Feeding and Nutrition :: need help trying to get my 2 res to eat pellets

[2_spoiled_res]

just like my username for this website. i have 2 very spoiled res baby turtles. got them on september 1st, and only since last week (like 3 weeks) later they finally starts to eat.... BUT they only eat when i hand feed them -_- and they only eat the dried baby shrimps that i have to mush the top of the shrimp and hold it under water for those 2 to eat. and it will take at least 1/2 hr to get both to eat 1 baby shrimp. I've tried alternating from the shrimp to pellets and they dont even go near the pellets. but when i hold the shrimps again they will swim up to my hand. and i've tried also peeling bits of the baby shrimp and putting them on a rock underwater in front of them and they won't eat it. =_= i've tried the carrot and other vegies, some fruits listed on this forum, and the turtles won't go near them even if i am holding it.

I am not really sure how to get them to eat the pellets since i dont want them to depend on me hand feeding them all the time. and only have a little of the baby shrimp as their diet 2 times a week. the baby shrimp is fine for me to hold. but later on when it gets to the mealworms and stuff... i dont think i want to mush it and rip it for my turtles to eat... good for them but not fun for me #_#

since im soo busy with school and work, i dont really have the time to sit there for 30+ minutes to hand feed the turtles. and if i dont feed them no one in the house will feed them so i dont want them to starve either.

[VeipaCray]

try different brand pellets. The reptomin and mazuri do well. Also you can try soaking the pellets in tuna juice from a can of tuna. If that still doesn't work try mashing some of the dried baby shrimp with the pellets soaked in tuna juice.

[Kansasslider]

I think its zoo med that makes real small round pellets. What were the fed before you got them? Find out and I bet they eat it!

[Impulse Shopper]

Interesting. Can share my experience: George ate from my hand for the first time today. With me for a month and a half. The only way I knew he was eating was: I'd put it on his basking rock and when I returned, it's gone, so, 1+1=2.

I interact with him, to his apparent chagrin often, and today, lo and behold, I held tuna, again, in my hand and...he bit! Did not chew. I read they need to eat in the water.

So we repeated this process. Hold him in my hand, he bites and squirms, I put him in the water...voila!

So my situation is somewhat opposite of yours. George is very independent and shy, preferring I put the food on his basking rock and he can handle it from there. He's so shy, I wasn't sure he even could climb on the rock, though I made it very accessible to him, but I only knew he could do it from observation when he thought I wasn't watching, LOL.

So maybe take your pampered princess or prince turtles and leave the food where they can get to it. I bet they will figure it out...