Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know I already asked about this but I am still confused/worried because I am not sure of Checker's age?

I think he/she over or just at two inches (maybe 2 1/2) long but apparently he could still be classified as a juvenile if shell size isn't an indicator of age?

I was feeding him everyday but I switched to every other day. He eats about 13 adult size reptomin pellets within 15 minutes. i feed them one at a time until he slows down and goes to his "corner" or until i see lots of pieces coming back out his mouth ...

I hope this is the right amount. I am very concerned about giving the right amount.

Does around 13 pieces sound average?

Also My daughter "adopted" this RES and was telling me it was a baby. I'm assuming the man who sold her Checkers must have told her it was a "baby", otherwise where would she have gotten that idea. that makes me think that maybe he is still a baby, after all.

And that maybe i should be feeding him everyday.

i don't want to overfeed. but i also don't want to underfeed if checkers is indeed younger than he looks

He also won't eat romaine lettuce. I have tried throwing in some cleaned 50 cent piece sized of romaine in his tank - twice. once he tasted it but that was it! he will have nothing to do with lettuce...

should i worry? I know the youngins are meat eaters but when do they eat leafies and such. how do i get him interested in veggies, too.

I guess i just need some reassurance here..

He seems very happy. He basks & swims & stuff

He loves to stretch out his back legs and spread apart all 10 of his webbed toes

Water Temp? It is at 80 to a max of 82/83 in the day. Usually at 80.. The rock is 85 under the lamp.

For awhile the tank was getting at 85-86 so i adjusted the temp down.

Is it true most people have their tanks lower?

Should I adjust down to 78-80? instead of 80-83

Thanks for any input!

Kay

He is a juvenile
Size matters more for determining how much/how often to feed.
they grow quickly for the first 5 inches and then much more slowly it seems. I'd feed him a LITTLE every day.

13 sticks sounds like a lot.

The most important thing you need to do is vary the diet.
I am no fan of reptomin.
And despite the fact that many people claim to have raised turtles to adulthood successfully on it alone, i have not had good luck with all pellet (or even mostly pellet) diets.
Try cut up grapes, live crickets, red wiggler worms, pieces of cooked chicken or fish, live wax worms, pieces of cantelope , honey dew, or sanat clause melon. try stawberyy tops with small amounts of berry attached, try hard boiled egg whites and dea guppies or mollies. Try dandelion greens or anacharis or water lettuce or slivers of green bean or carrot.

I think the water temp is okay.
But if you reduce it a bit it won't hurt either
if you do so raise the basking temp to 85 - 90. as long as he can get to warm spot if the watr is cool and can get to a darker hiding place when its warm he should be fine.

I'd be more concerned about the cleaniliness of the water and the variety on the diet than how often you feed him or exact temperatures.

I would call it a baby till its about 4 or 5 inches long.
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