General Care Discussion :: Is Curtis eating too much?

[Rexamus]

The reptile shop guy said to feed him as much as he'll eat because he's a baby and growing really fast.

He seems to be a bottomless pit though, unless this is normal for a baby turtle. For example, on an average day he'll eat 2-3 reptomins and 3-4 crickets or 3-4 feeder guppies three times a day (morning, noon and evening). We've also been giving him baby krill (5) for dessert after his dinner.

I've offered green leafy veggies and have an aquatic plant in his tank but he's not interested.

Is he overeating? Does he need to go on a diet? I thought they should only eat in proportion to their head size. If that is the case my turtle is going to be morbidly obese before he's 2" long. By the way, he's 1 1/2 " from top of the shell to the bottom.

Also, we've only had him a few weeks and he's already moulted. Is he growing too fast?

[TheComputerGremlin]

Oh goodness! You need to fix that feeding plan ASAP or you'll have some trouble on your hands! Yes, a baby turtle or any turtle for that matter is constantly starving and constantly begging. You should be feeding him 3 Reptomins ONCE per day and that's it. 1-2 crickets PER MONTH or 1-2 guppies PER MONTH or krill PER MONTH, not all three. He won't be interested in plants, not yet, and certainly not since he has a happy full (or overfull) belly all day.

YES, WAY TOO FAST!

[BullDog]

I concur!

RES are opportunistic eaters, and will eat until they throw up, and then eat some more.

Overfeeding, especially too much protein (Like you've been feeding) can cause serious health problems, including liver problems, and not just being overweight.

As for veggies, you can keep trying with them, but if he's getting that much food, he won't even bother looking at that stuff
Introducing veggies at a young age is a good idea, since it can be harder to change their habits when they're older and set in their ways.

PS - Pet stores are notorious for giving incorrect information, so be careful who you trust

[Rexamus]

I thought it might be a bit much for such a small guy.

The reptile shop guy says turtles spend their day foraging for food and it was perfectly normal. He had nothing to gain by telling me this because he doesn't sell feeder guppies or crickets. In any case, I won't be going to him for advice!

Okay, should I cut him back gradually or what? Also, how often should he moult?

[BullDog]

You can start feeding him a "head-sided" amount once a day. You can cut back right away, because this is the proper amount for a hatchling.

As for shedding, there is no set "schedule" for how often it happens. My male, Ralph, seems to shed continually (every time I clean the tank, I take out a few scutes), but I'm still waiting for Frankie (who I've had for 3 months) to shed.

If your RES seems to be shedding a lot, especially the skin, it could be that the water temperature is too warm.

[megcornell]

That diet is way too high in protein. At that rate his shell will pyramid and his organs will be quite stressed.
Cut back his diet ASAP. He may miss the extra treats at first but will be MUCH healthier. And, you can supplement him with vegetables.
Take a look at the nutrition section to see what to feed and how often.
http://www.redearslider.com/index_nutrition.html
There are also "sticky" notes at the top of the nutrition forum on what to and what not to feed. Take a look at those to see what vegetables are great for RES.