General Care Discussion :: Looking for Advice

[Bobelly1978]

Hello! I am new to this site and forum and hoping to get some answers to some questions I have about my turtle, George. I have had him for over a year and he is about a year old. His shell is about 4" long by 3.5" wide. He lives in a 20 gallon tank (the one sold by Zilla?) and has a red light, a UVB light, a heater, a filter and a dock. He seems like an active little guy, he likes it when I take him out of his tank and let him walk around the house or outside when it is nice out. He is a VERY picky eater - he only eats his green pellets and river shrimp. He was eating twice a day but now I just dropped him down to once a day as he wasn't eating much and I think he is getting chubby legs. I've tried to get him to get off of the river shrimp and onto lettuce and other vegetables (such as carrots) and fruits (bananas, strawberries) and he won't eat any of them. Is there anything else you can recommend that I try to feed him? Also he sheds his scutes which I know is normal but I recently read that if he is shedding them a ton, that is not good. They are not necessarily shedding(falling off) all at once, but when he is out of his tank and walking around, you can see them all drying up and flipping up like they are ready to fall, all around his shell. His shell does not feel soft underneath, is there something else I should check for? I can try to take some pictures next time I have him out so you can see. He also has a whitish spot on top of his head which I thought was dry skin that would eventually peel off but it has not yet. I read that it could be anything from fungus to hard water. Aside from these things, he seems to be doing well and is very active. Any advice or recommendations are welcome! Thanks in advance!

[rsour24]

for the food you could try making jello shots. there is a thread for it on here

[theartbook35]

If your turtle is shedding to much that means he/she is likely growing to quickly.

You may need to get a bit tough with your turtle. Offer leafy greens, such as romaine lettuce only, during the regular time that you feed your turtle. The turtle may refuse it, so, leave it there, and check back in an hour or so to see what happens. Some turtles like to eat veggies in privacy. The yummiest type of lettuce is "butterhead", which my turtles go crazy for. Even my oldest turtle, who is very stubborn, will eat butterhead.

You can try carrots and blueberries too. Turtles are usually attracted to bright colors, so, it will definitely get your turtle interested enough to bite it and check it out. Once he/she realizes it is food, he/she will eat it.

[steve]

Well, they will likely shed less if they're growing too quickly. If he sheds annually, that's very good.

For lettuce, try using a veggie clip. It'll hold it in place so your turtle can nibble and try it when he feels like it. You can also try some aquatic plants too. If he doesn't eat them or shred them, they'll live in your tank.

[papoopeepoo]

Well, they will likely shed less if they're growing too quickly. If he sheds annually, that's very good.

For lettuce, try using a veggie clip. It'll hold it in place so your turtle can nibble and try it when he feels like it. You can also try some aquatic plants too. If he doesn't eat them or shred them, they'll live in your tank.

co-sign. Also, try the jello shots rsour24 mentioned.

[Bobelly1978]

Thank you all for the feedback! I greatly appreciate it! I will be running some errands today and will pick up a veggie clip as well as the butterhead lettuce and see if that works. I think you are right - I just need to get tough with him and stop the other stuff and if he's hungry enough, hopefully he will eat the greens. I will also look for the jello shots thread - that sounds really interesting! I took a few pictures of George the other day so you could see his shedding and will try to post them soon. Thank you again so much and I will keep posted on his progress!

[VeipaCray]

If you get a plant for your turtle to eat, get some anacharis from your local pet store.
1. it's cheap
2. safe for turtles to eat
3. they like it
4. most important - it can grow without being anchored. It's also called water weed. It grows like crazy in just about ANY water

[sflemin2]

You will want to grow it in a separate container.. they eat plants quick!I have some growing in a big planter full of water outside No filters or anything. The plants cost like $5 and they grow quickly. Pretty good investment if you ask me