Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've started feeding my two RES outside the tank in two separate containers since I got a new filtering system. One RES eats with no problems. The other RES refuses to eat anything at all. They're both going on a year old. Is there anything I can do to coax him to eat in the container? Or is this just a waiting game? At what point should I go back to his old eating habits so he doesn't starve?

Thanks for any info,
Devin

switching animals to this method can be frustrating, but I have NEVER had one refuse indefinitely. I had a couple make it to two weeks before eating in the container, and I just recently had a spotted turtle take three. All I can suggest is that you do not give up. Remember that a year old turtle should easily go a few weeks without food. Switching to seperate container feedings is the single best thing I've ever found to keep tanks cleaner longer and with better water quality.

oh, and I have tried putting the container somewhere calm and quiet BEFORE adding the turtle, which seemed to help some of them, and others seemed to get the hang of it by being in the container with other turtles eating. Hey, my dog learned to fetch from other dogs, maybe the turtles can learn this way as well.