General Care Discussion :: New turtle questions

[65 Rambler Lady]

Tuttle has been in his new home now for about a week and seems to be ok...altho to be fair, I have only seen him twice! The one time I saw him he was just swimming really nice and his head was moving around like he was taking in the sites.

He is out in our koi pond and isn't bothering the fish - if anything, they are probably bothering him as they are so damn nosy! When we first put him in the pond, he swam around the perimeter and they all followed him like it was a big parade. Cute as heck.

Anyway, he came up on his log for about 5 minutes today and went right back in the water again.

My question is, how do I know if he is eating ok? There is algae in the pond along with some water lillies (no sign of nibbles yet) along with some other plants. Since he has been in there a week and not eaten any pellets (we leave some on his log), how do I know if he is ok and not hungry?

He has taken over one of the fish houses as I have noticed they aren't going in one of them so he must have posted a keep out sign to them! LOL!!!

Pond is about 1100 gallons and has 90 degree sides with rock hanging over the edge to prevent 'breakout.'

He seems to be fine when I see him (which has been rare!) but as dumb as it sounds when I have seen him, he seems to be ok and just nosy about his new surroundings. BUT I am worried he may not be eating.

Can anyone help? Thanks so much. This site is so great for me as a new owner.

[marisa]

If he's still getting used to being in the pond, he may not feel comfortable leaving the water to get pellets off a log. With aquatic plants come snails, and I'm sure he's finding other things to eat as well. Can you put some pellets in the same area where he can some to the surface but still be semi-hidden by aquatic plants? I feed my turtles this way when they're outside. I can see them hiding among the plants watching me when I drop food in, then going to get them when they think I'm not around.

[65 Rambler Lady]

Thanks Marisa. We don't have snails in the pond. There are plenty of plants he could nibble on, water hyacinth, water lettuce, lillies etc.

I guess you're probably right, he's new yet and still feeling his way around. After being in a cattle tank with a couple rocks in the pet store, he probably thinks he either died and went to turtle heaven or he's been turned loose!

He is quite the character tho. When we were bringing him home, he wanted NO part of the box he was in as he couldn't see out of it. Then when we took off the lid, I don't know who was sizing up who more - us or him! He doesn't seem to miss much of what is going on around him that is for sure.

And that's why I want him to prosper and do good. He is such a neat guy and such a great addition to the menagerie we already have. I don't know why we always manage to pick out the nutty ones from the bunch..whether it's puppies, fish or birds, we always get the goofy ones who make us laugh.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond. I feel a bit better now.

[TheComputerGremlin]

I would put the pellets on the surface of the water, not out of the water. Turtles need to eat in the water, they don't have saliva, so he may be discouraged because he has to grab a pellet, jump in the water, grab another pellet ...

Eventually he'll become a little beggar and be excited when he sees you, cuz you mean food!

[Nettle]

I started out wit my turts in a pond with fish, too. We tried putting pellets on their rock so they wouldn't have to compete, but they didn't get it.

[SpotsMama]

If you put your fingers in the water and wiggle them to make a little bit of turbulence, your turtle may come to see what's going on and if maybe there is something good to eat. My turtle does this and I don't have trouble catching him when he's in his pond.

[Bascomb]

65 Ram Lady -- I am not sure you can make sure that your turtle is getting any food. If you put in floating turtle food the fish will get it. You may have to make a seperate area for him or get him out somehow. Good Luck. b.