Raising Red-Eared Sliders?

Question

how do i make him eat...

i put food in the water and he wont eat.... and i put it in this little feeding hole that is in its basking spot(its a tank made for baby sliders) and it just doesnt look like he eats anything....

im feeding it pellets -- when i bought the turtle they gave me pellets and a small kidney shaped lagoon to put it in -- they told me to sit it on a heating pad and to get a heat lamp for it -- the water runs from 72-80 should it be lower/higher??

i have a 10 gallon tank to put it in -- but i was going to wait until i got a good basking rock and a better heating source(cover)

and with that said... its like 1 - 1 1/2 inches long -- if i put it in a 10 gallon tank -- how far should i fill it??

Answer 1

Alright right off the bat i know your new at turtle raising. i just started about a year ago and i had a huge learning curve (with a slider) that i had to learn the hard way but i have some good tips for you
But first to answer the question young turtles have a hard time eating big things like pellets. (big to them) so break them in half or thirds and only use one or two becasue they don't eat much. water temp sounds ok but 72 is alittle low even for night.
it may just eat the left over food when you're not around many hours later (i've having the same problem with my new painted turtle) also try a small quater sized piece of lttuce like romaine (NOT ICEBERG!!!) sliced into thin strips. sliders tend to be more carnivorous as they are yourger and grow up to be mostly vegitarian.
GOOD TIPS
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first off save yourself the time now. get rid of the 10 gal or use it for feeder fish. my slider was about the size of a quater 9 months ago and now its at 5 inches. the turtle can live there now but as soon as possible upgrade bigger, (yeah the pet store shouldn't of sold you such a small aquaium) instead of a glass aquarium that costs way too much money go to wal mart or a dollar store and get a plastic strage container for a slider for two years (it will out grow it). a 100 quart container (25 gal) should be ok but not great that should cost $10 -14.
Sliders are more aquaic than not so that little kidney thing they sold you was a scam too. in the 10 gal or bigger tank go to a any road rock cut or in your back yard if you have them and find large (plate size) flat rocks to stack for the turtle to get out of water with (6-8 inches high) and fill the water up to this flat area. When the turtle is still small you can take gravel for an aquarium or well washed drived way gravel and give these rocked a more even slope for the small turtle but take away any small rocks and they trutle grows because they can cause blockage later in it eats them (and it will try)
the heating pad my work in the 10 gal with shallow water for awile but the turtlewill out grow the water leverl and the tank and you will need a SUBMERSABLE water heater (i think they are more versitile and work better and are safer than ones that clip to the side.
also you'll need a UVA and UVB (usually together in one) light, as well as a heat lamp with a 40-60 watt bulb over the 'land'
to help keep the tank clean use a pump and filter equal or better greater than what is rated for the tank size because turtle produce alot more wate than fish.
with all that being said until that can happen have a lid for your tank and a good heat source, a water heater rated for the tank size is best. make the 'rock wall in the tank and have slightly more than 3/4 water in it. change the water every few days or with a filter weekly or biweekly. if yu don't have a lid use a piece of cooking foil over the rock side (like 4 or 5 inches) so when setting on land the turtle doesn't crawl out. the UVA & UVB light must be soon becasue turtles need them to produce vitamins.
one last thing the pet store seems to have bent the truth alittle bit. FYI sliders can grow up to 10 inches and live more than 40 years they don't require hibernation and if not interacted with enough won't become scared and hide in it's shell nor friendly and trust you and may bite alot.

Answer 2

What are you trying to feed it? Babies are almost exclusively carnivores. What is the temperature of the water? too hot or too cold and it won't eat. Tell us more about your tank setup.

Answer 3

Even a 10 gallon tank is a bit small for a 1.5" turtle, and a common reason for not eating is water that is too cold.

For good care info, please try either http://redearslider.com or http://www.austinsturtlepage.com

Answer 4

Are you feeding it fish?

Not all red eared sliders are carnivorous. I don't really know that much about them, but I DO know that. My sister had one, and a vet told her that very few are carnivorous. Hers was it turned out. It sounds like yours probably is though. Couldn't hurt to buy a couple fish and find out.

Answer 5

Visit here, this is the guide for keeping red ear sliders

Answer 6

If you feed it pellets, it may not like them. They are carnivores. Or, it might just be sick.

Answer 7

What are you feeding it?