I feed mine algea waffers and mazuri pellets. I tried to get them to take other items but it all just ends up making a mess out of my tank, and they often wouldn't even try it. They seemed to like tomatoes and Kiwi more than anything else but even then they would only nibble at it and then leave it. I even tried figs which is supposed to be the staple of many populations diet in the wild and they wouldn't touch it. Algea Waffers and Mazuri seems to be fine, I've had one of mine for 4 years and he grew from just under 4" to about 7" in the first year and half on that diet. No shell deformities or anything. I would recommend feeding either pellets or waffers that provide vitamin D3 since it's hard to give them a shallow basking area in an aquarium and the UV doesn't penetrate the water more than a few inches. This will keep there bones and shell from getting soft. You can also give them a cuttle bone for extra calcium but, but remember that D3 is necessary for calcium absorbtion. Good luck and post some pictures if can.
What do you feed your FRT?
- Thread starter webo
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Good tip about the D3 EGOODRICH. We have red foots as well so have plently of cuttle around but I get what you are saying about the UV. The pear holds together well in the water but I'm going to give kiwi a try next. We're going for more natural variety as she seemed to have episodes of constipation. She still gets some turtle sticks - I think they are Hikari but had forgotten about the algae wafers.
Thanks for the advice!
webo
Thanks for the advice!
webo
Davo,
We've had her for about 4 years. She got off to a slow start though as she was barely more than a hatchling, but is certainly catching up now. She was about £60 from a shop in Birmingham (though they advised the adult size was saucer sized - they must have very big saucers!), a bit of a bargain compared with todays prices. A friend has two, I think one was part of a trade in deal and not sure where he got the other one from exactly, all Wharf connected though I think. They had one there a while back that was for sale one week and shop pet the next. About the prices you see advertised though, they're only worth that much if someone is willing to hand over that amount of cash!
webo
We've had her for about 4 years. She got off to a slow start though as she was barely more than a hatchling, but is certainly catching up now. She was about £60 from a shop in Birmingham (though they advised the adult size was saucer sized - they must have very big saucers!), a bit of a bargain compared with todays prices. A friend has two, I think one was part of a trade in deal and not sure where he got the other one from exactly, all Wharf connected though I think. They had one there a while back that was for sale one week and shop pet the next. About the prices you see advertised though, they're only worth that much if someone is willing to hand over that amount of cash!
webo
EGOODRICH;1289711; said:
from all the sources ive read, FRTs are not basking turtles and so do not necessarily need UVB/UVA from sunlight. same is true for all purely aquatic turtles. correct me if i am wrong and please show me your reference. thanks.
They aren't goingto climb out of the water and sit on a log but they do sit in the shallows with thier legs all stretched out to catch rays like a basking turtle would do while basking out of water. I can't give you a reference, this is just an observation I've made of my specimens, I guess I shouldn't speak for the entire species. Whether or not they need D3 supplements I couldn't say for sure but I wouldn't risk it. Most fish foods now contain a source of D3 so they're probably fine. I just feed Mazuri because it is scientifically formulated for turtles and is used by some of the most renowned breeders and zoos (not specifically FRTs but many other species).
My FRT lives in my 12' oddball community tank with large cats, cichlids and a Giant Gourami.
If your FRT is not eating too well try him on some Vallisneria plants from your LFS
If your FRT is not eating too well try him on some Vallisneria plants from your LFS
She's eating fine it's just the other end thats causing problems! She occasionally gets bunged up by strange materials. Nothing like it in the tank, filter, feed, whole house really. Hoping that a varied diet will help her shift stuff - and be better for her generally.
As for the vallisneria, I have a planted tank with loads in. I've been taking it our for a while now and transplanting in other tanks. Why I didn't think of trying it with the vegetable eating thing first I have no idea! I'll be uprooting some established clumps this evening and passing them over. I think I may have tried a couple of leaves ages ago which she didn't eat. Maybe a properly planted clump, now she is eating more natural stuff will take her fancy.
One outcome of the more natural food approach is that now when she is hungry, she swims around the bottom where the weighted fruit goes rather than swimming at the surface where the turtle sticks float. Has to be a better idea.
Thanks for all the ideas
webo
As for the vallisneria, I have a planted tank with loads in. I've been taking it our for a while now and transplanting in other tanks. Why I didn't think of trying it with the vegetable eating thing first I have no idea! I'll be uprooting some established clumps this evening and passing them over. I think I may have tried a couple of leaves ages ago which she didn't eat. Maybe a properly planted clump, now she is eating more natural stuff will take her fancy.
One outcome of the more natural food approach is that now when she is hungry, she swims around the bottom where the weighted fruit goes rather than swimming at the surface where the turtle sticks float. Has to be a better idea.
Thanks for all the ideas
webo
