How much medium sized floating pelets should i feed my baby turtle(RES) and when should i feed him?

Question

im buying him tonight and i want to know when and how to feed him.

Thanks

Answer 1

they say about the size of his head but I just give mine alittle handful alltho she is in a pond

Answer 2

Feed the turtle as much as it will eat in about 5 minutes. If there's still food left floating around after the turtle has lost interest, remove it then feed less next time. Always remove any uneaten food. I never have to worry about that because my RES is a pig!

Hatchlings and juveniles will probably require feeding every day, while adults will slow down to eating about every other day.

Buy some ReptoMin Pellets or Mazuri Turtle Diet. They'll love it!

Don't let them get fat. Obese turtles are unhealthy turtles.

Answer 3

The best time 2 feed him is left up 2 u, but the feeding should b the same each day, or as close as u can get 2 the same time.You're getting him 2 night so why not pick up a book on turtles first? You'll have all of the answers.

Answer 4

There are two common ways to limit over-eating- remove uneaten food after several minutes (usually given as 5 to 30), or limit portion size (usually given as the size of the head). I like the 'head size' method- less fouling of the water.

WHAT you feed is more important. Baby RES DO NOT and SHOULD NOT eat much in the way of veggies. Babies need lots of protein for good, smooth, fairly rapid growth. Once a RES (or other pond turtle) gets older and slower after reproductive years, it starts to eat more and more vegetation.

Pellets should only make up about 1/2 of the diet. For a baby RES, the rest should be live or frozen/thawed 'fish foods' like shrimp, krill, worms, small fish, insects, etc.

Answer 5

This is what i would do I would give 2 pellets and 1 shrimp they wont start eating veggies anytime soon btw

try feeding as many pellets that can fit inside its head

just telling you ahead of time RES already has yolk I THINK its yolk or some type of food thats already in its stomach thats its eating from, so if they dont eat thats why

hope i helped

Answer 6

Since it is a baby, you should watch it while it eats. If it eats the first one you put in it, put another one in until it is full. Then, you'll now how much you should feed it and you won't have a big mess to clean up.

Answer 7

Looks like you have a lot of really good advice...
My advice, feed him shredded carrots! My RES' love carrots but I must warn you, carrots can cloud the tank and it can be messy... But then again, Turtles are messy animals!
Have fun with your new hatchling!

Answer 8

Tublet is omniscient and all-powerful, because of that paper fortune teller I made her for her birthday (it has special powers and is blessed by the wee little baby jesus) feed His Royal Son of Godness caramel corn and robitussin

Answer 9

There are many opinions and suggestions regarding the amount of proper feeding we should offer our turtles. The information presented represents a guideline suitable for RES. Hatchlings or turtles under a year old should be given pellets daily. It is appropriate to offer vegetables daily - even if they initially refuse. You may have to try different varieties to see which kind your RES would take. RES over a year old should be given pellets every other day or every two days.

There are various ideas on the quantity of pellets you should feed your turtle. Hatchlings should receive more protein in their diet - approximately 50% of their entire diet. Since turtle pellets can contain more than 40% protein (Reptomin for instance), adding the occasional cricket, guppy or earthworm can round out their diet. For older turtles, pellets should compromise between 10-25% of the diet.

Turtle pellet colors, shapes and sizes vary between brands and product instructions are often too generous. A general guideline used by most keepers calls for the amount of pellets to be in proportion to the size of their heads (excluding their necks). Remember, pellets should only be offered every other day for yearlings and adults.
Note: Commercial pellets should still be the staple of your turtle's diet. They are specially formulated, but they should not be the only food that you offer them. The high protein content in pellets allows you to offer them in smaller quantities. Often products' packaging might list different estimates on how much to feed. Just be aware of the quantity you are feeding and take steps to ensure that your RES is receiving a balanced diet and is not overfed.
Turtles are very opportunistic and will eat despite not being hungry. If there is constant begging, then this is a good opportunity to offer vegetables such as red leaf lettuce, which is also calcium rich. Avoid overestimating your turtle’s need to eat and avoid offering too much food. Some RES will eat more than is healthy while for others, it will only produce more waste in the water.
Overfeeding

Red ear sliders can be very aggressive beggars and many inexperienced keepers, supplied only with pellets, often give in to this begging. Overfeeding is also a result of other people besides the owner offering additional pellets to turtles without consideration to the overall quantity a RES should receive. This excessive amount of protein causes accelerated growth, premature sexuality, shell disfigurements (pyramiding), and even organ failure.

Feeding directions on these products are often too generous and vague. An example would be (from Ecotherm Aquatic Turtle Medley): “Feed daily, do not feed more than turtle will consume at each feeding. The amount per feeding will depend on size and preference of your pet.” The overfeeding of pellets is a serious problem and a general guideline used by most experienced keepers calls for the amount of pellets to be in proportion to the size of their heads (excluding their necks).
Turtle Pellets

These types of food should be the staple of your slider's diet. While color, shape, and size may vary, quality will also vary. With the different brands available, you may have to try a few before you find a variety your turtle will enjoy. Pellets are specially formulated for “optimal” nutrition but can carry a significant amount of protein. Feeding directions on these products are often too generous and owners often give in to begging. Be careful of them.

A general guideline used by most experienced keepers calls for the amount of pellets to be in proportion to the size of their heads (excluding their necks). Remember, pellets should be offered every day to hatchlings and only offered every other day for yearlings and adults.

Read and understand the packaging label to ensure that proper calcium and vitamins are included. Calcium content should always be offered in a greater quantity than phosphorus.

Here are some reputable brands that are very popular: Fluker's Aquatic Turtle Diet
HBH Turtle Bites
Mazuri Fresh Water Turtle Diet*
Nasco Turtle Brittle
Nutrafin Turtle Gammarus
Purina AquaMax
Rep-Cal Aquatic Turtle Food
Tetra ReptoMin*
Wardley's Reptile T.E.N.
Zoo Med Aquatic Turtle Food

*Highly recommended

Here is a sample of the nutritional content: Tetra ReptoMin Mazuri Fresh Water Turtle Diet
Crude Protein (Min.) 42.5% 40%
Crude Fat (Min.) 8.5% 10%
Phosphorus (Min.) 1.8% 1.3%
Calcium (Min.) 2.0% 2.0%

Please note the high amount of protein and always make sure there is good calcium to phosphorus ratio. Various sources of additional calcium can be found in vegetables such as red leaf lettuce or a supplement such as Rep-Cal or cuttlebone.
Comment: If your hatchling came with its own pellets then it is likely that the pellet is of low quality with little nutritional benefit. If the seller is selling a turtle illegally, then that is even more reason to discard the suspect food even if your turtle is willing to eat them. Purchasing a container of new pellets at a pet store is easy and highly recommended

Answer 10

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