Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a male almost two year old painted turtle. He is kept indoors at all times. The se up is a 20 gallon long tank with a uvb bulb and a sun lamp. There is a under water filter and a turtle filter. Rocks on the bottom and a dock for basking.

When we got the turtle I read everything I could find. The Turtle (Blue) has been fine until a few months ago. Usual diet was aquatic plants, feeder fish, crickets, meal worms, earth worms, and Reptimini turtle pellets.

I used to roll the meal worms in calcium before he ate pellets but after he started eating pellets I stopped as the pelets have calcium in them. He used to eat every other day and would eat 10 meal worms and 5-10 pellets. Always very excityed to be removed from his cage knowing he was being fed. Then he stopped eating and so we started buying more fis. Now he will only eat the fish. And even that is few and far between.

I guess my question is how am I suppose to get calcium into my turtle when he won't eat anything but fish. And live fish. I tried to killl a fish and roll it in calcium and he would not eat it.

Also his shell in the back by his hind legs is starting to curl up and the outside edge of his shell on the top is pealing these things that look like fish scales.

Please help me. I am very concerned and there is no one by where I live that cares for turtles. I would be driving a great distance if I need to see a vet. Not that I won't if I need to.

Blue is a great turtle and has become a part of the family. I like him more then the dog! Thank you to anyone who can help.

Hi, I wouldn't worry too much. Shell curling is generally
due to overfeeding. I have 5 turtles ranging from 10 years
to 7 years to 1 year old. In my opinion you are overfeeding
based on your post. My painted turtles slow down with eating
a couple of times a year but mainly in the fall. They never
stop completely but are more picky and eat less. You didn't
mention how large your turtle was?

Just let him be picky and don't worry about the calcium
supplementation. I worried in the beginning but soon found
out that this behavior doesn't last. I would be very careful
about how many fish you are feeding him. Be strong and don't
give in. Try some different things too. Dry catfood soaked
until soft is a favorite of mine. Also, make sure you are
using a UVB light source like the Reptisun 5.0.

I have attached a picture of one my sliders. This girl
is 7 years old. It's hard to believe she was ever a tiny
green hatchling.

Hope this helps
Linda

Blue is about 2 1/2" - 3" long. I just took a few picture to send you to see how the shell looks and the size of him but I don't know how to attach them. HELP please.

The fish I just buy 6-8 at a time and put them in the tank. He eats them when he catches them. All other feeding is done out of the tank. I use to feed him every other day but but a about 5 months ago I started feeding him about 2 times a week. Lately (last few monts) he has eatten nothing but fish. I still offer food in the seperate dish but he will not touch it. I have offered crickets, meal worms, pellets and earth worms.

The fish usually last about two weeks. The first day they are put in he will swim around almost all night catching three or four of them. Then he may eat one here and there over the next weeks when he can catch them.

Fish are loaded with calcium, in the bones & in the scales.
You are getting calcium into him the natural way.
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PHRatz