how much or how often should i feed my baby turtles?

Question

my turtles are about 1-inch big, and i dont know how much or how often to feed them, some one tell me please. i dont want ot over feed them like i did my gold fishes.

Answer 1

Feed it pellets three times a week, and about as many pellets it will fit in the head (approx 2-3 for a hatchling). You're right you definitely do not want to overfeed your turtle. It will cause pyramiding (lumpy shell, a bone growth defect) and shorten it's life span.

Anyway, feeding pellets is not enough. You need to feed leafy greens like dandelion leaves (most nutritous and readily available) and any aquatic plant (i.e., duckweed, frogsbit, water lettuce, anacharis, etc.). It will take them a few days to accept the greens, but they will eat it with great enthusiasm. Feed proteined foods like shrimp, fishm snails, worms, insects, once a week or every two weeks.

Remember turtles won't starve and do not need to be feed everyday. They need heat to function and food to grow. I have been keeping turtles for over ten years and I have kept and bred over 75 turtles and tortoises. Presently I have 15 turtles and two toroises in 15 set-ups.

Good luck and good for you for researching the needs of your turtles. Definitely go to ATP (Austin's Turtle Page) and read the excellent articles and check out the affiliated forum to ATP: www.turtleforum.com, where I am a moderator and contributor.

Answer 2

Go to www.austinsturtlepage.com for great turtle info. :)