General Care Discussion :: Weird Eating Habits

[TNTurtles]

I have two 6 month old RES. They are about 2 1/2 inches each and live in a 50 gallon tank. The water temperature stays at a constant 79 and the basking light keeps the rock around 88-90. Since i've gone back to college I left them under the care of my mom (who absolutly adores them).

Here's the problem, Leo (who used to be a pig when eating) is not eating as much. On average they get 10 baby pellets in the morning as their daily meal. When my mom tries to feed him she says that he hides down in the bottom and even if he does come to the top to eat he'll only have around 4-6 pellets. I've asked her if Davinci seems to be bullying him for the food and she said that she tried taking Davinci out while Leo eats. She also tried putting Leo in a seperate feeding bowl. Nothing has worked. Earlier in the summer mom and I would feed them together so they would get used to her, so I don't think he's that scared of her.

And by the way, there are no rocks or anything he could have swallowed to become impacted. But, is my turtle just tired of that type of food?? Or could it be something big wrong??

[cprcheetah]

I would do a 'timed' feeding for them. Feed them boh in a separate container and leave them in there for 15 minutes or so. Then what they don't eat...discard. Try keeping their feeding times at the same time each day, so they get used to a routine. This has helped Zekes appetite,. Also are you feeding them any fresh food, greens? I put 1-2 romaine or red leaf lettuce in his tank each day and he nibbles as he's in the mood. Do he act sick or anything? Is he smaller than the other one?

[TNTurtles]

I usually feed them at the same time every day. Always in the morning. I've tried feeding them in a seperate container but they don't like that anymore and they dont eat in there. I feed them lettuce all the time. There is always fresh lettuce in their tank. He doesn't seem to be acting sick besides that he is not eating. And no, they are the exact same size. Like i said he used to eat like a pig.

[marisa]

If you feed the same thing day after day, I would think your turtle will eventually get sick of it (I would if I have no/minimal variety in my diet). Turtles can get turned off to a food only to start eating it again when they haven't had it for a while. My RES did this with anachris and for a while dandelions.

[TNTurtles]

so should i try buying a different brand of pellets to feed him as his daily meal? I use Reptomin Baby Pellets. Like i said there are fish, lettuce, shrimp treats and other things i feed them, so the pellets are not the only thing they get to eat.

[marisa]

I do alternate different pellets with my turts, but I've never had a hatchling get sick of Reptomin Baby when that was the main pellet I was giving. I was thinking more of your comment that there was alway fresh lettuce in the tank---I'd give other greens than just lettuce. Do you give any live food like earthworms?

[cprcheetah]

Zeke seems to know that he gets fed when I get home from work each evening. He goes crazy swimming and splashing around until I feed him. So I know he doesn't mind the mundaneness of getting fed every day at the same time...but he is my 1st turtle so each turtle may be different.