Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My new painted wood turtle hasn't started eating yet after nine days.

She is about 8 inches and kept in a 50 gal rubbermaid tub with a large hide area, on wet reptile bark with Mystic fluorscent UVB lighting and 24 hr ceramic heater. Temps are at 80-85 degrees in the hot spot, 70-90% humidity. The tub includes a large water basin which completely covers her.

I've tried nightcrawlers, crickets, strawberries, blueberries, ground turkey, tuna cat food, reptimin sticks and dog food (in the water) and sweet potatoes. I've put the food in the hot spot, cooler area, in the hide and tried handfeeding. I've tried less UVB light, more UVB light, cooler temps, hotter temps., less and more humidity.

I'm not new to turtle keeping; I also keep leopard tortoises and ornate box turtles so I realize she needs to acclimate.

Anyone have more suggestions to stimulate her appetite?

WTF is a painted wood turtle!?
Michael's Place

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Helmz777@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

This is a Painted Wood Turtle, AKA Ornate Wood Turtle, AKA Mexican Red Forest Turtle, AKA...Central American Ornate Wood
Rhinoclemmys Pulcherrima Manni Donatello

could be gravid get the hovabator ready

Maybe try a more aquatic setup... I have seen wood turtles in enclosures 4 feet deep,so no need to worry of drowning or anything.. Fill the tub with water and give her a rock to bask on.

Matt

Is is a painted turtle or a wood turtle?? If it is a painted turtle, it CANNOT eat on land, it's tongue is not designed to swallow out of water. Wood turtles can.

Matt

Firstly, you say that you've kept turtles and tortoises before. Then you realize I'm sure that the first step would be to take a fecal sample into the vet to make sure the turtle has a clean bill of health. Better yet, take the turtle into a qualified herp vet for a once over. Doesn't matter who you got the turtle from or how well they said it was doing beforehand, make sure you start with a clean bill of health.

Secondly, a 50 gallon rubbermaid is much too small for an 8 inch turtle, especially one of the Rhinoclemmys Pulcherima complex which is what you likely have. These are a mostly terrestrial species that require a large land area to roam in. Think 4 feet by 3 feet with a large, shallow water basin. I've had a pair for eight years now and keep them in an 8 foot by 4 foot by 4 foot cage with a bank of 4 UV bulbs and A 100 watt basking spot. Diet is worms, crickets, fruits, veggies and reptomin. I hate reptile bark with a passion and would recommend a dirt substrate kept moist enough to retain it's shape when squeezed into a lump, but not really wet. And when I say dirt, I don't mean potting soil. A sandy, loamy dirt is best. There should also be dry stone areas under the basking spot.

If the vet check comes back negative then it has to be a husbandry issue. Revue your husbandry procedures and read up as much as you can on the species. I've given you what I think works well, you can adapt it or other's setups to suit your turtles needs. Just remember, it's not about what you think works, it's about what actually works for the turtle. If it's healthy and parasite free, then something you're doing is wrong. I don't say this to insult you, it's just a fact. Good luck.
David

Thanks for all the helpful replies. She started eating today.

Is this a Rhinoclemmys or a Chrysemys? You can find pictures of both here: http://www.chelonia.org/byspecies.htm#P

Katrina

My Slider wouldn't eat for 2 weeks. Took him to the vet. Turns out he has pneumonia(I know I spelled that wrong). SO he's on anti-biotics. STill wouldn't eat. He saw me eating some grapes and did this thing where he scratches the side of the tub when he wants me to feed him or pick him up. SO I gave him a grape and he devored it!So try some grapes(make sure they are seedless) and see if your turtle will eat them.My vet says they are excellent for them.
nightman1973x

My specialty are Ornate Woods (aka Painted Wood) I keep a pair here in my laptop room, wonderful species

at 8" she's huge! My girl's only 6.5" so I guess she's not big enough to lay eggs yet.

Good variety you're giving her. I'm REALLY surprised she didnt go for the worms. I keep mine in a 40g terraium. Good that you got a water tub and all that. It sounds like everything's ok. Being in a rubbermaid keeps the chance of hanging fake plants for her security, I do that and my girl's feeling better.
Go vet her, always have her checked out. Maybe she's got a gutload of endoparasites that are affecting her. They're all wild caught so who knows.
Give her more time to get used to her new home.
Here's a few shots of mine:

My male Donatello

My female, Jessie