General Care Discussion :: Feeding and basking

[DebbieJean]

How long after getting a new turtle, should it take for it to start eating and basking? I don't want Pebbles to starve or get sick from not basking. She knows where the basking place is cause she will go near it, she just wont go on it. Hehe never mind about the basking she is finally on it. I just have to worry about her not eating now.

[Nettle]

I'd say a week is ok for not eating when they're introduced to a new tank. After that I would take it to a vet to see if it has parasites or impaction or something.

[DebbieJean]

Ok thanks

[mikee]

D-jean - It may take a week or so. They are extremely skittish when in a new environment. Make the basking area easy to get to and make sure it is heated to 90 to 91 degrees with uvb lighting. It will take a while before you will be able to see him basking. They can hear you before you get near the tank. When you get him good and hungry you may try and feed him by hand. He will associate you with food.

[danshun77]

my turtle would eat when i first got it only if I fed him then left the room... have you tried that?

[DebbieJean]

Thanks for your help everybody. I leave the room for awhile but she still doesn't eat. I left her food from yesterday in her tank with her and when I woke up it was gone, so she might have eaten it or the filter got it. Thanks