Feeding and Nutrition :: Picky eaters!

[branfarm]

Hi there. I have 1 RES and 1 Florida Cooter. I don't know their ages, but they are both about 5.5" long. Up until a couple weeks ago we fed them almost exclusively with Ectotherm Aquatic turtle yummies. As I'm sure some of you know, the Ectotherm factory was flooded and their website says they have no idea when/if they will return to business. Anyway, since we ran out of Yummies, we have had a heck of a time trying to find something that our turtles will eat! We've tried Reptomin Floating Foodsticks, but they won't touch those (they used to like those, but now they won't touch them). We've also tried grapes, apples, romaine lettuce, and cucumber. The only thing we can get them to eat is deli lunch meat. Yes, I know we shouldn't be feeding them a lot of deli meat because they'll get fat... but what can we do to help them break their pickiness?

Thanks in advance,

--Brandon

[Bladedvixen]

you will just have to try the tough love approach. feeding your turtles lunch meat is a definite no-no. Not only can they get "fat" they will grow much too fast which will result in pyramiding. There are many recepies on these forums for "turtle Jello" and ways to entice them to eat. you may want to try putting some canned tuna in a blender with lots of leafy greens and seeing if they will nip at that. then eventually phase out the tuna.

In all reality, they will eventually get hungry and will eat whatever it is you give them. Just dont fall for the cute little faces and give in

[octpusgirl8]

Ahhh so thats why non of the stores have Yummies any more! That sucks, my turts love them!

However, as Bladevixen said, they'll eat when they get hungry enough, At 5.5" thay can go a whule whithout eating so don't worry.

[branfarm]

At 5.5" thay can go a whule whithout eating so don't worry.

Thanks for the encouragement -- we've never had to give the "tough love" so it really will be tough! When you say they can go awhile without eating, how long is awhile?

[steve]

That would be based on your comfort level A healthy adult RES should be fine for a week -- really much longer, but I've never had that problem.