Feeding and Nutrition :: Bottom feeding turtle

[FLhaven4strays]

Does anyone else's turtle prefer food that has sunk to the bottom of the tank?

I've always seen turtles eating floating food / plants / pellets, but my 5" RES Mercer likes to eat pellets that have sunk to to bottom of the pond. He's a shy guy - tends to go under when people are near the pond and has never let me hand feed him. He does get plenty of chances to eat floating food - Liza is a pig but not a bully and neither of them have ever shown aggression. I have seen him eating along with Liza at the surface, but he most often eats the sunken pellets...no matter what brand they are. There are always pellets left over among the floating plants but I leave them there so he has food - either at the surface or after they sink.

Anyone else have a turtle like this?

[SpotsMama]

My turtle always eats his pellets while they are still floating; however, he eats veggies and occasional shrimp that have sunk to the bottom of the tank. He cruises around looking at the bottom frequently, looking for something to eat I think.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Sheba frequently goes to the bottom of the tank to look for little bits of food or whatever. Totally normal.