Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey you guys. I was wondering if you could give me some advice on feeding my midland painteds. I have heard of other members of this forum feeding their young painteds some veggies (i.e. lettuce, zucchini) and the turtles supposedly readily took to eating them. My painteds won't touch any veggies. They are about 4 months old right now and they shun any vegetables, plants or fruits that are dropped in their aquarium (in addition to other food items). Is this OK and will it be a problem later on in their lives? You see, I want to give my painteds a wide variety of food items so that they have a balanced and nutritionally complete diet and are as healthy as can be. But they just don't seem to want to eat any greens. How do you guys get them to eat vegetables/plants? Any advice would be great!

Also, they are extremely picky in their choice of food items, only eating earthworms and shrimp once in a while. Even though I offer them a huge variety of insects and other feeders, they shun them and don't even give them any attention. Is there some way I can curb this picky behavior? For example, I was thinking of leaving only certain food items in the aquarium (i.e. pellets or shrimp) and allowing them to eat when they are feeling hungry. Would this work? Or will they refuse to eat until their favorite food item is offered? And is this smart to do? Because I don't want to stress them or starve the beautiful little creatures in any way. I love them with all my heart and never would want to bring any harm to the little guys. Please respond a.s.a.p. It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

(P.S. since you're the only one that seems alive in this forum Linda, I'm expecting or I guess you could say I'm used to you responding to my questions. You're a great person to go to for advice and I fully appreciate all your help. Thanks so much.)

_Dennis

Close-up of my Reeve's Turtle. Look at that beautiful litte face!

Hi,

Doesn't sound like you really have much of a problem. If they are eating regularly, have proper shell growth and are active They're good to go. Try feeding freshly killed guppies if you are really worried about calcium. I've kept and bred a large variety of species over the years and as long as the heat requirements were correct allowing them to properly utilize what was fed them, I had no problems. Just make sure the surface basking temps are really what you think they are. Best way to do that is to get yourself a temp gun. With the vaste majority of young turtles I've kept, I've found that vegetable matter was only taken on a regular basis as they attained adult size. I usually keep a covering of duckweed or salvinia in my hatchlings tanks, more to provide cover and security than any other reason, but I do find them nibbling on it once in a while.

The only thing I'd really rethink is your plan to release them into the wild in the spring. As a general rule it's not a good idea as deseases picked up in captivity can spread to will populations.

Best of luck

Dear rfb,

Thank you for your response. I truly appreciate any advice that I can receive from fellow herp enthusiasts. Because of your advice and the comments of other forum members regarding this topic, I am not going to worry too much about my painteds. They are eating and are somewhat active, although they are spending a large amount of the day sleeping in the corner of their aquarium on some emergent aquatic vegetation. This is normal right? It's normal for them to slow down in activity and appetite, but is it normal for them to sleep for such long periods of time during the day? I was thinking that it's their instinctive/natural biological clock kicking in and letting them know that this is the time of year to slow down but just to make sure, what do you think?

Anyway thanks for the advice and I will try feeding them minnows or guppies to give them some additonal calcium. I measured the basking area temperature to be 87 degrees Fahrenheit and the water at 76.1 degrees Fahrenheit. I know this is good because their basking area should be 85-90 degrees while the water temperature should be between 74-78 or 70-76 degrees Fahrenheit depending on who you ask. So, if you're wondering if the temperatures are correct, you can count on it. Their sluggishness is not do to improper temperature or improper exposure to UV light 12 hours a day. It's probably just their natural behavior this time of year. Please respond back.

Here's a picture of Bronsky, one of my Midland Painteds. Isn't he gorgeous!?

Hi HerpW

I just joined the forum and my hatchling midland painted were eating cut up worms when I had them outside after they hatched, when I brought them in this fall they stopped eating the worms and were dwindling. Finally I got some freeze dried bloodworms, (fish food that most pet stores). They go for it like crazy, Iam trying to get them to eat reptomim but all they like are the blood worms they have put on weight and are looking really good. I have read that painted usually don't eat greens until they are older.
I have three adult painted and they eat dandelion greens and romaine lettuce along with trout chow and reptomin. They seem to also be doing good.
Good Luck

Steve