All Turtles Message Board

cefira21 · Level 1 Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

Two weekends ago, I let my red eared slider out in our garden for sunshine. I noticed that when I returned him to his indoor tub, he doesn't want to eat his favorite food. Why is this? He's been doing this for 2 weeks now. And he's also attempting to climb out of his tub making all those banging and scratching, so I let him out on dry space. But he still doesn't want to eat whenever I return him to his tub. what should I do?

trtlduv · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:48 pm Post subject:

What's his favorite food? Have you tried tempting him with something smelly like tuna? Laughing

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shade & sweetwater!

cefira21 · Level 1 Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

Usually he eats turtle pellets, then for variation he gets those little shrimps (from pet stores) then he also likes cat kibbles (ocean fish flavor or tuna) but now he doesn't like all of them altogether. Three days later, when I let him out of his tub he just goes in a dark corner and stay there. What's wrong with him?

trtlduv · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:44 am Post subject:

Have you been feeding him veggies? Mine loves carrots, anacharis too (but it's fairly expensive) and romaine lettuce. Have you tried to give your turt any of those? Are you sure you should give him cat kibbles? Did the pet store employees tell you that or did you read it somewhere?
_________________
shade & sweetwater!

Nevfalath · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:28 pm Post subject:

Never listen to anything pet store employees say. 99% of the time they don't know what they are talking about and are saying anything to make a sale.

I did a search and found this information from this website. Read it through and let us know if any of this applies to your turt:

cefira21 · Level 1 Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

For Nevfalath: thanx so much for that info.

For turtlduv: I've read in a book (somewhere) that you can feed them cat kibbles. I've also tried carrots, but he doesn't like them. Even guppies, well, he tried tasting 2 but after that he doesn't want them anymore. Do they lose their appetite during summer when it's too hot?

Nevfalath · Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:13 pm Post subject:

As long as the temperatures in his tank are correct and there is somewhere cooler he can go when he gets too warm, I don't think that would bother him. He can stop eating if he is too cold though.
_________________
-= Shannon =-

cefira21 · Level 1 Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

I've been observing him since two weeks ago. Now he's tasting his food. He smells the shrimp and ocean fish cat kibble and he takes some but not as he used to eat before. He's still active, no swollen part. He also basks. I think he's okay. It's just his eating behavior that looks weird to me, coz he used to eat a lot.

Nevfalath · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 11:33 pm Post subject:

What are the temperatures of the water and the air in his tank? Sometimes if it's not warm enough, their bodies will slow down and they will try to hibernate.

I'm glad to hear that he is at least eatting a little now. It's a start. Smile

_________________
-= Shannon =-

cefira21 · Level 1 Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

How come I read in a book that RES don't hibernate? Last two years, he didn't even do that, so you mean he can hibernate this year even if didn't for the past two years?

cefira21 · Level 1 Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

By the way, I just noticed yesterday, he doesn't want to go in the water, he just stays out of the tub and let himself dry in a corner. So this morning I took him out again in the garden so he can bask. Is that normal, I mean, not wanting to go in the water?

Nevfalath · Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:55 am Post subject:

Wild turtles hibernate... you can read about it here at RedEarSlider.com. It is not recommended for captive bred turtles that are kept indoors to hibernate because it is very easy to keep the temperatures warm all year round. I was simply stating that IF your tank is not warm enough he might be trying to hibernate. This happened with my baby Painted Turtle. Once I raised the water to 80 degrees, he perked right up and started eating again. This might also explain why he basks a lot, to try and stay warm enough.

This quote is taken right from the website:

cefira21 · Level 1 Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 24

GOOD NEWS GUYS!!! I'M SOOO HAPPY!!! Earl ate today! He really ate a lot. After taking sooo much time basking, he ate afterwards. I think you're right Nevfalath, maybe his tub isn't warm enough. THANX SOOO MUCH!!!

turtles1 · Level 3 Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 196

well since were talking bout turtles not eating and such i was wondering since im going away this weekend and only have my grandfather to watch my 3 turtles i was going to put a big single leaf of romaine lettuce and every oher day my grandfather is going to put some nutrafin pellets that have everything in it u know protein and all of that stuff. so will they be alright for that week eating romaine and pellets for 1 full week?

Nevfalath · Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:14 pm Post subject:

Awesome!! I am so glad to hear the news!! Laughing

_________________
-= Shannon =-