Seeing that your turtle does not eat could be a source of concern: not only does it increase the chances of the animal dying of hunger, but it means that it could be sick. In this article you will be shown how to restore your turtle's appetite and what to do if it continues to refuse to eat. Many people struggle to get their pet to feed. Your turtle probably does not eat due to problems related to the surrounding environment, however it may also suffer from some disease. You can persuade her to eat by improving the environment in which she lives, recognizing any symptoms of a disease and trying to vary her diet.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Determine Why the Turtle Doesn't Eat
Step 1. Check the room temperature
Turtles are cold-blooded reptiles that do not feed if the temperature is too low. If you have a box turtle that lives inside, set up a warm and a cool area. The latter should have a temperature between 20 and 22 ° C, while the hot area should be around 30 ° C during the day. During the night the temperature can drop to 15 and 22 ° C respectively.
- For aquatic turtles the temperature should be around 25 ° C; the area exposed to the sun - or a heat lamp - should be between 26 and 30 ° C.
- If your box turtle lives outdoors, it could suffer too much from the cold if the temperature drops below 15 ° C. It may be necessary to add a ceramic heater in the animal's environment, so that it reaches the appropriate temperature.
- Check the room temperature with a thermometer and make the necessary changes if necessary.
Step 2. Provide more light
To develop a healthy appetite, the turtle also needs adequate lighting: aquatic turtles need both UVA and UVB rays in their terrarium. Provide your pet with 12 to 14 hours of light followed by 10 to 12 hours of darkness. Box turtles need at least 12 hours of light per day, whether it's direct sunlight or a combination of UVB and incandescent lamps.
- If the turtle gets less than 12 hours of light a day it may stop eating.
- If you have a box turtle that lives outdoors, you will need to adapt the light source to the season. For example, it may be appropriate to use more artificial light in the fall and winter, since the days are shorter, and no artificial light in the summer.
Step 3. Check for symptoms of any disease
If your turtle does not feed and you have already checked the surrounding environment, it could suffer from a disorder such as vitamin A deficiency, constipation, respiratory infections, eye problems or pregnancy. If the turtle is not eating, check for other symptoms to determine if it is sick and therefore needs to be taken to the vet.
- If you have white spots on your carapace and refuse to eat, you may be suffering from a vitamin A deficiency, which is also usually linked to lung infections.
- Other symptoms of a respiratory infection are wheezing, breathing difficulties, sneezing, runny nose, swollen eyes and lack of strength.
- In the event that the tortoise has stopped eating and relieving itself, it could suffer from constipation.
- If the animal has an eye problem and cannot see well, it may not feed. Check the condition of his eyes: make sure they are shiny and clean and that there are no foreign bodies.
Step 4. Determine if the turtle is hibernating
Asian, European and North American specimens can hibernate during the winter season. Even if it is in a suitable environment and has plenty of food, your turtle could choose this option. If you have verified the absence of problems relating to the environment and its physical health, but the turtle still refuses to eat, take it to the vet to find out if it is hibernating.
- Hibernation is a physically stressful condition for the animal, therefore it is only suitable for turtles in good health.
- If the veterinarian confirms that there are no contraindications for hibernation, he begins to lower the ambient temperature by 2-3 degrees a day: it will help slow down the metabolism.
- Do not let the temperature drop below 10 ° C. It begins to gradually increase the temperature by a few degrees after 10 weeks.
- Keep feeding her until she completely stops eating.
Part 2 of 3: Getting the Turtle to Eat
Step 1. Feed her live food
Turtles are attracted to movement and may prefer live food such as mealworms, caterpillars, earthworms, slugs, snails or pink mice. This food also has a very strong smell which is extremely inviting for the animal.
- Be careful if you decide to look for earthworms in the earth and give them to the turtle. If the soil has been treated with chemicals, it is best to avoid it and instead decide to buy it from a fishing shop.
- The turtle may also like larvae, beetles, land pigs, freshwater shrimps, flies, grasshoppers, red mosquito larvae and spiders.
Step 2. Combine pelleted food with other types of food
Dry or pelleted food is the basis of a turtle's diet. Break up the feed and mix it with live food to get your pet to eat. You can also try dipping it in canned tuna oil to give it a stronger, more inviting smell.
- You can also soak her in fruit juice or a caffeine-free energy drink to encourage her to eat.
- If you have a box turtle, try placing food in the water: it may prefer to feed underwater rather than on land.
Step 3. Provide her with brightly colored food
Turtles are attracted to this type of food, so offer your pet strawberries, tomatoes, papaya, mangoes, watermelon, rose petals or other brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Fruit shouldn't form the basis of a turtle's diet, but it can be used to persuade it to eat.
- For best results, you can combine brightly colored food with live food: the color and strong smell could be even more inviting.
- Vegetables are more important to a turtle than fruit: try immersing them in tuna water to entice them to eat them.
Step 4. Change your diet
Maybe your turtle refuses to eat simply because it doesn't like the food you offer it. For example, try cutting vegetables into small pieces and dipping them in the jelly of red mosquito larvae and the next day give them mango and pellet feed dipped in tuna water. You need to learn about your pet's preferences.
- It may be useful to keep a diary relating to the turtle's diet and its reactions: it will help you understand what it likes.
- You can also try feeding her alternately on land and in water and see if this has an effect on her way of eating.
Step 5. Feed her early in the morning
Turtles tend to be active early in the morning and prefer to eat at that time: many specimens refuse to feed at other times of the day. Try feeding her at 4:30 or 5:30 in the morning or as close to dawn as possible.
- In addition to the time of day, you may need to adjust your nutrition according to the season. For example, if the turtle lives outside it could be too cold to eat at dawn in winter, so in that season it might be better to feed it a little later.
- Box turtles prefer to eat on rainy mornings because it's the easiest time to find earthworms and snails.
Step 6. Take her to the vet
In the event that she does not respond positively to any type of food offered to her or to changes made to the environment, consult a veterinarian. If he refuses to eat, he may not only be suffering from an ailment, but his own health may be in danger. A professional analysis will increase the likelihood of discovering the problem and a timely solution will eliminate the risk of a deterioration in the animal's condition.
- A veterinarian experienced in reptiles is better prepared to care for your turtle, as they have received special training in the treatment of these animals.
- In case you can't find a specialized veterinarian, contact your nearest zoo, some charities or universities (for example the department of veterinary medicine, animal science or similar).
Part 3 of 3: Provide a Healthy Diet
Step 1. Provide the turtle with a balanced diet
Your pet should eat a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables and meat. In the case of an aquatic specimen, the diet should include 65-90% meat (for example earthworms, snails, molluscs, frozen pink mice or dry food or pellets) and 10-35% vegetables (e.g. Indian mustard or cabbage, grated carrots, grapes, mango or cantaloupe). A box turtle's diet should consist of 50% meat (crickets, mealworms, snails and snails) and 50% vegetables (e.g. berries, green beans, pumpkins and flower heads).
- Juvenile turtles need more meat than adult turtles.
- These are general rules for turtles, but the diet will depend on your pet's species.
- Always feed the turtle with fresh food.
Step 2. Supplement your diet with calcium
If you are given the proper diet, your pet should be given all the necessary vitamins and nutrients, however most turtles benefit from calcium supplements. You can provide them with "calcium blocks", fish bones, or in powder form. Take the supplements once a week.
- Place the "calcium blocks" or fishbone in your pet's environment so that he can chew them.
- You can also coat your food with calcium powder before providing it.
- You can also administer a reptile or turtle multivitamin twice a week.
Step 3. Know which food to avoid
Your pet will grow healthy if you give them a variety of different foods in moderation, however there are some foods that should never be given. Avoid the following foods:
- All dairy products (e.g. cheese or yogurt);
- Sweets, chocolate, bread, refined sugar and flour;
- Canned and packaged food that contains salt and preservatives;
- Any food of the onion and garlic family;
- Rhubarb;
- The avocado;
- Fruit pits.
Advice
- Always consult a vet in case you have any doubts about your turtle's diet.
- Feed the turtle a variety of different foods, trying to feed seasonal fruits and vegetables.
