My turtle is overweight. She won't eat her regualr food, only meat. How can I put her on a diet?

Question

My turtle, some sort of snapping turtle, will not eat the turtle food like she used to. She only eats meat. The same meat we eat. Like beef, chicken, hot dogs...It's crazy. She's becoming a little overweight, and I was wondering if there was anything I could do to put her on some sort of diet that will make her lose a little weight but still eat. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

What kind of turtle food are you referring to? If it is indeed some sort of snapping turtle then too much meat is not really a concern as they are almost strictly carnivorous. If you really want to get her back on the old diet (I'm guessing food sticks?) then tough love like other people have said would be the way to go. Otherwise, you can continue a diet of meat without too much trouble, just avoid fatty or over-processed things like beef or hotdogs. Some things to try: Very LEAN beef (cooked), lean ground turkey (cooked-A personal favorite of my turtles), lean chicken (cooked), feeder goldfish (also good for excercise), as well as superworms, earthworms, silkworms etc... Also, if you offer this variety the other diet may be more readily accepted, turtles are finicky and it could be she's just burned out on what she was fed before. Side note: I would try to find out for sure what kind of turtle she is, as all turtles vary in diet (with snappers being about as carnivorous as they come), and the commercial diets are not right for all species. Also, depending on where you live, alligator snappers are threatened and (I do believe) illegal to keep.

Answer 2

Maybe you could try putting a couple treats mixed in with the raw meat and see if he will eat it then, he might get used to it if he'll eat it. Make sure he can't just get the treat without eating any of the meat though. If you are fed up with him not eating or just the whole raw meat thing, I'd would say to wean him off it and go for the (high quality) kibble. There's a site with info on a raw food diet. Good luck!

Answer 3

Indeed snapping turtles will eat just about anything including your fingers if you put them close enough to their mouth. Regarding its diet try to stay away from the hot dogs and other human foods. Try fish, or even earth worms as they are much better for them. Furthermore if you have an alligator snapping turtle you should know that these species can become well over 200 pounds and the best way to feed one of these is catfish, crawdags and the occasional fresh roadkill namely raccoons or possums.

Answer 4

turtles can go without food for a day and a half... no dont stop the food... reduce the quantity.. regarding meat eating... it will be a good practice to give it a mixed food of tutlr food and meat... then avoid food for a day... and then next day reduce the quantity of meat .. but, let there me some meat... as u have mentioned it doesnt eat without meat.. the habit will go slowly.. slow give the turtle some exercise.. make the turtle walk a bit long to come for the food... u can do that by, put a line of the mixed food till the food bowl... u too can have some creative ideas... in short, make it excercise, give food every alternate day with reducing proportion of meat... )

Answer 5

i had no idea that turtles can get overweight... anyway what i did with my turtle was just give him what i wanted him to have and after a day he got so hungry that he ate it.. they can go a day and a half without starving.. well they sell turtle diet food at the pet stores but since it will not eat nothing but human food. then go to a pet store they have meat products for turtles.. i know my turtle eats shrimp and hamburger meat but not to much hamburger.

Answer 6

only feed her turtle food and when she gets hungry enough she should eat it. if you aren't comfortable with that cut down on the meat and slowly ween her out of it. try to call a vet or a pet store they are always good with question answering.

Answer 7

If it's a snapping turtle, they eat anything. You say "sort of", maybe you need to know for sure. It makes a difference.

Answer 8

start putting the turtle food in the cage and not offering another option. the turtle should not let itself die and when its hungry enough would eat the right food. why are you feeding it meat in the first place?

Answer 9

Stop giving her meat. Only allow her to have her food. She will eat before she starves to death.

Answer 10

wow i didnt know turtles could get overwieght.

but i think your best bet is to talk to a vet ; good luck man