Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

Never thought I would ask this question but here goes....how often do I give worms, waxworms and reptomin. Now that Little T is finally eating she has a large appetite. She is eating 2 small worms or 2 waxworms a day. She is also eating greens and other stuff. My assumption is that since she likes things like parsnip and mustard greens she is more like 1-2 years old.

I want to make sure she grows properly.

Thanks, Linda

I just follow the Melissa Kaplan care sheet.... When I saw my turtle pyramiding, I cut back on the protein to once a week and give her more veggies and fruits almost everyday, with supplement of course. Before that i was giving protein every other day, or so...sometimes maybe since he was so young. I give her cuttle bone to chew on also...in case she needs extra calcium. I cut back even more when i see improvement....like ever other week, but give her quite a bit in one sitting. You should follow her care sheet. It's really great. Right now, my turtle shell looks great.

Right now, since her shell is looking better, I give her more protein...mostly Reptomin since it's nutritionally balanced, supplementing it with roaches and other inverts if I can get some. Since she just woke up, I've been her quite a bit of Reptomin. Now, I'm giving her some salad, too, after she put on some weight.

Tess Cook care sheet is good, too.... Just cut back on the protein as soon as you see her pyramiding, and give her more salad. Be sure to give her enough protein, so she can still grow. That's why I've been using quite a bit of Reptomin, now. It's nutritionally balanced so cause less pyramiding. YOu can feed more of it than say...inverts.

I have NEVER had pyramiding problems with any of the many hatchlings that I have head-started over the years, and I've been feeding a diet of approximately 50% protein.

I've had box turtles for over thirty years now and never had a case of pyramiding. I feed 90% protein for the first year and gradually add greens and fruit the next year, by making a mixture of greens, fruit and veggies with some canned whitefish, or venison. Pyramiding is caused by poor diet, low humidity, and no sunlight...IMHO.