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My 5 y/o RES just stopped eating. Help?

PostPosted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 4:51 pm
by cherrypinup
I got him just before Christmas last year in a 20 gal tank with a container of Zoo Med pellets that they were feeding him once a week. I kept his setup the same, did everything the same, but then was told that he should be fed daily. Months ago I eased him into that and he seemed happy. I added ReptoMin floating food sticks, shrimp, whatever looked good at the store, we tried it.

For some fun, I raised guppies for him, but he won't eat them. (My mother's RES has fish in her tank she won't eat either) There were getting to be too many, so I put four females into his tank so they wouldn't get pregnant again and he suddenly stopped eating. After completely cleaning his tank twice (it was a mess from the accumulated food) I got him a Pleco thinking that would help. Eventually I took the females out, but still he wouldn't eat. I had to put him in another container for a week while I got his tank completely cleaned and reset-up.

The other container was colder (though I added warm water a few times a day), and exposed to more air (it was a guinea pig cage with a deep bottom) and he still wouldn't eat. He's all set up again and enjoying his warmer, normal home (76-78 deg), swimming around and playing with his rocks, coming to me when I go see him, trying to play with the fish in the next tank - but he still won't eat. From what I can guess, it's been 6-8 weeks since he last had more than a tiny nibble. Before we put the females in, his tank was moved to another room. Would stress make him stop eating? Any advice?

PostPosted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:21 pm
by pajamatree
If your turtle stops eating it might not be a good sign.
Just out of curiosity, do you have gravel in the tank?

Try soaking his food in tuna juice. My turtles hated veggies until I tried doing that and now they can't get enough!

PostPosted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:23 pm
by cherrypinup
I did replace the gravel that he came with, with small rocks. They're too large for him to eat.

He doesn't seem to be having any problems, it's like he just doesn't care to eat. But it's been too long, I'm worried. I count the pellets when I take them out (to avoid the tank going south again) but there's always the same number, but once there was one I saw him bite.

I will get some tuna and try the water, thanks.

PostPosted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 7:10 pm
by cherrypinup
I haven't tried anything different yet but he's suddenly eating again! I'm going to give it to him slowly, but hopefully he'll be back to his normal eating schedule, or whatever's normal for him.

Thanks for listening!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:14 pm
by steve
So you don't have a water heater? Some have RES that do exhibit some minor appetite/behavioral changes this time of year.

Is there anything in his tank to eat? Have you tried different pellets or the entice eating list?