I recently bought an Eastern painted turtle. I have had him for about 2 weeks now. He is a little smaller than a quarter. He is living in a 20 gallon with 2 red eared sliders ( 2 months older than the painted). Well in the 2 weeks I have had him I have only seen him eat once. Now when I feed, whether is be pellet, frozen, worms, etc. the sliders are all over the food and gorge themselves, the painted wont even give it a second look. He usally lays on the dock or log and rarely gets in the water. Does this sound normal? Is there anything I can do? Open to any and all suggestions. TIA
Baby turtle wont eat
- Thread starter SlammedDC2
- Start date
I suggest separating him from the sliders if they're hogging all the food and probably intimidating him from eating. Do you have all the proper lights?
I would seperate esp durring feeds. I know when I was working in the LFS close to me, we seperated the false maps from the red ears because the red ears are way more agressive when it comes to getting food.MDC_Leviathan;531639; said:
Well I tried that for 3 or 4 days, had him in his own little tank and he still wouldn't eat. The only time I saw him eat was when I fed frozen in the big tank with the sliders. It just seems like he isn't interested. He will swim over to where the food is and just kinda swim through it like it's not there.
Yes I have a heat lamp over the dock for basking and UVB for sun. Tank is well taken care of. This is the 4 time I have had turtles, just never had one that wouldn't eat.
If the turtle's that small, I hate to have to say this, but it's probably not worth it to take it to a vet. It sounds like you're doing everything right; just continue to keep him separated and help him feel secure by giving him something to hide in.
I'll tell you something a turtle breeder once told me: sometimes, you'll have baby animals that die on you no matter what lengths you go to to make things right. It's not your fault; there could have been something wrong inside the turtle. This is why these kinds of animals have so many offspring. This is why I say it's probably not worth it to take the turtle to a vet, not because it's just a cheap little turtle and it can easily be replaced.
:/
I'll tell you something a turtle breeder once told me: sometimes, you'll have baby animals that die on you no matter what lengths you go to to make things right. It's not your fault; there could have been something wrong inside the turtle. This is why these kinds of animals have so many offspring. This is why I say it's probably not worth it to take the turtle to a vet, not because it's just a cheap little turtle and it can easily be replaced.
:/
lovespunaround;531909; said:
so you give up on it ? without knowing whats actually wrong?
it could be something that is easily treatable by a vet and to deny it becasue one thinks its not gonig to make it based on what some nub turtle breeder says?
get it checked out bro, besides, its not expensive
, and if nothing can be done, then you can say you tried.How much would it cost to take it to a vet? I am kind of limited on money so if it is cheap than thats cool.
SlammedDC2;531955; said:
Depends on the vet. Most herp vets I've taken animals to will charge around $25 just to examine it, and then add on whatever treatment they administer. I would expect to spend somewhere around $50-60.