Does anyone know why a female red ear slider would eat the feces of one of the two male sliders in the tank?

Question

You've probably figured out by now it's a turtle. I keep them in a tank. My female is the largest and the most aggressive. The two males are constantly trying to mate. They do this cute little thing where they rub her cheeks. Anyway, I appreciate all the answers so far. They have been informative yet, amusing!

Answer 1

Because she is hungry and you have not cleaned out the fecal matter or the filter is not good enough.
Clean out the feaces as soon as possible , try feeding the slider or terrapins seperatley and more often with small amounts.

Answer 2

A red ear slider, for those who don't know, is a turtle. They usually eat in water. I have seen fish in a tank seem to eat the feces of other fish,, but what it was was apparently a mistake and they spit it out right after tasting it. ewwww

I found a link that suggests that red ear sliders be fed in a separate tank from where they live, and that sounds like a good idea for a lot of reasons. Here's the link:
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/aquaticturtles/f/resfeedinghow.htm

Drs Foster and Smith have a good page which includes a list of foods that res like, and say this:
"Juveniles are mainly carnivorous, and become more omnivorous as they reach adulthood. The diet should be balanced and include a variety of meat-based protein sources and fresh plant material. Do not rely simply on commercial diets. Juveniles should be fed daily, whereas, adults can be fed every other day. Turtles are messy eaters so it is best to move the turtle to a separate feeding tank. This may also help reduce the amount the turtle defecates in the water of his cage. Allow the turtle to eat for 15 minutes before moving it back to the aquarium." Here's a link to the page, and scroll to the bottom about diet. If our fish and turtles are grabbing at everything like that, maybe there is some dietary deficiency:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=17&cat=1797&articleid=2613

Answer 3

I don't even know what a red ear slider is! It sounds like something out of a Cronenberg film! I sure hope you get the help you need. Is there a website just for red ear sliders?

It may be a mating ritual thing, a vitamin deficiency, or neuroticism. Those are three fairly common reasons why animals eat feces.

Answer 4

Cacophagy (eating feces) is common in many animals, including some turtles- usually tortoises.

However, it usually means one of the following:
- Overcrowding- too many turtles in too small a tank. You should have at least 10 gallons of swimming space per inch of turtle.
- Un-nourishing diet. Cheap pelleted foods use inexpensive ingredients that are low in nutrients. Many other common dietary options are bad for turtles as well- lettuce, hamburger, mealworms, etc. The simplist option is to offer high-quality pellets as you research healthier options.
- General stress, most commonly due to things like soiled water, poor temps, lack of basking, etc.

Review the basic cares for these turtles and deal with any glitches that might have shown up. A good site to start with is:

Answer 5

Supposedly animals in the wild eat feces because of vitamin deficiency. They also do it to clean up in a crowded place and to help keep predators from tracking them. Even as pets turtles still maintain alot of their wild behavior.

Answer 6

well my guess is that maybe she's hungry and the male turtles are hogging the food. if you don't feed them seperately, it'd be a good idea to do so. that way you make sure to feed each turtle an equal amount. if you already do this then maybe she's just being silly or down right kinky :D anyway, if she keeps doing it you should ask your vet. good luck!

Answer 7

One of the sickos probably made her. Keep an eye on them she probably should have her own private room a lot nicer then theres too. (what the hell is a slider anyway those flying squirrels from australia>) (If its a spider you meant not slider I dont think spiders ****)

Answer 8

idk