I have a baby red eared slider, about 3 or for inches long, and he is green. I wasn't planning on it, but a friend got it for me. He lives in a 10 gallon tank with water that is about 1/2 an inch deep. I got him at least 4 months ago, and he has barely eaten. I take him in the backyard (but keep him in his tank) so he becomes more active, and feed him bloodworms. A couple times I managed to get him to eat some, but he barely eats, and I'm surprised he is alive. I have also tried baby turtle pellets, live guppies, and lettuce. I'd give it away, but nobody will take it, and I have no heart to throw it away or something. He also has a heat lamp. Any advice please?
I really need help with a res
- Thread starter Nabbig2
- Start date
What is your water temperature in the tank? What is the temperature in the basking area? Do you have a UVA/UVB bulb?
You can try putting your turtle in a tub and keep it outdoors when it's warm so it can have more natural sunlight. Sounds like your RES is too cold so thats probably why it's not eating. Try giving it a dusted cricket or worm. Some turtles like to go after movement and that might spark it's intrest in eating.
You can try putting your turtle in a tub and keep it outdoors when it's warm so it can have more natural sunlight. Sounds like your RES is too cold so thats probably why it's not eating. Try giving it a dusted cricket or worm. Some turtles like to go after movement and that might spark it's intrest in eating.
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell. I could find a platform for it to leave the water, but I had to fill the water a lot deeper for it to work. The turtle wouldn't go on it, and when I put him on, he would go back in the water, and end up upside down sometimes...I also put in a heater, but it didn't have much of an effect because the water is so shallow. It was also making noises, so I took it out. Maybe I should put it back in?
Is there anything that red eared sliders go crazy for, to eat?
Is there anything that red eared sliders go crazy for, to eat?
To start it is fine if the turtle goes back in the water.. He/she will decide when they want to leave the water and hang out in/on the basking area. More water is better than all shallow anyway.
I would get some dried shrimp from the lfs. We feed ours 2-3 freeze Dried shrimp from the lfs each one .
Do you have a filter? Turtles are dirty and require in my opinion from the new experience
More water changes. Turtles and bad water end with disease.
Freeze Dried shrimp is what we were given and our RES eat the crap out of them.. but that is not saying yours will..
I would get some dried shrimp from the lfs. We feed ours 2-3 freeze Dried shrimp from the lfs each one .
Do you have a filter? Turtles are dirty and require in my opinion from the new experience
More water changes. Turtles and bad water end with disease.Freeze Dried shrimp is what we were given and our RES eat the crap out of them.. but that is not saying yours will..
RES are born swimmers. Half an inch is a pathetic water level for them, they naturally live in bodies of water which are a LOT deeper. Raise the water level, but provide plenty of plastic plants or other structures just below the water line to allow it to rest whilst breathing. You will also need a basking area where the turtle can get completely dry under a heat and UVB light.
To try and get it eating, offer tinned tunafish. It's not good as a large part of the diet, but it has one hell of an odor that entices RES to eat.
Here are two posts I made on another forum that contain information about RES. I also suggest signing up to the forum, because it will help you a heck of a lot:
Housing the Red Eared Slider
A Diet Summary for Sliders
Paul
To try and get it eating, offer tinned tunafish. It's not good as a large part of the diet, but it has one hell of an odor that entices RES to eat.
Here are two posts I made on another forum that contain information about RES. I also suggest signing up to the forum, because it will help you a heck of a lot:
Housing the Red Eared Slider
A Diet Summary for Sliders
Paul
A couple of things (most have been covered to one degree or anther of course):
Definitely fill the tank up more, 5-6 inches deep, so he can swim. They really can't eat/swallow out of water so if it's that low that may be why he doesn't eat. Give him a platform to climb out on with a heat lamp for basking; he might not use it when you're looking, they can be nervous about that. Definitely get him outside in some sun, I put my young turtles in a plastic kiddie pool with a rock to climb out on for a few hours each day, the direct sun is great for them.
Good luck!
Definitely fill the tank up more, 5-6 inches deep, so he can swim. They really can't eat/swallow out of water so if it's that low that may be why he doesn't eat. Give him a platform to climb out on with a heat lamp for basking; he might not use it when you're looking, they can be nervous about that. Definitely get him outside in some sun, I put my young turtles in a plastic kiddie pool with a rock to climb out on for a few hours each day, the direct sun is great for them.
Good luck!
By the way, if you water is too shallow, your RES could flip over and not right itself up which will drown it. Turtles atleast need water as deep as they are wide.
I've never had a problem with turtles eating. I agree that you should give your RES something stinky to wet it's appitite. Small amounts of canned tuna are fine for now. I know that my baby Musk turtle loves freeze dried shrimp, snails, insect larva, worms, crickets, Repta-min and shrimp pellets.
Your turtle will get used to the platform in the tank in no time. Make sure that its light is pretty close for sunning. You should keep your water temperature in the high 70?s so you really should get a working sumergable heater for the tank. If you don't have a filter I advise that you change that water everyday to keep it clean.
I've never had a problem with turtles eating. I agree that you should give your RES something stinky to wet it's appitite. Small amounts of canned tuna are fine for now. I know that my baby Musk turtle loves freeze dried shrimp, snails, insect larva, worms, crickets, Repta-min and shrimp pellets.
Your turtle will get used to the platform in the tank in no time. Make sure that its light is pretty close for sunning. You should keep your water temperature in the high 70?s so you really should get a working sumergable heater for the tank. If you don't have a filter I advise that you change that water everyday to keep it clean.
Read up on red-eared sliders. That sucks you had one unexpectedly dumped on you, now you're got your research and set up cut out for you. RESs can be pretty expensive to house and feed properly.
http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html
Knowing what I know about them and how involved they can be, I'd be pretty ticked if someone dumped one on me unexpectedly.
http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html
Knowing what I know about them and how involved they can be, I'd be pretty ticked if someone dumped one on me unexpectedly.
its recommended 10gals of water per inch of shell but you can go as lil as 5gal per inch of shell and raise the amount of water in there that is low. and you should definately check your water temps, basking temp(on its dock/where it gets out of water) and add uva/uvb to the life wether it be natural or synthetic bulb...