Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok first leave me say that this post is for my mother's sake. She had been feeding her turtle Kentucky Fried Chicken for three nights staight because that is all he would eat. That was 2 weeks ago!!! He has only eaten a piece of food and a little worm since then. My Mom is down on the Blue Ridge Parkway today, and saw a sign saying not to feed the deer or other animals human food because it kills all the enzimes in their stomachs and they starve to death! She is afraid that this is what is happening to her turtle who I have in my care right now. Are there any foods or something else that I can give him that will restore the enzimes??????? Help!!!!!!!!!!

First tell us what kind of turtle you have. I don't know about enzymes other than thiaminase which is high in dead fish. Thiaminase depletes thiamine (one of the B vitamins). Long term feeding of chicken (or beef or pork) can cause an imbalance in phosphorus and calcium ratios. Too much phosphorus will cause calcium deficiencies. If the turtle isn't eating well it is either sick or being fed too often which leads to a "spoiled turtle" that develops an appetite for only favorite foods. You can check the link below that will give you suggestions for checking your turtle for illness. If you have any doubts about health a vet check is in order. (By one that knows turtles.) Healthy adult turtles should only be fed once per day 2-3 times per week. They get hungrier in between feedings and are more likely to eat what you give it. Whole freshly dead feeder fish are a great food for turtles like Red-eared Sliders. They are OK for box turtles too. See this other link for other food suggestions and diets for box turtles and water turtles: http://www.gctts.org/
How to tell if your turtle is sick

He is a Gulf Coast Box. He ate 10 pieces of turtle food tonight and left out a decent amount of poop.

I gave him some Nature Zone Hertile Essential Probiotics along with a dab of blueberry yogurt last night.

Sounds like what Anita mentioned. He was most likely just spoiled by the KFC. They can become junk food junkies same as us. You can try some cooked cocktail shrimp an earth worms try dandelion greens, chickory, apple, baked sweet potate or butternut squash too.

It sounds like he is starting to cave in and eat what you give now that he realizes the that the Colonel's Special Recipe is NOT going to be part of the menu plan.

Steve