Feeding and Nutrition :: how's everyone feed their RES?

[coopersnow]

Does everyone feed their RES in a separate container? I'm having lots of problems with keeping the water clean when I leave sticks in, and my turtles pretty much never eat right away.

[freshprince2146]

I feed my turtle in my tank. Then again he"s 3 inches long and in a 75 gallon.

Filtration is key

[Saga]

How often do you feed them and how big are they?
If they don't eat it within 15 minutes or so - just fish it up again and try later/next day. Keep some aquatic plants in the tank, then they have something to eat if they're hungry.

I've never had any problem getting my turtles to eat almost right away. Most food barely hits the water before it's in their mouth or they're chasing after it When I made my own food (mixed fish and sallad in gelatin) I used feed it in the sink because it got so messy.

[Sir Max]

I Agree with saga

when i first got my hatchling he didnt want to eat the sticks for hours and hours

but now he eats them so fast i have to soak them in water before i give them to him

because he has trouble breaking them apart

i can dangle the stick above him and he will take it from my fingers

if they dont eat it within 15-30 mins take it out and try later

[coopersnow]

I'm trying to take it out but the stupid filter jet often shoots it off into a corner or unaccessible area so I can't really :S

I think my turtles just have to get used to me a bit more, the bigger one usually is ready to eat right away but still freaked out from me dropping the food in.

I still have to try the tuna juice thing.. I don't know where to find it.

[Sir Max]

Well if you buy a can of tuna

you usually empty out the juice before you open it (or atleast i do)

just empty the juice in a cup or what not

and dip it in

[roseK]

i feed pellets by hand, so if he doesnt want anymore (which is NEVER) i can stop, or i just stop when i know hes had enough

[bigG]

When my RES were much younger and smaller, I fed them in a smaller tank outside filled with water. Now that they are much larger, I just feed them in the same tank they live in. Of course, I have a canister filter and do not have any gravel or substrate on the bottom. The water stays fairly clean and I just have to replace any evaporated water weekly, changeout about one-third of the water every two-three weeks, and do a complete water change every month or so.