General Care Discussion :: Hatchling rapid growth

[Lusotartas]

Hello everybody

These are some of my turtles and the bigger hathling is my concern, he is from a beginning January clucth the others are middle February, but even with that difference of time it seems that is growing to fast!
I know he is eating a little more that was supposed, because is faster than the others, but anyway i think is better to ask here for other opinions.

They are feed twice a day 4x reptomin baby each +always present watercress or spinach

Just take a look to the shell and please comment ...




a few more shots ...to know what i mean about apettite

[Into_the_Mystic]

I am a new baby res owner myself, but from what I have read, you should only feed once a day and only the size of their head. Perhaps the big one is eating the most food?

[Into_the_Mystic]

I also notice the width of the lines in between his scutes.. I think this is a sign of too much protein as well.

I could be wrong though.

[kerby]

did he eat that bee?

sorry i can;t help i don't know to much about them

[Lusotartas]

Hi ! thanks for the replies.
Yes he ate the wasp all the way...

[steve]

How do you feed them? Do you just drop it into the tank? How big is their tank and what else do you keep in it?

[Lusotartas]

Hi Steve

I had feed them in their aquarium and at the same time, so i think is time to move each one to a separate aqua in feeding time, and reduce to 3 sticks of baby reptomin a day.
Is a simple aquarium 10 Gallons with a internal filter and a thermostat regulate to 77 F, the bulb is exoterra Pro serie Solar glow 125w
So the scutes are not with lumpy appearance, but you can see rings.
I think the problem was a little bit more food that is recommended?
What you think ?

[kerby]

Wow those are great pic (ooo im not being any help am i)
maby he is just a rare one and cute to!

[steve]

One can easily out compete the others, it's normal. However, you will need to separate them when feeding.

The scutes on the smaller 2 are fine, but it's obvious the other one is growing very fast. Also, it's not recommend to use a MVB on a small tank, and you need start thinking about larger tanks and more filtration.

[kerby]

Is he getting chubby from all his food?

[VeipaCray]

Please submit these photos into the photo contest. They are excellent shots.

[pan1k]

My hatchling gets about 6-7 reptomin sticks per day. Some get shared with the koi, Fishy Fiz. Itchy is about 2-3 months old and about 1.5 inches right now.

[Into_the_Mystic]

My hatchling gets about 6-7 reptomin sticks per day. Some get shared with the koi, Fishy Fiz. Itchy is about 2-3 months old and about 1.5 inches right now.

I read stuff like this and wonder if I am maybe underfeeding mine. Skimmer is about 4 months old (not sure) and I only feed him about 2 sticks and about 10 of the tiny little balls of hatchling food.

He still won't touch the lettuce, but of course loves anything high in protein like tuna and salmon.. Which he may get once or twice a month. I am going to try and make up some of the jello shot stuff and see if he like that.

[VeipaCray]

The rule of thumb posted on this forum and the main site is to feed your turtle an amount of food equivalent in size to your turtle's head if it were hollow each day.

[kerby]

What is the water temp maby to high i know that that can induce rapid growth.