Feeding and Nutrition :: Help with nutrition

[Ramesh]

Hi
I have a one RES which is around 4 inches in size and she is around 5 months old . I feed him reptomin 3 times a day. He eats a lot but as I read in this forum about over feeding problems , I am trying to give him limited amount of food. When ever he sees some one passing through he comes close and keep begging . That too he does it very vigorously . I am trying to give him lettuce but he is not at all eating lettuce and he only eats pellets. Please let me know if he interacting ( begging) for food or I am taking it wrong and also how to make him eat lettuce.
I read that it is good to handle him and make him like a pet. But he is so scared and I leave him to walk on the floor and searches for dark places and hides there and after 30 mins I will put him back in the tank and he jumps into the tank and tries to escape . Is it ok with what all I am doing? Please give me suggestions to make him feel comfortable and happy.
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[cutepanda86]

He will beg, its what they do. However, do not give in and feed him when he does. This will help with not over feeding him. Also, 3 times a day seems to be a lot, even for his age. Lettuce may be tough as he's still young. Keep introducing it. He'll get the hint. Check out this http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5

Don't put him on the floor. He could hide somewhere and you might not find him. Put him in a large rubbermaid container. These can easily be disinfected where as carpet you can't. Turtle poo and pee on the carpet, not so good. He poops or pees in the container, you can wipe it out. He will act a little crazy when he gets back in because he's all amped up. Just let him calm down. He'll get used to going in and out of the tank.

[Ramesh]

Thanks for suggestion . I live in india and we. Don't have carpet on the floor at all. Sorry for not mentioning . We can find him where ever he hides. But it is a marble flooring just a bit cold. So I am scared he may ge cold. I will bring down the quantity of food.and frequency.

[cutepanda86]

Welcome! Ah so no issues with that but you could still pick up salmonella (which is not fun). I see your point about getting a cold. I don't know about that, perhaps Steve would be the best person to ask about that.

[steve]

4" is quite large for a 5 month old RES. You can leave her in the tank, no need to take her out. As for the pellets, sort out a predetermined amount into a pill box. Do not exceed that amount of pellets per day... instruct family or who ever else might feed the turtle of that rule. Leave lettuce in there... you know the turtle has a healthy appetite, there is no need to overfeed her. You just need to show restraint.

[CactusJohn5]

4" is quite large for a 5 month old RES.

I was just going to say that. Most turtles don't reach 4 inches in the first year!

Pellets should be feed 2-3 pellets 2x a day. At 6 months old, dialing back the pellets and starting to introduce veggies is a little early, but can't hurt to try.

begging is extremely common! do not keep falling for it, or your little guy (seems very young to know the sex, but hey!) will not survive very long!

[steve]

My RES also grew too fast due to us overfeeding. I've never seen any pets before that begged like they did (do)!

[apondfortimmy]

My RES also grew too fast due to us overfeeding. I've never seen any pets before that begged like they did (do)!

I have learned so much from this forum and this is one of the main things - it's so hard not to smile and give a treat to a turtle who swims up to you and stares while looking cute.

[cutepanda86]

^^lol so very true.

[CactusJohn5]

very true, and for new turtle owners, they can definitely make you think they are starving!!!

I know when i first started the "paddling" was a concern, now i can just ignore it!

In the long run, it is best for their health if you just ignore them when they beg.

[Ramesh]

Hi all
Ya we too felt that my turtle is growing too fast. But my mom used to feed him when we are not home. As she couldn't watch him begging. Now we will slowly bring him to normal as he is used to over feeding . I am only worried that he should not go sick and weak.
Thanks for all your suggestions .

[Stefania]

Mm... I know how it does when a red eared turtle suddenly welcoming into your life. Just 5 minute ago - here is no one idea about any turtles and suddenly you ask to give to you two little turtles. One young Chinese woman sales the small green turtles on the street in Moscow and I just walking to metro from my work place... So, my mom made a draught (here is a really cold weather in October) and this tortoise with pneumonia was placed in aromatic oil when I was on the workplace. She wanted to help the turtle. At the end, survived only Earl - he lives 4 months at my home now. And I have bought another two little turtles in zoo-shop for his company, appr. 2 weeks ago.
And what about lettuce... I don`t know how to try to force them to eat it, but I have a big Sansevieria with the leaves over than 1 meter (the plant is behind the turtle tank) and two of it`s leaves are in water inside of tank. One day I have returned at home and 1/4 water part of one Sansevieria leaf absent. So, I have proposed them a one leaf of lettuce on the surface of the water inside tank. Turtles have decided that it is too much better than Sanseviera.