Feeding and Nutrition :: My 2 year-old res doesn't wanna eat anymore.

[Vampirell]

Hello there. I have had my turtle for over a year now. She has always eaten with a great appetite, but the last two days she doesn't want to eat. She is still playful and energetic as always. The last few days the temperature has fallen way down, and I change her water 2-3 days a day to keep her constantly warm. I don't know why she doesn't want to eat. I tried feeding her two kinds of her favorite pellets but nothing. She smells them, and just walks away. Is this really a problem? What can I do? Thank you.

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Could you fill this out please

How big is your turtle?
How long have you had it?

What is the water temperature?
Did you use a thermometer?
Are you using a water heater?
How much water is in there?
Are you using a water conditioner?
Are you using any filtration?

What is the basking temperature?
Is there a basking light?
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on?
What kind is it or what is it made out of?
Is there a UVB light?

What have you been trying to feed it?
When was the last time your turtle ate?

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure?
Is the tank near a window?
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity?

Have you read the Basic Care section?
Have you searched the forums for similar situations?

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms?

[Vampirell]

She's about 8 cm long and 7 cm wide and I've had her for 14 months now.The water temperature about 27 degrees cel and I used a thermometer because I don't have a water heater. The lamp is 45w.

Here is a picture of her home. It's not much but at Christmas I will get her a much bigger one with all the things that she needs. The water covers her completely as you can see, and twice a day she climbs to her platform and stays there for hours. It's easily accesible as a big part of it is underwater.



I'm feeding her pellets, those that look like tiny shrimp, you know. And she always loved them. The last time she ate was the day before yesterday, today I hand fed her half a pellet. And then she walked away. The tank is next to a window and it's in my bedroom where our computer is so there is always someone in here.

Anyway thank you for answering to me, I'm new here so I will now take a look at the posts and the basic care section. Sorry if this was an unnecessary thread but I'm a little worried.

[steve]

Here are some ideas: http://redearslider.com/entice_eating.html

Is the water temperature consistent?

[Vampirell]

The water gets a bit cool for an hour or so and then I change it. I check the temperature every 2 or 3 hours.

My baby is used to pellets, will it eat the tuna?

[steve]

He/she should be attracted to the smell. Live foods work well since it stirs their predatory instincts.

[marisa]

Seasonal temperature changes can affect appetite...But why don't you just get a submersible water heater rather than keep adding water to keep up the water temp?

BTW, the tank needs more water in it. And from the pic, the edge of the ramp looks like it's barely touching the water.

[Vampirell]

No,if you can see where the ramp seems to be ending there is a shadow that continues. It's not a shadow, it's the extension of the ramp. It really does go underwater and right now my baby is sleeping up there.

She's growing very fast so at Christmas I will get her a much larger tank with water heater, thermometer, the works. Tomorrow I will try what Steve suggested with the tuna. But maybe it's the weather change as well, I read it in another thread too.

[TheComputerGremlin]

BUY A WATER HEATER. It's the cheapest component of the tank, really, and a constant temperature is needed for a healthy metabolism. And give yourself a break, you shouldn't need to change the water every 2-3 hours, and that's terrible to maintain a healthy tank with bacteria to break down the waste products, and it could be harsh on your turtle's skin, and it's stressful for the turtle.

Seriously, water heaters are like $20. You want 3-5W for every gallon of water, so for like a 50 gallon tank, you need a 150-250W heater. My 200W one, which is Top Fin brand, cost $20 at PetSmart. You can buy better brands for more, but mine is working fine after 2 years. It's one of the best things you can do for your turtle, trust me!

[Vampirell]

I want to thank everyone for their answers! My baby loved the tuna, she immediately walked towards it and with one sniff she ate it all! I will slowly try to feed her all the things you have suggested here on the forum. Thanks again! Me and my cutie are happy once again