Feeding and Nutrition :: How to feed carrot?

[worldpeace]

I want to introduce carrots into my turtle's diet and I'm not sure what's the best way to do that. Charlie is 1.5 inches and I don't know if he'll be able to bite and chew a raw carrot. Would it be alright if I boiled it a little so it's softer and easier to eat? Is a raw carrot better than a boiled one (vitamins, nutrition value)?

I lost two turtles to RI which started as a simple vitamin A deficiency, so I want to make sure Charlie gets plenty of vitamin A.

By the way, he's a big fan of lettuce and dandelion leaves, not to mention pellets. He's not to interested in basking yet but I take him outside for about an hour every day so he can dry off and also get some natural sunlight.

[jenaero]

For carrots, I cut them into shavings (I don't have a grater) and they eat them pretty easily.

[MommaEich]

I just use a veggie peeler to make long strips and clip them inside the tank with a fish veggie clip, that way he can push off the glass to rip off pieces of the strips.

[marisa]

Veggie peeler to make the peels long and wiggly like worms.

[worldpeace]

Thanks a lot guys. I'll try that.

[theartbook35]

When mine were littler, I fed them thin strips. Those seemed to be easier for them to bite into.

Now, since they are double in size (And have quite the strong bite now) I usually cut up small blocks, and puncture them with my nails a little in case they can't chew them up enough.

I know full grown turtles (9 to 12 inches) can eat half of a baby carrot, without it needing to be shaved or chopped up.

[Cryptic]

I know full grown turtles (9 to 12 inches) can eat half of a baby carrot, without it needing to be shaved or chopped up.

well, yesterday I gave him half a baby carrot and he ate it all and he's just 2 inches. Was very funny to watch it hang on the carrot trying to bite it. Anytime I put a carrot in the tank he go for it as fast as he can, i'm glad that he like veggies at his age!

[worldpeace]

I was really surprised when mine ate a big chunk of lettuce 2 days after I got him, and he's less than 2 inches.

I wanted to try the shavings today but realized I have no carrots in the house so Charlie would have to wait a few more days until I go shopping.

Also, I tried something new for the past few days. I started to put his pellets up on the beach (turtle dock). He doesn't like to bask so I thought that this would be a good way to entice him to go up there and make himself more familiar with the area. I stay close to the tank while he eats them so he gets used to me being around.

[jozzep]

Just dice it up and give it to him.......

[rosarocks14]

i chop mine real small and she goes right after them

[theartbook35]

I know full grown turtles (9 to 12 inches) can eat half of a baby carrot, without it needing to be shaved or chopped up.

well, yesterday I gave him half a baby carrot and he ate it all and he's just 2 inches. Was very funny to watch it hang on the carrot trying to bite it. Anytime I put a carrot in the tank he go for it as fast as he can, i'm glad that he like veggies at his age!

That is just a tad too much carrot for a 2 inch turtle in my opinion. Way cool that your little one takes to veggies so easily ^___^

[worldpeace]

I gave him carrot shavings a few days ago. He seemed to be really excited at first (he was probably hungry), took a few bites and never touched them after. I'll keep trying, maybe one day he'll start liking them.

Thanks guys for the suggestions.