Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought Oregano in June 03 and he was about an inch big, but now 7 months later he is 2 1/2 inches big. Is he growing to fast? If so what am I doing wrong. Here is what I did. When I first got him he was fed twice a day 5 hatchling reptomin sticks at each feeding with greens in his tank at all times. In December I stopped the twice a day feeding and started to put feeders in his tank and only feeding him once a day 5-7 hatchling reptomin sticks. I am still doing this. Should I change anything?

So long as his shell is hard and looks normal - no flairing/up-turning of the marginals or lumpy sections to the shell - I wouldn't worry too much. Try to only feed enough pellets to equal about the size of his head at each feeding, but do keep giving him greens. Does he have a UVB light? You might switch to feeding two out of three days now, but otherwise he sounds OK.

Katrina

Greetings,

Hmmm...this worries me. Am I under feeding my RES? I got him in Oct and I don't think he/she has grown at all. He's still about 1-1.5".

I feed him one of the following items on a daily basis. I rotate between 2 sticks, a glob of Repomint, and 2-4 dried shrimp.

I also have 3 Rosies swimming in the tank, but their too big for him to eat, so far.

Do you think this it enough?

-Ravon

Two sticks isn't very much food, they should grow very slowly, but the rule of thumb is an amount equal to the size of their heads. Also, he should have greens and veggies available all the time for munching.
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What is the set-up like? Water temperatures, basking spot temperatures, do you have UVB light? I'd offer more pellets now, and keep offering greens. A variety is good, if you can offer more than one brand of pellets. You might also consider peices of earthworm, small crickets, and even frozen bloodworms (available at most pet store aquarium sections) as additions to the diet. It's also a good idea to float a piece of cuttlebone in the water, just make sure to remove the hard back first.

http://www.speakeasy.org/~dervish/herpnutrition/catalog.htm has a hatchling turtle diet. I haven't tried it yet, but many zoos and aquariums swear by thier diets for other animals, and the vet that runs it specializes in nutrition.

Katrina

Yes I have a UVB light about 20 watts, basking light, Hydro-sponge II filter, greens, and feeders. Thank you for the reasurrance. I will start feeding the hatchling repto sticks everyother day. Could you tell me when I should stop feeding hatchling sticks and go to regular sticks?

The hatchling sticks are just smaller. You can buy the regular Reptomin sticks anytime. You can break them up if you want. When they soak up some water they get soft and even the little guys can bite them apart.

Hahha..wow, I didn't even know they marketed "hatchling sticks."

Seems like the growing popularity of herps is warranting "new" items for the interested consumer.

Johnny