Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just got a few spotteds, it's been a week now ant they are not eating commercial turtle pellets. When purchased I was told they were feeding on commercial pellets. They don't appear sick at all or have any abnormal behaviors, any ideas? Thanks.
Jeff
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Jeff M.
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1.2 tri-colored hogs
2.4 w.hogs
1.2 albino RES
2.4 spotted turtles
0.1 puppy
--->2.7 albino mice feeder breeding colony

Hey Jeff
Are they adults or babies? Maybe you are using a different brand pellet then the place you bought them from .E-mail the person you bought them from to find out what brand of pellets they were eating. I have turtles that will not eat Mazuri , some will not eat Reptomin. Another thing might be if they are stessed , they need to feel secure in the enclosure you have them in.
Or it could alway be possible you purchased WC spotteds... if they are, it will take along time for them to take pellets, if ever. I think the best thing to do is offer them something they will eat worms, crickets but keep offering them pellets.
Matt

Thanks, I think you are 100% right. I will first try to feed them Mazuri pellets. They also may still be adapting to the new enclosure or are WC. WC would suck as I specifically asked for CB only eating commercial pellets, but realistically most possible hence the good price. What kind of worms do you recommend? I will also try the crix, thanks a lot.
Jeff M.
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Jeff M.
-----------------
1.2 tri-colored hogs
2.4 w.hogs
1.2 albino RES
2.4 spotted turtles
0.1 puppy
--->2.7 albino mice feeder breeding colony

I feed my spotted's night crawlers and crickets, but I alway put some pellets in. If you dig your own worms, make should you don't get them in a yard that was sprayed with chemicals.
Matt

Good point, thanks for all your help. I'm wondering how to balance thier diet if they will only eat nightcrawlers and crix? Is it balanced or do I need to feed the crix vitamins before I feed the turtles? I did order Mazuri today in hopes they will find it more tasty. THanks again.
Jeff M
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Jeff M.
-----------------
1.2 tri-colored hogs
2.4 w.hogs
1.2 albino RES
2.4 spotted turtles
0.1 puppy
--->2.7 albino mice feeder breeding colony

Jeff
to balance out their diet ....They should also eat aquatic vegetation, veggies. Duckweed is great if you can find some. If you have a small tank available to raise duckweed in it will grow very fast . Just put a little duckweed in water and leave a light on it all the time. It will grow faster then you can use it. You can also try mealworms, dried krill,feeder fish(guppies ,rosies).
Matt

Guess what, I bought some koi fish pellets and she ate it! Only 2 pieces which she tore apart so probably 1 piece total, but it's a start. I have Elodia in the tank, but she doesnt eat it. I put nightcrawlers in her tank, but she didn't eat that either. I put the basking lamp closer to the basking spot and she has been there ever since. I have some baby rosy's in there, but she is not chasing them either. I dropped the water lvl to about 4 inches from 6. I was thinking about putting in a used tea bag for water conditioning, what do you think? I will try to find some crix tomorrow. I know she is gravid and I have no egg laying chamber. So this week I will divide my tank into 50/50 water and land instead of 50/50 water and rocks on one side with 1/2 inch of water above. Let me know what you think. THanks.
Jeff
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Jeff M.
-----------------
1.2 tri-colored hogs
2.4 w.hogs
1.2 albino RES
2.4 spotted turtles
0.1 puppy
--->2.7 albino mice feeder breeding colony

that's a good start ... at least if they are eating something you can keep their weight up,they should start eating other things with time . The spotteds I have were wild caught a year or so ago ,and they now run acrossed the tank when they see me and wait for me to feed them. If I give them worms they will take it from my hand. As for the tea bag to condition the water , I never heard of doing that. I am not sure how big your tank is ,but I use plastic storage boxes to put soil in for the land area with a ramp going up to it . Just a suggestion. It is easier that "gluing" a divider in. I have alot of different set-ups, but that seems to work pretty good.
Matt