Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Last Fathers Day,(2003), was the day my baby box turtles were leaving the nest. They were almost one year old, and three were going to my neice, 2 went to my friends. 1 went to my neighbors. I kept 2, one was 1 year old already,(May 2002 baby), the other would be one like the others (Sept. 2002 baby). My neighbor has a May 2002 baby like me, (Following the story yet?). The growth is the same as mine. My friends have the two Sept. babies, the growth are the same as mine also. All three of us have UV lights and put vitamins on the food, and our babies have half hibernated through this winter, (Not last winter). Now for the kicker. Yesterday, went to my neices house and saw the their turtles for the first time since I gave them away. They do not use a UV light, and no vitamins. Just worms and Reptomin. Their tutles have not at all hibernated. Their turtles are also 3 - 4 times bigger than mine!!! Their shell is about 5-6 inches long compared to my 2-3 inches. Why the difference? I was so amazed I can't stop talking about it. I am just.....shellshocked!

There is a hatchling feeding strategy called "headstarting", which is to feed hatchlings daily with ReptoMin, with the occasional supplement of worm, slug, pillbug, etc.
The idea is to feed them a balanced diet, to not hibernate them (that many more months to feed & grow), to more quickly reach a size where their hinge is fully functional, and they can defend themselves better by closing up completely. Some re-introduction projects use the tecnique in order to save time.
As for the absence of UV lighting...well, I may be way off base, but I have wondered just how much of it hatchlings truly require, since they presumably spend so much of their time hidden away under leaf litter in the wild: how likely are they to bask when they're that little?
As for the ReptoMin: I have 5 hatchlings, three of which are from the same clutch, and the one that started eating Reptomin first is at least twice as big as its sibling who only started eating it about a month ago. Now that they're all eating the ReptoMin regularly, they are all growing well.
Stephanie

I have started the babies on Reptomin since they first started eating. And they are still on it. This is what baffles me. My neice's turtles did not want to hibernate at all, compared to mine and my friends, which we actually had to wake up a couple of times. And the funny thing is, my neices biggest turtle, was the runt and sleepy head of the litter!!!!!

What kind of Reptomin are you talking about, is it the floating kind, or do they make another. And how do you fead it to the baby boxes?

Reptomin Green sticks. Not sure if they are the floating kind. I just moisten with warm water for approx. 1 minute, drain the water, and serve the "mush" to the babes. They love it, and it contains all the vitamins. They especially love it when you cut up tiny earthworms in it, looks like the reptomin is moving! YUM!

Thanks! And quick response too!!