Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Baxter, the 3 toed I rescued almost a month ago, finally ate today! He has been dug down in his pen for several weeks, and showing zero interest in food, but since it's been so cool here, I wasn't too worried, and I've been digging him up to check on him every once in a while. Now we're having a heat wave, so I dug him up today because I was concerned he wasn't up yet. He actually ate a worm and a slug, and he's been cruising the pen. He's been so protein-starved, he's probably not interested in fruit or veggies, but I'll keep offering them anyway. His eyelids also seem to be a little swollen, so I have an appt. on Thursday to have the vet check him out.

My question: what is the best time of day to feed, especially when the weather is hot? And what's their very favorite food (need something yummy to tempt this guy!)?

Many thanks!
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Sohni

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
0.0.1 Marginated Tortoise
1.0 3 Toed Box Turtle (rescued)
plus my kids' herps:
0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

When the weather starts getting hot, morning is the best time to feed (in my experience). During the summer months my guys are less active in the afternoon, so I offer food in the a.m., which seems to work out well.
Stephanie

I live in Florida, where it is very hot in the afternoon now. I like to feed mine either in the morning, or late evening. Mine love tomatos, mangos, bananas, apples, strawberries. I have started cutting up a bunch of stuff (greens, fruits, veggies), mix it with their vitamins and calcium, and make kind of a mush out of it. Otherwise they eat the yummy fruit and forget the greens or veggies. Sometimes I will sprinkle some can-o-worms mealworms on it to tempt them even more.

I have noticed my box turtles are most active a do a majority of their eating first thing in the morning. I mean as soon as the sun is up too! I got out and check on their pen about 6:30 in the morning and they are already up and foraging for bugs.

It is best to feed them early too so as the day warms up, they will be able to digest thier food better.

The only time I've seen them active in the later part of the day is after a good rain shower. I think they are active then because a lot of bugs come out of the ground.