I just bought a turtle and he won't eat. what do i do?

Question

I just bought him a few days ago and he won't eat. My heater for the tank broke so I was planning on buying one tomorrow. The water isn't cold but he still won't eat. Ive tried giving him different kinds of things to see if he will eat but the food goes untouched. What do I do? Is he sick?

Answer 1

It could be that he's just scared being in a new environment but he should get over that within a few days if healthy. Please do get a new heater. Water being to cool can lessen their appetite. Keep tank lights on 12 hours per day. Make sure you know what kind of turtle you have so you give it the correct diet. Make sure you have a basking light over a basking spot and a UVB light like Reptisun 5. This one must be be no farther than 12 inches above the basking area. The fluoresent UVB bulbs must be replaced every year even though they have not burned out. They loose their ability to produce UVB rays within a year. Be mindful that NO artificial lighting is an equal substitute for direct unfiltered sunlight. Turtles do better when kept outside during warm months.

Offer the turtle a live worm to see if that tempts it to eat.

Anyway, petstores are NOTORIOUS for selling sick turtles. Many do NOT give out good care information. If you have a proper indoor setup and it doesn't start to eat within a week or so it could be sick from the store. If it is sick take it back and get a refund and don't buy turtles there anymore.

See this website for good care information:

Answer 2

He will eat when he gets hungry. I had this same problem with the 2 turtles I bought my children, had tried everything, down to hotdogs. Then they started eating the pellet food that I was putting in there. Just give him time, he is in a new place.

Answer 3

Ok hun first thing to do is relax. He is getting used to your smell and you it take some of them time to gain trust he will eat when he get hngry. The more stressed you get about it could make him take longer as he will be nervous also.

ok also my husabnd has had turtles for years try [e-mail].

We have had red ear sliders and African Side Necks
ASN were my favirot but we had to move and they had to find new homes we moved across country too long of a drive for them. Good luck

Answer 4

have you tried apples and lettuce anything you buy from a petstore they wont eat it i had 20 turtles at once that i took off of roads so they didnt get killed and this is what i turned to also in a new enviroment they are going to be just a little stressed the better the enviroment the better your chances are getting them to eat