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I have a little baby eastern box turtle who is about an inch and a half long. The problem is, I can never get it to eat. It just won't eat any kind of bug or fruit. Any suggestions on good foods to try?

J.L.

>>I have a little baby eastern box turtle who is about an inch and a half long. The problem is, I can never get it to eat. It just won't eat any kind of bug or fruit. Any suggestions on good foods to try?

How long have you had the turtle? If you just got it, it may be very nervous & not yet settled in.
When you feed the turtle where do you feed it? In it's home, in another place? What kind of bugs have you tried?
Have you tried earthworms, mealworms, wax worms?

When you feed the baby do you watch to see if it eats?
Some of my box turtles will not eat one bite if I am watching, but if I go away where they can't see me they will eat.
Have you had it to see a reptile vet for a check up? It's never a bad idea to have a "wellness" check up especially with a new pet.
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PHRatz

I have had this turtle for a couple of months now. It was eating before, but now it doesn't seem to anymore. I put food in it's cage and it doesn't eat it and I have tried feeding it outside of the cage, like I do with my other turtles, but that doesn't seem to work either. the turtle isn't shy, it just seems uninterested in the food.

J.L.

>>I have had this turtle for a couple of months now. It was eating before, but now it doesn't seem to anymore. I put food in it's cage and it doesn't eat it and I have tried feeding it outside of the cage, like I do with my other turtles, but that doesn't seem to work either. the turtle isn't shy, it just seems uninterested in the food.
>>
>>J.L.

For me that's a red flag saying something is wrong. What about heating? Do you have the enclosure heated on one end? Maybe he's not warm enough.

My turtles all eat live foods, when my mud turtle was much younger he all of a sudden stopped eating, turned out he had parasites. He was treated by a vet but we had to put some of his medication into him ourselves. He's a mud which means he's little anyway but he was quite a bit smaller then than he is today, let me tell you.. getting his mouth open to put medicine in was a major operatiion!! It took 2 people to do it.. but we did it, his parasites were killed & he's been fine ever since. That was nearly 8 years ago.
If warming this baby up doesn't help, I'd see a vet & for sure have a parasite test run.
Good luck with him!
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PHRatz

Ok, I'll try to warm him a bit. They do get a little cold sometimes at this time of year.

J.L.

>>Ok, I'll try to warm him a bit. They do get a little cold sometimes at this time of year.
>>

Yes mine do get cold too. It was around 32 degrees last night here, it's cold in the house right now even with the main heat on.
I have a heat source under one end of the enclosure & when it's really cold like this I plug in a ceramic heat emitter & that hits one corner of the heated end so they can have heat from above & below if they want it. This works out well for us.
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PHRatz

i'll try that...

J.L.

Hatchlings can be somewhat difficult to start their initial feeding; especially in captivity when their instinctive urge to remain hidden from predators is strong. They still are getting used to all this movement that tells them to fear for their life...kinda spoils the chelonian’s appetite.

However the instinct for self survival is strong and if presented the right recipe which draws their eyesight into focus, the right smell, and movement ( from ten of thousands of years of survival) they seem to block out the lesser worries and think of nothing but intense focus on eating.

By now you might be a bit frustrated..but try this and let me know.

Make sure your temps are in the low eighties at one end of the tank, and that it is also a bit higher and lower in other areas so he/she can thermo regulate. Have at least two hide places....and have the general lighting at low intensity.
Make sure the sides of the enclosure are covered so as to prevent the boxie from seeing out.

Then acquire some small earthworms, or fly larvae....

In the hatchlings living quarters place a small saucer type dish( large round lid) or a small rectangular one that is filled with warm tepid water. Make sure the sides are a bit too high for him to climb right out. Rinse off the intended food. Chop up the worms or larvae into 1/16th inch pieces or barely larger and place them into the water dish. Carefully place the hatchling into the small feeding dish or round lid and back away. Leave him...warm and quiet and feeling secure.

It may take a few minutes..however; fight the urge to peer in just yet. In 15 minutes slowly peek in.

Ric

Thanks!! I'll try that ASAP!!!

J.L.