TOO Fat? Snapping turtle outgrowing his shell???

[Red Devil]

I just posted this picture somewhere else on MFK and when i looked at it... i said holy cow is my turtle outgrowing his shell..am i feeding him too much.. i look at him everyday so i quess i just did not notice he was changing and growing this fast.. what do you think.. I need some turtle experts opinions.. he is 1.5 years old.. i have had him since he was the size of a quarter.. he is about 7.5 inches across now.. if that helps..

 

[Red Devil]

sorry forgot to include his picture..

 

[vtnamezeboi]

wow he IS fat

 

[Red Devil]

I couldn't believe it when i saw him from this angle.. oh boy it is diet time for him.. that's the last thing i want to do .. kill him with kindness..

 

[vtnamezeboi]

he's growing wayyy to fast then his shell is

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

he's growing wayyy to fast then his shell is

its not that he is growing its that he is being overfeed...

put that sucka on a diet!!!

 

[Red Devil]

You know i am glad i took his picture and had him out walking around.. because you get so used to seeing him you do not see the changes.. yes he is wayyyyy to fat.. and he will be on a diet from here on.. just have to hear how to go about it.. should i cut him back to eating less each day or cut him back by eating only a few days a week.. ??

 

[softturtle]

I would feed him every other day. They will eat to the point of not being able to pull their head into their shell, and it looks like he's about there.

 

[Red Devil]

I would feed him every other day. They will eat to the point of not being able to pull their head into their shell, and it looks like he's about there.

Thank you i will do that from now on.. also would adding alot more exercise help him? Do you think it is not to late to turn this around.. will he be nomal when his weight reaches a satisfactory level?

 

[Ang]

The good part is that (unlike people) it is a LOT easier to get your pets to loose weight.

If we had someone controlling our diets and how much we eat and we couldnt get snacks, we would find it much easier to loose weight.

So just cut back on feeding and feed less fatening foods and let him walk around a lot more. The same as people.
Portion control

I would still feed him everyday at first, but cut his portions in half. Then in a couple of weeks, try feeding every other day, but the same portions (half of what he used to get)
as well as letting him get out to walk around.

Dont let those puppy eyes get the best of you.

He'll shed the pounds. Just make sure he's not shedding weight TOO fast.