Turtle Help Please!!!!!?

Question

I just and Aquatic Turtle on Tuesday and for some reason it's not eating anything. I've been trying to feed it Reptile Pallets, and Lettuce but it's just not eating it. Can someone please tell me why it's not eating, or how long I haft to waiting until it eats something?

Answer 1

I have 4 turtles.....I am speaking from experience here...

Pellets should be the number one food for a baby, only offer lettuce as a treat in small amounts.

The turtle is new to its habitat. Most will not eat in a new environment for weeks. Don't worry. If they are hungry they will eat. Stress plays a big factor here.

I find if I change my turtles environment around which I have just done...they won't eat. I put them in a bigger tank.

The only thing you can do is keep offering pellets and if you use lettuce...use romaine as iceberg has no nutrition value.

If your turtle is in a glass aquarium..is it in a high traffic area? Some do not like this!!!

I find when I change their tank around by adding new stuff...it stress's them. Another thing is the temperature of the water. It should be 75-86. They eat better when the water is warmer and are more active.

Suggestion.....put your finger to the glass of the aquarium on the outside...if the turtle opens its mouth...it is hungry!!

Answer 2

Don't feed it lettuce, it has the nutritional value of an ice cube!!!
Sometimes it takes a few days for a reptile to adjust to new surroundings. There is a little trick you can try to entice him to eat that I've had very good results with. I mix 1 part brine shrimp to 2 parts turtle pellets. The smell of the shrimp draws their attention and with their limited visual acuity they "accidentally" eat the pellets!

Answer 3

They take an awful lot of work and need very special care. Please see

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-red_ear_slider.htm

for complete care info. Basics are a 10 gallon sized tank for each 1 inch of shell length, a basking area to climb out of the water on, a basking lamp, thermometer to monitor basking temp (digital thermometer a must), a water heater, a water thermometer, a powerful water filter, a UVB bulb which must be within 12 inches of the basking area and changed every 6 months, and change the water very very very often. Feed a variety of foods in a separate tank to help keep things clean. Do not use plants or gravel in the tank. Gravel will cause fatal impactions.

Answer 4

Well, I once had a baby turtle (it died, but still). Mine didn't eat for a while. He didn't want to get off of his rock, where he was sunbathing. He was basically scared of getting in the water. Also because of the filter...it was poor and made too much noise. Anyway, if none of this helps, just ask your vet!
Hope I helped!
-Lil' Princess

Answer 5

Give worms or meal worms. They will eat those better than pellets.

After a week start feeding pellets with the live food. He will get the idea that the pellets are food.

Answer 6

Sometimes aquatic turtles only eat live food, especailly when they are raised on it. IE crickets, feeder fish

Answer 7

mabe your turtle is not used to eating the pellets my turtle did the same thing and hes fine.

Answer 8

hopefully you have this turtle in a large aquarium where he/she can swim in . you may want to try adding small feeder gold fish. turtle like to eat them too.

Answer 9

its probably shy feed it feeder fish

Answer 10

all turltes dont eat when you get them they just need to get use to the tank.