My hatchling Gus went through a short period of not eating much. I live in cold climate and the seasons changed and that is always to be expected. Well as I got the temperature adjusted and moved him into a larger tank with 2 year old Squirtle, Gus has become a eating machine. He snaps wildy at anything that moves. I feel like the Croc Hunter every time I have to pick him up to clean the tank, Crikey! He gets so excited he flips over. He's been such a pig that he'll even eat Reptomin! Anyone else have a snapping maniac? We've had Squirtle for two years and though he loves to eat he has never been a snapping fool like Gus. Maybe he's not getting enough to eat?
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Help! My Painted thinks he's a Snapper!
piffler1960
Nov 27, 2006 09:03 AM
Replies (3)
PHRatz
Nov 28, 2006 09:25 AM
I raised my painted from a hatchling, he's 12 years old today.
He went through what I called growth spurts. He wouldn't eat a lot then all of a sudden out of nowhere he was eating everything in sight. He'd do that for a little while then go back to not eating a whole lot.
Each time this happened he did grow. He did that off & on for years until he reached his adult size then tapered off.
Today he eats well but he doesn't have bouts of that ravenous appetite. Maybe your little guy is going through a growth spurt right now.
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PHRatz
piffler1960
Dec 06, 2006 08:23 PM
That's exactly what has happened. He did go thru a period where he hardly ate a thing, now his little jaws are snapping at everything that comes near him. At first everyone thought it was cute and teased him, so I put a stop to that...didn't want to encourage his behavior, feeding time is feeding time and he can snap at food, not fingers. I just hope he doesn't turn into an ornery nipper. Our other little guy is two and is sweet as can be.
PHRatz
Dec 09, 2006 09:57 AM
My boy is an Alpha Male for sure LOL!
He knows me, he won't even jump off his basking area when I walk into the room anymore. I used to have to start talking before I walked in so that he'd know I'm coming & not freak out. Today I can just walk in & he'll sit there & look at me without flinching.
He knows who feeds him, he knows who takes care of him but he WILL bite the hand that feeds him if he feels like it.
He's pretty aggressive but I just chalk that up to his Alpha Male status.
On the other hand our 10 year old male yellow mud who is our only other aquatic & is supposed to be aggressive is one of the most docile sweet little turtles I have!
They're like people.. no two are ever alike.
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PHRatz
