Help! I got two turtles male and female and it's been almost two weeks and they still haven't eatin!?

Answer 1

Don't panic! A turtle can go without food for weeks, even months, and when it feels well again, it will eat again.

Is the turtle kept warm enough? If turtles get too cool, they will stop eating.

Does the turtle like the food you offer? Try out different foods. Some turtles can be very finicky eaters, especially in the beginning. And they have definite likes and dislikes.

Is your turtle exposed to too much stress? This is often a cause in new animals.Stress can be caused by handling, travelling, tankmates. New turtles will often not eat properly for several weeks. Be patient and keep trying.

Is your turtle healthy? Not eating can be a symptom of other
problems. If your turtle has been eating well and suddenly stops, a health problem is a likely reason.

Is your turtle still producing poop? If not, he may be severely constipated.

If you are ONLY feeding foodsticks (what brand?), your turtle may not be getting all he needs from food. Offer some wiggly worms and change his diet

Your turtle may be too cold. Check the web site on heating. Also, it is always a good idea to keep a turtle that is not eating very warm. Heat the water to 85F, and make sure the basking site is at 90F.

If the turtle has a distinct nasal discharge or is swimming lopsided or gaping, it is likely he has a respiratory infection.

Golden Turtle-Owner of 4 Turtles

Answer 2

Don't worry, this is not unusual. Turtles have an extremely slow metabolism, and will regularly go for weeks without eating. Just make sure they have clean, fresh water available and a variety of foods in the cage. Make sure to give your turtles both meat and vegetation to eat, and eventually they'll come around.