Feeding and Nutrition :: My turtle only ....

[megcornell]

Hahaha... no living creature should be eating hot dogs.
I couldn't agree more.
Hope the tough love works.

[untsmurf]

Well, they may just like hot dogs a lot. But you can't give it to them. Follow everyone's advice and only give them pellets, they won't starve themselves to death if you don't give them hot dogs. Eventually, they will eat the pellets. You could try holding the pellet for him and letting him eat out of your hand.

[Starchick]

Is your turtle new? He might just be too stressed out to feel like eating. Keep an eye out for symptoms of illness, like open mouthed breathing, runny nose or eyes, swollen eyes, lopsided swimming, lethargy or excessive basking. Check out the health section of this site so you know what to look for, but if everything is normal don't worry too much about not eating. How long has he gone without eating? I've read that it's normal for some turtles to stop eating for as long as 2 weeks at a time (although I think I'd be worried too!) Try soaking the pellets in tuna juice, it'll make them very tasty, and maybe get him used to eating them.

[industrial_girl_2000]

it is 78-80........ what am i doing wrong?

Nothing. You have to be patient. Turtles don't eat just because you put something in front of their face (as you already found out when you tried to feed him pellets). You have to be tough. Don't give him hotdogs. That is some of the worst "meat" out there because it has a boat-load of preservatives & chemicals in it.

I would vary his diet by adding some earthworms, feeder guppies, and buy an anacharis plant for his tank. Baby turts love those anacharis plants & will play in them as well as eat the leaves. Also, don't give up on the pellets. Don't worry if he doesn't eat them in 5 minutes....be tough! Leave the pellets in there for longer....say an hour, then scoop out any uneaten food. He has to get used to the real food, not the fake stuff.

Don't worry if he doesn't eat right away. Several days of not eating will persuade him to try the foods you are giving him. Eventually he will get used to it. But you have to be PATIENT and don't just "give in". Turtles have a very slow metabolism & he will not starve.

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

I JUST WITNESSED HIM EAT A PELLET!!!!! IM SO HAPPY!!!!!! they thing is... they are kinda too big and theey are the baby reptomin pellets.... if i cut them in have it breaks into too small of peices.... Oh, well he still figured out a way to eat them... im gonna go watch him some more!!

[Safdar]

Congratz
Just remember to not overfeed in the excitement

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

oh, i didnt... i only put five peices in...... is that over feeding?

[steve]

This page explains Frequency and Quantity www.redearslider.com/pellets.html

Next, try some veggies

[marisa]

You've let your turtle become fixated on hot dogs. Now he doesn't want to eat anything but them and is resistant to trying new foods. I'd try getting the scent of a cooked hot dog on some other food and seeing if he's interested in it.

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

he has been eating his pellets very well....

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

how do i put lettuce and carrots in?they float right down to the bottom... and he pretends he doesnt see thim... then it gets all messy and i have to clean it out..... (i've tried veggies before)

[untsmurf]

Hold it for him and let him eat out of your hand. Some members have veggie clips.

[SaweetTURTLE:)]

he is still scared of me ... if i hold it all he'll do is swim to the bottom franticlly and hide.... where can i get a veggies clip?

[DavidY]

Pet stores sell them. They're plastic clips with a big suction cup attached so you can stick it to the side of the tank and clip a piece of lettuce in it.

[Tenodera]

If you have a rock you could just hold it under a rock.