General Care Discussion :: Rescue Turtles???

[SabrinaF]

Our rescue turtles are use to eating just minnows once a week. One is 6.5" the other is 4". If they get to hungry will they eat the lettuce and pellets I put in there? Or should I put some fish in there? We only got them last night and so far they bask all the time

[tammi]

Feeding only once a week isn't good. They should eat ever other day. Pellets and veggies are good. Fish only once or twice a month.

[SabrinaF]

I know that feeding only once a week isn't good. The girl that did own them didn't take good care of them. We just got them last night. They haven't eaten any pellets or lettuce yet. They are already very thin and I need to know what to do to entice them into eating.

[tammi]

Sometimes it takes a few days for them to destress. But you can always try smelly foods like tuna or krill. Just to get them started anyway.

[marisa]

When they were fed weekly, how many minnows were they given?

If you just got them and you think they're really thin, I'd feed them smaller amounts more frequently. If all they've ever seen is fish, they're not likely going to recognize pellets as food, at least not at first. I'd offer leafy greens and try earthworms (one or two each depending on the size) if they absolutely refuse pellets to keep their appetites up. Keep trying pellets, though.

[SabrinaF]

I soaked the pellets in tuna juice. It was no good, they still aren't eating. Currently in their tank is pellets, lettuce, and cuddlebone. Good thing is I did see the big one actually trying to eat the cuddlebone. Oh and they also have 2 cut up blueberries in there.

When I went to get them there were 3 or 4 live minnows and 2 dead. So maybe 10 to 15. I'm not really sure.

I say they are thin because when I lifted the bigger one up to get a pic of her underside it seemed as if all her body sunk to bottom of shell and her neck where it attaches to the shell was pulled really tight.

I am happy though they they bask almost all the time. They had no basking spot for months, couldn't even totally get out of water. So in that aspect they are happy. Now only if we could get our turtle to bask.