosie red minnow, so is there any sort of live shrimp or something small he can kind of chase around before he eats? He tries to chase his pellets! lol.

[missibsu]

Generally speaking, around 4 inches at the end of the first year. This is sometimes a bit inaccurate because most people don't know exactly when their turts were born. The first year of life they tend to grow a bit more, but a good gauge is about an inch a year after that first year. 2 inches in a couple of months sounds like some serious overfeeding.

[megcornell]

You can try to get a few of the smaller rosy reds, or you can try some ghost shrimp, they're very tiny.

[Sarah89]

I bought two tiny rosie reds but they died before i got home from petco! ):

[industrial_girl_2000]

I bought two tiny rosie reds but they died before i got home from petco! ):

I hope you were able to get them replaced! From now on though, I would buy them at a different store. Not all breeders do a good job with feeder fish, and it depends on which breeder Petco uses. I would definitely make sure to tell them that the fish died so they are aware of it.