Feeding and Nutrition :: Feeding Frequency-All at once, or smaller portions 2-3 times

[KevinG]

Is it better to feed a turtle it's daily requirement all at once, or smaller portions throughout the day?

Also, is our current diet for our turtles ok? I just want to make sure we are not missing anything from their diet:

-4" scl and about 1.5 years old.

-Feeding pellets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (about size of head, and all at once)

-Red or green leaf lettuce rest of days; Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday (about the size of their shell, all at once)

-A couple of chunks of cuttlebone (with hard backing removed) a few times a week.

Thanks for your help.

[MommaEich]

I feed 2 smaller meals a day, in the morning Charger gets some greens (either romain, red leaf, water lettuce or some duckweed) that are about the size of his shell. In the evening he gets either pellets, a cricket, or a veggie (so far hes had carrot and squash)depending on the day and another smaller amount of greens (around 1/2 shell).

My theory is wild turtles dont usually get just one change to feed during the day and it helps with his begging during the day if he has a snack in the morning:)

[jenaero]

I prefer to feed once in the morning.. that gives them the day to bask/digest and exercise it off.

[jozzep]

I feed 2 smaller meals a day, in the morning Charger gets some greens (either romain, red leaf, water lettuce or some duckweed) that are about the size of his shell. In the evening he gets either pellets, a cricket, or a veggie (so far hes had carrot and squash)depending on the day and another smaller amount of greens (around 1/2 shell).

My theory is wild turtles dont usually get just one change to feed during the day and it helps with his begging during the day if he has a snack in the morning:)

Well your turtle isn't wild....
Wild turtles eat whenever they have a chance to.Sometimes they don't eat for days.

[tammi]

I feed small amount in the morning and then a small amout in the evening. Then I leave plants for them to graze on when they want.

[untsmurf]

I feed everything all at the same time.

[MommaEich]

I feed 2 smaller meals a day, in the morning Charger gets some greens (either romain, red leaf, water lettuce or some duckweed) that are about the size of his shell. In the evening he gets either pellets, a cricket, or a veggie (so far hes had carrot and squash)depending on the day and another smaller amount of greens (around 1/2 shell).

My theory is wild turtles dont usually get just one change to feed during the day and it helps with his begging during the day if he has a snack in the morning:)

Well your turtle isn't wild....
Wild turtles eat whenever they have a chance to.Sometimes they don't eat for days.

Obviously, I was just giving my reason for why I think twice a day is better for MY turtle but thank you for your input.

[KevinG]

I would think eating frequency similar to a natural diet would be best. I'm not an expert, but I'm guessing they probably can find some sort of food frequently throughout the day in the wild. I think I might switch their diet from once a day to 2-3 times a day when I can.

[tammi]

I know mine like to hunt for their food so I will occasionally (once a week) hid meal worms and earth worms for them in their tanks. They really seem to like it.

[MommaEich]

I know mine like to hunt for their food so I will occasionally (once a week) hid meal worms and earth worms for them in their tanks. They really seem to like it.

Thats a fun idea, might have to try that:)

[TurtleKeeper48]

Ours get fed every other day.

I follow the rule of thumb of feeding what they can eat in one hour, every other day.

I feed some good chunks of cuddle bone and give them about 20 minutes to eat as much as they will, then I feed Romain Lettuce - one large leaf for Laverne and Shirley (4" and 5") and they take about 20 minutes to eat. My son's turt, Rosa, is offered the Romain but she doesn't like it too much yet (she's also 4" but much younger). Sometimes we do carrots uinstead of Roamain, and Rosa does eat her carrots better than the older two - but we still offer the carrots to the older turts. After cuddle bone and veggies, they get pellets - they all prefer nutrifin but we switch it up with reptomin also - either way, about a teaspoon per turt and they take about 20 minutes to eat it. For a total of one hour's worth of feeding. Once a month we do fruit - all three LOVE blue berries. We feed about 3-4 berries per turt. Feeder fish just for fun sometimes after a trip to the pet store, but not with any frequancy and not really part of their nutrition plan.

On the "off days" or "no feeding" day's they go hungry and like it! Well, Laverne still begs, so I'll give a little cuddle bone, especially if she is trying to eat her floating dock again.

[adam85491]

I feed once per day, and I give them as much as would fit in there head if it was hollow.