Feeding and Nutrition :: Feeding

[Deon]

Hi, what is the longest time a 4 inch turtle can go without food? I've heard many answers from a month to 3 days so im wondering if anyone knows the most accurate answer? thanks

[Tenodera]

I'd guess about a week, but that would really be pushing it.

[TheComputerGremlin]

If you are looking to go on vacation, a long weekend and the turtle should be fine, so like 3ish days. If you are going to be gone for a whole week, you should probably find someone to look in on your turtle midweek and feed him, that way if anything else happens, your friend might find out prior to him being ill for a long period of time alone.

You can also buy these automatic fish feeders and fill it with pellets to dispense while you are away. You just have to find one that fits your size pellets.

If you will be away for a few days, sometimes it's best to drop in a few feeder fish and some anacharis plants so they can munch.

[Deon]

ooh ok, and by the way, do they eat guppies? I saw they do in the live food section but my turtle seems to leave them alone.

[Daniel3507]

an auto feeder would be good if your gone alot. they eat guppies and rosy reds. after awhile your turtle will be notice them. anacharis would be good like thecomputergremlin said.

[SpotsMama]

Some turtles like to eat live prey and some are indifferent. You should know, though, that if your turtle likes minnows, for example, and you put a bunch of them in the tank hoping that the turtle will know to eat a few every day, then you'll probably find instead that he/she has eaten all of the minnows immediately, then has nothing at all for the rest of the time you're gone. Like someone once said (megcornell, I believe), turtles are no good at all at food budgeting.

An auto feeder is good if you don't have a person that could look in on them from time to time. Try it out before you go to make sure it's working properly.