Feeding red eared sliders?

Question

Is it okay to feed my tutles more then the food say? They are hungry all the time so I feed them because I dont want them to starve. Is that ok?

Answer 1

Well, actually most packages for turtle food are vague and not very helpful.

You should be feeding your turtle once per day. Every other day feed the number of pellets that would fit in their head if it was hollow excluding the neck. Every day in between feed a piece of fresh romaine lettuce with the occasional piece of carrot, leaf of radish (not the radish itself), and a piece of basil.

You will need to offer calcium and the way to do this is to buy cuttlebone/turtlebone. You have to take the backing off with a knife (the side you cannot stick your finger in-don't buy flavored cuttlebone either), it will break but it is to be expected. Put in a piece the size of a quarter every week-if you stick it in a clownfish looking veggie clip they will probably eat it more than if you let it float.

Stay away from meat, wild bugs, and fruit. Meat has too much protein and bugs can contain parasites-fruit has too much acid.

Shrimp, krill, and rosie red minnows can be a very occasional treat with one berry per month tops. Too much protein which will cause pyramidding (Google it to see how bad it is)..maybe 6 minnows per month and a few pieces of baby shrimp..

Overfeeding is hard to resist but it cannot occur..they will constantly beg when they associate you with food so give them some lettuce-they won't get overweight with that and when their poop turns runny that's when you know your giving a little too much.

http://www.redearslider.com/index_nutrition.html

Good feeding link^

Good luck.

Answer 2

First off they are good beggers and dont give in

Hatchlings up to 3-4 inches
once a day
1-2 pellets, treat of protein, offering of plant matter, small 2 cm block of cuttlebone every 3 days

Sub Adults 4-8 inches
Feed every 1-2 days
2- 3 pellets, protein
large plant section
cuttlebone 3-4 cm every 3-4 days

Adult 8 inches or larger
feed every 2-3 days
3-4 pellets, protein- medium amount ex....couple of greens dandelion leaves
whole cuttlebone

Answer 3

I have 2 red eared sliders, and no it is not okay, they can die from it. feed them a dime sized amount of food each day and thats it, they eat the extra food you give them not because they're hungry just because it's there.

Answer 4

RES are little pigs! Go to www.austinsturtlepage.com for complete feeding info. Great site! :)

Answer 5

i haved had alot of turtles and all you do is stick about 2-3 pellets in there or fish if it is big guppies to be axact