General Care Discussion :: How many minnows is too many?

[SebastianMillhouse]

The last time I gave my turtle some Rosy minnows was about a year ago. He was only able to catch one and gave up on the rest. They lived in his tank for so long that they faded out and turned silver!

I was at the pet store yesterday buying aquarium salt (I read that a very small amount in a turtle tank will keep their skin healthy and algae to a minimum) when I decided to buy some minnows. I bought 5 and put them in my turtle's tank. This time he ate four of them and devoured them all within 5 minutes! He didn't even shred them apart, he just swallowed them whole! The only reason he never got the fifth one is because it looked like it had a tumor and I took it out.

I don't know if he just faster since last time, or maybe the minnows the weren't able to hide since I took the algae-covered river rocks out for cleaning. Either way, my turtle seems to like them and I want to be able to give him a bigger variety of food.

Is about three or four a week good?

Also, running to the pet store everytime he goes in predator mode isn't great either. Could I just buy a bunch of minnows and raise them in a separate fish tank?

Thanks!

[powerofvoodoo]

I'm not sure about how many to feed them so I'll leave that question to someone else but...

Yes, you can raise them in a separate tank if you're prepared to take care of them and for their breeding. It has its advantages because once the store bought ones fade out and only their babies are left, you know that they are probably healthy unlike most of the feeder fish found in petstores, therefore you don't have to worry (as much) about parasites.

[TXGUY]

hi, I was told here by few members to don't feed mu turtle to often with minnos,(not a lot vitamin or nutrients on this fishes ) So i do once a month , in fact, lastnight i went to petsmart and got 10 minnos but the gay was lazy to count them so he gave my what ever he catched with the net, ABOUT 20 , so what i did ?????? I just put them all in the tank this morning, Boy!!! Donatello and baby turtle went crazy , they never got so many fishes in their lives, but they will not get more till nex month ( there some left, they may last for the whole month , they hide and swim fast )

[Safdar]

How big is your turtle?
If he isnt a hatchling, then feed him those 3-4 Rosy reds every 2 weeks, feeder fish have alot of protien, so do not over do the protien.

Are you feeding him veggies

[untsmurf]

I'm pretty sure it isn't a hatchling, since you said you fed him fish a year ago. Now, four minnows isn't that bad. They aren't incredibly nutritious so you want to feed them to your turt as a treat. And as long as you do that and the rest of his diet is healthy and balanced, then you won't have a problem.

[SebastianMillhouse]

I feed my turtle about 10 pellets a day now. I'm slowly reducing the amount of pellets and offering more lettuce.

I should probably be feeding him every other day by now, right?

[untsmurf]

Yes, and ten pellets is probably too much if he's only a year old. He needs just enough to fill the size of his hollow head, minus the neck.