FRT not eating.... any suggestions?

[E.C.H]

Hey fellas, I picked up a Juvie FRT this last week, about 4"-5". The previous owner was feeding it sinking wafers, carnivore pellets, half clams, market shrimp and a couple other things (not too many greens). I currently upgraded his tank from the 50g. he was in to a 260g. footprint with some fancy guppies and mollies as tankmates. I've tried giving him lettace, apples, sinking wafers, market shrimp (guppies ) but he doesn't so much as look at the food. He's pretty active and today is active when he wants to be. Is it the stress of moving homes less than a week ago that could be the culprit of his lack of appetite?

 

[snakeguy101]

many times that I have moved animals from one enclosure to aanother they have gone off of feed. Even my savanna monitor (who is VERY food oriented and has never missed a meal before) stopped eating for about a week when I moved him. Just keep trying and hopefully he will start eating again.

Also, check the water parameters and temp, that may have something to do with it.

 

[Oddball]

First things first...

What the temp? FRTs like it on the warm side around 84F.

What's the salinity? These turts prefer at least light brackish. Also, a high pH is recommended.

For finicky feeders, place some anacharis plants in the tank, he'll graze on these plants. Forget lettuce, all it does is spike the tank. Instead, offer it turnip greens, blanched cabbage, and halved kiwi fruit.
I keep a half dozen live minnows in each FRT tank and replenish these as the turtles catch them. Keeping 6 allows me to monitor which turt is more successful at capturing live prey.

There's tons of info on maintaining this species around the site. Search them out. There's a ton of stuff that can't be found in the generic on-line care sheets.

 

[House 64]

Good luck to you ECH.... Like Oddball says, what are the parameters? Keep us updated on his progress.

 

[Cheetah]

Give him another week to re-aclimatize, nothing to worry about.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[elindra]

Hey fellas, I picked up a Juvie FRT this last week, about 4"-5". The previous owner was feeding it sinking wafers, carnivore pellets, half clams, market shrimp and a couple other things (not too many greens). I currently upgraded his tank from the 50g. he was in to a 260g. footprint with some fancy guppies and mollies as tankmates. I've tried giving him lettace, apples, sinking wafers, market shrimp (guppies ) but he doesn't so much as look at the food. He's pretty active and today is active when he wants to be. Is it the stress of moving homes less than a week ago that could be the culprit of his lack of appetite?

What's the temp of yr water? IF it's too low u can raise the temp a little to stimulate appetite.

Btw, cut out the carnivore pellets, half clams and market shrimp from its diet. The protein is too high and might give it upturn shell.

Algae wafers have sufficient protein for its growth.

 

[Vincentii]

sorry. im new to theinternet. but, what is a rft?

 

[Vicious_Fish]

sorry. im new to theinternet. but, what is a rft?

Fly River Turtle.

 

[E.C.H]

Thanks for all the input guys. Good news, he's finally eating! I bought a small bag of carnivoire pellets just to get him going and he took a couple. I waited another day and then dropped in sinking wafers, he took them just as easy. I'll keep him on the wafers and cut out the carni pellets and his other proteins. It's been about 4 days and he's eating the wafers pretty consistantly, I'll work in actual greens next week.

 

[E.C.H]

Btw, cut out the carnivore pellets, half clams and market shrimp from its diet. The protein is too high and might give it upturn shell.

Thanks Elindra, I think you're right because the back half of his shell curls up so ever slightly. I'll keep him on greens and less protein to see if it reverses it.

Oddball, I bumped up the temp from 80 to 84 and he's more active. Shy when he wants to be but still active. I also added some salt and the crush coral sand in the tank is keeping the PH just right!

Thanks and I'll keep everyone posted on his progress and growth. The wife loves it so it's a member of the family now.