Reptile & Amphibian Forums

DH went fishing at a pal's farm pond over the weekend and caught a mess of pan fish. They were yummy BTW.

Anyway, I thought that maybe the turtles would enjoy some fish guts, heads, etc., so I put some out for them this morning.

Several turtles approached the fish, but each of them sniffed at it and then turned and walked away. The only taker was our cat, who made off with a fish head while my back was turned.

I may try letting the fish get smelly, but I think that my neighbors may never forgive me for it. LOL

try giving them bits of filet,my boxies love fish,especially catfish,whiting,and bluegill.
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1.1 spotted turtles 1.3 ltc eastern boxies 0.1 cb'06 eastern boxie 0.1 cb'09 eastern boxie 0.0.2 cb'09 razorback musks 0.0.1 cb'09 eastern mud 0.0.1 cb'09 reeve's turtle 1.0 cb'09 crested gecko 1.1 steno geckos 1.2 redeye croc skink 1.2 cb'09 kenyan sand boas(albino,anery,normal) 0.1 albino hedgehog
1.0 cb '03 homo sapien(kaelan,7)
"jesus is coming-when i count to 3,everyone jump out and yell SURPRISE!!"

I've tried crappie and bluegill leftovers too, same response, however small chunks of raw salmon they go crazy for. (shrug) go figure, not exactly natural diet, but not a bad treat. I have some frozen chicks leftover from my corn snakes that I might chop up into bite sized pieces, I bet they will love it. Right now my strawberry patch is going nuts, so they are getting overripe or bruised strawberries for breakfast desert after they finish their boxie food balls. Everybody loves breakfast desert!
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Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

I was really more curious to see if they *would* eat it rather than trying to get them to eat it. Should DH catch different fish next time, we'll try those.

I was really more curious to see if they *would* eat it rather than trying to get them to eat it. Should DH catch different fish next time, we'll try those.

My three-toed would eat whole leftover bait minnows (shiners).
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Eastern box turtles usually don't like fish much unless they are in need of protein or something in there diet. They will eat fish but it is like feeding a kid brussel sprouts.
Also you may want to microwave the fish a little to rid it of any worms or other parasites.
The true gulf coast box turtles from the lower areas of the Apalachicola and coastal areas near there in FL will take fish a little more. They are more aquatic in there habits as they will walk under shallow water to feed on snails and other stuff in the water.
If you try a dark fish like sardines and or tuna and maybe salmon almost all of the box turtles tend to take these better.
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Noah was the first snake collector. ~Eric~