Reptile & Amphibian Forums

They are Terrapene ornata ornata and I have them in an 80 gallon
tank with topsoil and moss as substrate with two pots for them to
hide in and thats where they spend all there time I have to dig them up to get them to come out.I have two ten month old errapene
ornata ornatas that hide alot but they come out and venture around and eat from their bowl or I can hand feed them with no problem they will go as far as to run to my hands for food even if there is none.They are just so out going and then I have the three, three week old Terrapene ornata ornatas and all they do is stay burried I let them go as long as three days and never seen them they were burried in the same place I seen them go three days prior.So I am just worried about them not being active or eating.Their eye are open and they are very playful when I soak them but I have to dig them up to get them to do this and have yet to see them eat.I just recently put
them in the shoe box size container and have the 50/50 set up and
they seem more active and I though I seen one munching on cat food but it so hard to tell with there little mouths and they dont even go for wigglers.So does anyone have a idea how to care for these hatchlings?Maybe Im still missing something, so if anyone can help please respond.Thanks Brandon

Hatchlings may not eat for several weeks to a month or more so I would not worry so long as you have their habitat warm enough and moist.

I've had the best luck getting my hatchlings to take their first bite when I have used Reptile-TEN floating food sticks. I think it by Wardleys. Just soak them and leave a pile of them in the tank. The smell is very fishy and that attracts them to feed. My experience has been that once they begin to eat they will be voracious Good luck!
-----
Tess
Kingsnake.com Forum Host

First, make sure that the babies are nice and warm, then every day offer them live food. It sometimes takes the little guys a while to start eating. I do beleive that live food is the best way to go. Earthworms, doodlebugs, mealies...

So its ok for them to not eat? I have had these little guys for going on two weeks and they just havent eaten or been interested in anything I give them. So what should I look for as far as "RED FLAGS" to get worried?Should I remove them and put them in a different place when I feed them?Thank Brandon

some hatchling are harder to get started than others but burrying for long periods is normal, you should be soaking every day right now to keep them hydrated and everything, pellet reptomin usually works with young ones, my little yearling I got as a 1 or 2 month old I was told she was eating before I got her but it took her 2-3 months to start eatting regularly, one way I got her to eat when she was being picky when she would yawn while soaking I'd take a soaked reptomin pellet and place it in her mouth when she closed her mouth she'd take a bite and swallow it, just make sure it doesn't drip while they're yawning if you try that, as long as they look healthy and are keeping their weight I wouldn't be concerned.
-----
My Site
1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
0.0.1 Nymphicus hollandicus
1.0 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.1 American Cocker Spaniels
1.0 American Short Hair? Cat
1.1 Rouen Ducks