General Care Discussion :: BABY EASTERN PAINTED TURTLE

[joshr82192]

I have an eastern painted turtle, and ever since I have had him he has been on pellets, and I am now offering meal worms and he wont touch them, should I keep them in the tank and keep offering it to him?

[Bascomb]

I would suggest that you not offer them food os every other day. You can offer with with your hand.

[Starchick]

How old is he? Mealworms aren't the best thing for turtles, you need to be offering vegetables, even if he doesn't eat them at first. Try shredded carrots, most turtles love those. If he doesn't eat, take the food back out so it doesn't dirty the tank. Reptomin is fine, but they do need more vegetables as they get older.

[marisa]

When you say "baby," how old/big do you mean? I'd skip the mealworms and offer an earthworm (or pieces of one if he's really small) instead (much more nutritious and easier to digest). They tend to be a bit more carnivorous than RES, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't offer some plant matter. If you can buy it in your state, get some anacharis (aquatic plant) and keep a strand or two in his tank. Try also some red leaf lettuce, dandelions or romaine lettuce. I've got three Eastern Painteds and they'll eat all those foods. For foods containing beta carotene (good to add some Vit A to the diet), they like lightly steamed pieces of sweet potato best.