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When I first got my RES, I fed her in her tank.....I have read that it is much easier on the maintenance end to take her out and feed her, which I have been doing with good results......Her tank stays much cleaner as well.....

I was just wondering what the rest of you guys do? Is it better not to stress her by taking her out? What is the consensus here?

Thanks

If your turtle is eating out of the tank, then I doubt at this point there is much stress.

I have two turtles and I like to take the easy way out by feeding them in the tank. I am fortunate enough that they each know which end is theirs at feeding time and they share the food. It makes the tank messy, but for me, it's a lot less time consuming.

I agree with Missi, if they're eating, they're not stressed. For my RES, its usually when they're finished and want out (or more), they'll try to climb out or swim frantically.

I used to feed out of the tank, but due to time constraints have started to feed my RES in the tank more (unless the food is unusually messy and the water has been changed recently). My painteds become uneasy when they're taken out to feed, so I feed them in the tank as well.

I fed out of tank at first because Petri would chew up the pellets and make a mess. Now he seems to pretty much swallow them whole, so I usually feed in tank.
I have noticed a lot more algae since I started feeding in tank, but it's been warmer as well.

nm

I feed my RES outside the tank, in a separate dish with water in it. It keeps her much cleaner!

The extra nutrients from leftover food as well as the added warmth (and light) all contribute to the formation of algae.

I feed my turts in the tank but have to pull one out at a time to feed them b/c they'll fight for the food.

I feed mine in tank...they share pellets nicely but Hyacinths are a different story. Sheldon won't let Bob near her Hyacinth so I make sure to put plenty in there for both of them.

birdlady wrote:I feed mine in tank...they share pellets nicely but Hyacinths are a different story. Sheldon won't let Bob near her Hyacinth so I make sure to put plenty in there for both of them.

I have a ? Are hyacinths easy and affordable to purchase? Does it make a huge mess? I need to get Sam to eat more greens.....I have not had much success with him on that front yet.......

I just bought a bunch of water hyancinths to be used in outdoor set-ups. My turtles don't really care for them, some turtles do, however. If they do like them, they will make a mess.

I like the way water hyancinths look, however, and they spread quickly (they're considered an invasive plant in some states and are therefore illegal. I had heard CT was considering making them illegal as well, and was surprised to find they haven't (at least not yet, anyway). They're also good cover for ponds/stock tanks and provide shade from the sun. My turts loved to burrow under them when the weather was really warm. They made decide they want to eat them this year, though. I purchased them from a garden center that sells aquatic plants. They were on sale for memorial day, $1.99 each (normally they sell for $2.99 each here).

If you want to try aquatic plants, try some anachris or duckweed (I bought some of this as well). Most turtles really like these plants.

I put some water lily bulbs in my tank...so far though it hasn't sprouted.
Plus, my turtles are ALREADY trying to eat it....
lol

We don't have a place that sells aquatic plants...I live in such a loser town :p

Well I priced the Hyacinths today at the petstore and they wanted $4.99 each or 2 for $9. A bit pricey for turtles to eat.
I get mine thru a fish store distributor who manages to snag about 20 plants for $20...$1 a piece..much cheaper.
They are messy plants as the turts will only eat the leaves and leave the root sections. But this makes great nursery material if left floating and you have fish in the ponds that lay eggs/babies (gives the babies places to hide until big enough to fend for themselves)
Yes, try Anacharis, Camboda, Hornwort.
Hyacinths are Illegal in South Carolina..as are the following:
Hyacinth
Lettuce
Ludwegia
Salvinia
Haven't heard yet if CT has banned them or not (I run a pond group and tend to keep up on the federal and state illegal plants to keep members informed)
If they get into the waterways they choke out the native plants. Lucky me, here in MI it's tooo cold in the winter for them to survive.
Holly

Thanks to all of you for the info !! I will try him out on some of these suggestions......