All Turtles Message Board

samanthajeanday · Guest Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 3 Location: San Antonio

I got a RES that is probably only 1.5-2 inches long (I got it before i new about the 4 inch rule). He is the cutest thing but i have never seen him eat. I feed him two-three times a day and i really can not tell how much he is eating. Is this normal? He is active and a good color so i dont believe he is sick but i am worried b/c it doesnt look like any of the food i put in his tank gets eaten. Does anyone else have a similar experience or suggestions ideas... he seems too small to give him feeder fish but maye that would work. i guess i am just worried.

dixieee · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 2:00 am Post subject:

welcome to the board Smile

since when do u have him? usually new turtles especially hatchlings will not eat for the first couple of weeks cz they are scared and feel unsafe. play with him, talk to him, and hand-feed him so he knows everything is fine and he can depend on u. try tuna, it should work with those babies Smile

for the 4-inch rule, not that big deal. all u have to know about it is u need to wash ur hands more after handling a baby turtle Smile

good luck and keep us posted
_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

samanthajeanday · Guest Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 3 Location: San Antonio

I have had him for about 2 months and have never seen him eat. Obviously he has to be eating right? I will do the tuna trick. Thank you for your help!

dixieee · Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 1:15 pm Post subject:

he must be eating, they don't starve themselves Smile

btw, he might be eating his poop as well. sick yes but it happens Rolling Eyes

_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

samanthajeanday · Guest Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 3 Location: San Antonio

Wow he really goes to town when he gets tuna. Thanks for the advice Wu and i appreciate it!

dixieee · Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:52 am Post subject:

nice

anytime..
_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

catel19 · Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject:

i've been feeding my res little shrimp, i didn't even think about tuna - what a good idea. but i've been wondering about the poop-eating thing...i already mentioned before that they poop A LOT, and once in awhile i think they're eating it - is this really bad for them?

dixieee · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:53 am Post subject:

tuna,shrimps, fish..all works great with them but i guess tuna smells most that's why it works best.

for poop-eating, yep it's ok cz turtles in the wild don't always find food so they eat their poop sometimes. nasty but it contains some of what they ate b4 Rolling Eyes

_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1232

Some people feed their turtles in a seperate container that is just very slightly warmer than their main tank. This will encourage the turtle to go a little faster after it eats and then you can put him/her back in the main tank and not foul it up as much and also not have the turtle eat it's feces. Watch giving to much tuna, as sometimes turtles get almost finicky and won't want to eat much else. You can start weaning them onto pellets by soaking the pellets in a little tuna juice. Tappering off after a few weeks.