Feeding and Nutrition :: enticing appetites

[das808]

I just got these two baby RES--both around the size of a half-dolloar coin--about 4 days ago and they haven't eaten anything yet.

Right now, they're housed in a 20 gallon tank. Water temp is 78-80 degrees and filtered by Duetto 100. Lighting consists of a 60 watt daytime blue bulb and a exo terra fluorescent 5.0 uvb bulb. Lights are on for 12 hours.

I drop two reptomin baby floating pellets in the morning. They have yet to eat any of the pellets because the pellets are still there when I come home from work. What can I do to improve appetite?

[RESnTX]

First off, know that it sometimes takes several days or longer, for new turtles to feel secure and comfortable enough to bask or eat. You could try soaking the pellets in some tuna juice first to see if it makes them more appealing. You could also try feeding them in a seperate, shallow container. This keeps the tank cleaner and it may help to train them to know when feeding time is. When mine was still a tiny baby I fed him in a small plastic bowl til he got the hang of it. He got VERY excited when it was plastic bowl-feeding time. Also look at the Basic Care section here for feeding guidelines.

[TupacTheTurle]

try soaking the pellets in tuna juice...

[JAS722]

Many people problably will not agree with me, but when I first got my babies (July) they would not eat any pellets for over a weak so I gave them boiled chicken and they loved it, a few days later I re-introduced pellets and they ate them. . . they have been eating ever since!

[das808]

you guys were right. They just needed some time. Both are eating just fine after two weeks in their new home.

Now, how about cuttlebones? I just bought some and I'm wondering if you guys just let float in the tank or set it near their basking area?

[JAS722]

You can just let it float.

[marisa]

Since they're so small, they're probably not going to be interested in cuttlebone right away. They're be more apt to be, though, if you make the pieces really small and thin so they can be easily broken up.