Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, I am the one that had the painted turtle seized by the rather nazi-like vet. We did get the turtle back as I think you know. He has had 2 shots of vit. a so far with ointment on his eyes and is doing MUCH MUCH better. All puffyness in the eyes is gone, he is swimming and basking like a normal turtle.

Problem is, I will not go back to feeding him those stupid turtle delight shrimp things that got him into this in the first place (someone else did that to him.)

How do we get him to eat foods that are better for him? I have tried Reptimin, Wardleys Reptile sticks (he did pick at these a bit), "Turtle Brittle", cichlid pellets and even a couple small pieces of pro-plan cat food.

On top of that I tried feeding him small mealworms (cut in half after being fed carrots all night) in the hope that he would get some vit. a that way. He did eat one half a mealworm, picked at a cricket until it was a shell of its former self, picked at a tiny piece of friskies tuna cat food (I picked out a piece that looked sort of tunalike). He is afraid of small earthworms.

How are we supposed to make sure he doesnt go deficient on us again if we cant get him to eat anything???

Thank you for any and all advice.

Carole

PS he has a uv light, a basking spot that is getting about 94 degrees, water temp is 78-80 degrees for now. I have been taking him out and putting him in a smaller container to eat so as not to foul the water in the tank.
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www.reptilecare.com

what i do to my res and painteds is brush tuna juice on lettuce, then put a different pellet, on the top of the lettuce,they'll eat the lettuce and then they smell more tuna juice! then they'll devour the pellet that was on top, it'll still have the same pellety taste but with tuna juice on it keep doing it till they get used to the pellet ( bout 1-2 weeks)

also brush calcium on the lettuce.

Hi, we did get him back to eating. In fact now he is a pig. He still will not touch pellets and I thought we were going to be sunk on getting any vitamin a into him. BUT turns out he LOVES water plants like water hyacinth and stuff. He goes right thru them. In addition to that he has eaten collard greens, mealworms (gutloaded with veggies prior) and waxworms. He shuns silkworms and earthworms.

I know the mealworms and waxies are not ideal but... if we just do like one of them a day plus all the greenery I wonder if that will do it for him healthwise.

Anyone ever try the "fish gum drops"? they come in a variety of mixtures like beef heart and silversides among other things.

Carole
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www.reptilecare.com

First of all congrats on getting your turtle back and on the road to health! I have two babies, Squirtle who is about two and Gus who is nearly one. Squirtle has been a picky one. In two years I've never once got him to take Repto-Min. He does like earthworms and mealworms. He also loves a little bit of fresh fish, (hates cat food). Sometimes he'll eat a bit of chicken or raw hamburger. Anyway it sounds like you have a good handle on things and I'm happy to hear you fought for the little guy(or gal!)