Feeding and Nutrition :: Natural diet??

[tss]

I have a small RES who's name is Carvin.. He is about 2.5" across.

I feed my dogs a natural diet consisting of raw meat, organ and bone. Just like they would get in the wild.. So I am thinking, does my RES have to eat pellets or can I just feed it what it would get in the wild?? What all would a good varied diet consist of? I have only had him two weeks, he has eaten a lot of red worms (which I raise), he has had a little bit of peach, a bit of fish food (Omega One, and Aqueon algae rounds,, which he likes to steal from the fish), and a little bit of raw beef and chicken (which I read is bad?). What I read said the raw meat is bad due to the salmonella on it, what if the meat is super fresh and I know how it is handled? I help raise meat rabbits and they go from alive and kicking to in my freezer within about an hour.. And rabbit is really lean so it wouldn't be too fatty.

[BullDog]

I'm not sure, but it sounds like a natural diet would be really healthy for your RES. However, red meat or bird wouldn't be part of your turt's diet. In the wild, RES would be eating fish and bugs for protein, and I've read they may eat a bit of carrion. A bit of fresh rabbit now and then wouldn't be bad (I'm thinking just a small strip), I'm sure, but I think the biggest concern you would have is how much to feed them. Since meat is packed with protein, you wouldn't want to overdo it (since excess protein can cause pyramiding).

What you should also be adding to his diet is veggies. Check out the sticky at the top of this forum and the nutritional info on the main site for veggies that are good for your RES.

He'll also need some calcium. Cuttlebone is a cheap way to add calcium to your turtle's diet, just be sure to remove the backing before you give it to him.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Yeah, I think that a natural diet, as long as it's natural to the turtle (like BullDog said, fish and bugs) should be fine. I have two concerns. The first is, as BullDog mentioned, pyramiding. Many turtle owners find that they cannot do portion control and pyramiding occurs, which is very bad. The second is a balance of vitamins and minerals, which the pellets provide. You would probably want to find a way of supplementing the diet with those.

When it comes to raw diets for any animals, as you've already learned, it's all about knowing how fresh the meat is and the quality. A main reason that raw diets and raw fish are discouraged is because, frankly, what we humans eat is really disgusting and dangerous if not completely cooked. That's a key reason that I won't consider putting my animals on a raw diet, because I don't trust our supermarkets!

[jozzep]

Yeah, I think that a natural diet, as long as it's natural to the turtle (like BullDog said, fish and bugs) should be fine. I have two concerns. The first is, as BullDog mentioned, pyramiding. Many turtle owners find that they cannot do portion control and pyramiding occurs, which is very bad. The second is a balance of vitamins and minerals, which the pellets provide. You would probably want to find a way of supplementing the diet with those.

When it comes to raw diets for any animals, as you've already learned, it's all about knowing how fresh the meat is and the quality. A main reason that raw diets and raw fish are discouraged is because, frankly, what we humans eat is really disgusting and dangerous if not completely cooked. That's a key reason that I won't consider putting my animals on a raw diet, because I don't trust our supermarkets!

Well turtles are also scavengers in the wild, so i don't think the meat or fish they get to eat is always so fresh.

[tss]

Yeah, out of the over 1700 pounds my dogs and ferrets eat each year less then 100 or 200 pounds of the meat is store bought. The rest either comes from a farm where I process it or the farmer does.. Plus I get a lot of beef and deer from a slaughterhouse, the place is extremely clean. They spray all of the tables, saws, knives, etc down with bleach everyday.. They put all of the trim and bones in clean barrels, and during the winter they move the barrels outside where they become partially frozen. I get the scraps within 2 days.. With the rabbits, the breeder snaps their necks and I take them straight home to the freezer.

Right now I am working on getting Carvin to except veggies. Once I get him to do that I can rotate, bugs one day, veggie the next, fruit and meat once week.

[TheComputerGremlin]

You can certainly breed the bugs yourself, much more reliable that way anyhow. Typically we feed things like crickets and worms, both of which are best if you can get them from the pet store (though we have frequently found issues with that as well) or raised by yourself pesticide free. I would say to stay away from a lot of the meats like beef/chicken, since it's less natural, but you could certainly get a tank and breed your own rosie red minnows. As long as things are in moderation, it would certainly be a more natural route to take, and you'd be controlling all of the foods, which is just awesome. There are a few fish breeders floating around the board as well. Any "extras" that you have left over can be frozen or freeze-dried, or you could find other local people to take some from you, like many other reptiles and amphibians eat crickets, and different types of aquatic species eat rosie reds.

I think what you do is really great, and I'd love to be close enough to barter with you!