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Ok So My RES Rolo Just got back into her tank and since I wasn't sure if she was eating the pellets I gave her I bought some little orange minnows for her to munch on. Well she was on the hunt as soon as the first fish hit the water. Unfortunatly, she was having trouble becasue she didn't get enough grip on the bottom of the tank so the little fishies were basically teasing her. To make it easier for her I cut one in hald and placed it in her tank. she completley ignored it and continued to chase the moving ones. So then I crippled one so it wouldn't swim as fast as the others and she might have a chance at getting one. She was starting to look desperate, and frusterated. Still i put pellets and other food items that didnt move, or move as much, but she spit the cricket out and continued with the fish. I have no Idea if she actually got the crippled one, i didnt's see it swimming around the tank this morning but it could have been hiding under the log.

Here is the thing though, When there was actualy fish just hanging out by her head while she was chasing them, she didn't even snap at them. Its making me wonder if there is somehting wrong with her eyes. I hope not. She only went after the ones that moved. Its almost like the t-rex thing in Jurrasic Park. her eyes looked ok when I checked her that morning except for the shedding skin around them. I don't know. I'll try and get pictures but if it sounds like an eye problem please let me know!

Crippling fish makes me feel a bit squemish :S
But especially if she's young and this is the first time she's seen a fish, she won't be the most efficient hunter. I'm sure she'll get the hang of it eventually.
I doubt it's her eyes if they otherwise look healthy and she's acting normally. She probably just got tired of chasing them for the day so didn't bother trying to get the ones near her head.

Also, I'm not sure if this is true for turtles, but most predatory animals (like cats) have eyes that are finely tuned to movement. If the prey isn't moving, it isn't nearly as interesting as something that's darting about. It's just a basic instinct that fresh meat is better than something that's been dead a while.

I still remember when i put feeder fish with my turtles (they are still babies at that time). They cant catch it with just one attempt. This is how they catch the fish. after many attempts of catching the fish, they would eventually bite some pieces of their fins and the tail. Then the fish with the missing fins or tail would now be a very slow swimmer. The turtles would then catch them easily.

With more than a year of experience with my turtles. There are multiple instances that i would think have problems seeing. But then this is what i noticed. When I'm feeding then they cant see the pellets even if it is near their head. I think is about their focus and peripheral vision. I been handing feeding then eversince they were babies. I did an experiment. I'm holding a pellet on each of my hand. I will get their attention by my right showing them the pellet. They will be focused on that hand. They will be so excited that even if i put my left hand closer with another pellet they wont notice it until i wiggle it. Its not that they have poor eyesight coz they can see people pretty far from them. They can even see be hiding in my window when I'm watching them bask outside. I think their focus and attention covers just a little area that is why they will give you an impression that they cant see it, even if it is near then.

They are attracted to movement, so the moving fish would have caught her attention more than stationary food.

They tend to be nearsighted and rely more on smell rather than sight for food closer to them.

well the only reason i crippled it was becasue she hadn't eaten in a very very long time. she ate it though and she seems to be doing much better. i was thinking that was more of the issue since her eyes were clear and responding to light. Thanks guys!