Feeding and Nutrition :: What does "small meal" mean????

[mzkitty23]

Okay, here I go again with the feeding questions...I've read in several places that if I feed my RES once a day, I should feed him a "small meal." Well, what the heck is a "small meal" in turtle language? Basically, I have to feed him pieces of cooked meats with the veggies/fruit and/or turtle pellets strategically hidden inside. (trying to get him on a proper diet since he was never given that before and he's SET in his ways) So, I'm wondering how many piece of this concoction equals "small meal."

[BullDog]

How big is your turtle/approx how old is he?
For turtles under a year old, they should be fed a "head sized" amount every day. This is the amount of food that would fit in the head (NOT including neck) if it were hollow.
Adults can be fed a head sized amount every second day. If you want to feed him every day, you can feed him half a head size every day.

It could be that he's set in his ways because he knows that you're sure to give him the yummy meats if he refuses everything else
If he's healthy, you should try the "tough love" approach. Give him nothing but pellets/veggies for a week, and with luck he'll be hungry enough to try the staple food.
Too much meat = too much protein, which can cause pyramiding (shell problems), which then can lead to organ problems as well.

[mzkitty23]

He's around 12 years and he's prob 9"

I haven't done "tough love" yet because I just feel so bad because he was so neglected and poorly cared for at his previous home, but I certainly don't want to cause him any harm, as I am trying to give him the proper care that he deserves. So, I'll go "tough love" if I have to, but I'm trying the meat thing now and gradually increasing the amount of veggie versus meat in the bite until hopefully eventually he will eat the veggie alone, but I got to tell you he seriously hates the veggies with a passion, but I'm experimenting with a different one each day. Carrots have been most successful so far.

[BullDog]

That may work. So if you're feeding him every day, just feed him a half-head sized amount or less of meat. That may still be too much protein, since meat has a lot more protein than pellets. Perhaps a "quarter head sized" amount of meat, and a quarter sized amount of pellets + veggies? Oi, now it's getting complicated
You can go a bit more on the veggies, but if he's not eating them, you of course don't want them to get wasted.

[mzkitty23]

LOL. U said it! I think I should have named him "complicated" ha! Well, that's a good guideline for me on the amount he should get...thanks again!

[marvonio]

I had a "stick-a-tarian"...took her 3 months to even consider thinking anything besides a turtle stick was edible! Once put her in a small bowl with a live minnow. That minnow beat up my little myrtle and all she did was turn and face the corner of the container. So pathetic! Alas, she'll now consider blood worms and fish, but no luck on vegies (she's still just little, though)