Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys,
My pair of spotted turtles have been persnickety about feeding through much of this winter, and not eating their usual fare too well. On a whim I threw a bunch of 'pillbugs' in the water and both turtles sucked them down. I've not had many turtles who were crazy for pillbugs, so I thought it was an interesting observation. (Pillbugs were avidly crunched, while small, squiggly, freshly dug earthworms were eschewed. Go figure!)

-ian

I know how you feel. I have a Blandings turtle that is the pickiest eater I've ever had. He will eat two or three food items with varanid-like gusto for a few months, only to poopoo them suddenly. I'll adjust the menu, and he's off and running. Then, boom, again. I have a handful of menu staples that I have to rotate in order to keep him feeding.

Maybe your Spotteds are filling a seasonal nutrient requirement. Hey, at least pillbugs are easy to find.

Pillbugs are crack for my spotted turtles. They like them much better than earthworms or giant meal worms. Must be the attractive packaging and the fact that they're bit-sized.