My painted turtle won't eat anymore, any advice?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

skiptomyzoo

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 13, 2007
1,447
0
0
San Diego, CA
It used to eat maggots like a champ out of my hand, but now he just stopped eating and dives for the water as soon as some one enters the room. He wont touch minnows, his turtle food, or any insects anymore either and any food put in there, is still there and left untouched the next day even. He is relitively young, so i dont think he is omnivorous yet. Im guessing I might have to make a trip to the grocery store soon for some fruits and veggies for him? but... Any reccomendations on what to try next or get him in order to make him eat again, as Im concerned. Thanks in advance.
 
Mackeral. Ive never seen a turtle turn it down. NEVER use it inside though. LOL
 
What's your setup?

Lighting, filtration, maintanance, etc.
 
its in a 20 gallon, bc it is still a baby. The tank is set up with driftwood coming out of the water leading onto basking rocks.
I use a 40 watt bulb for the basking area, a light strip on top and a fluval 2 filter.
I also try to clean it out once a week.
 
unannon;1113163; said:
its in a 20 gallon, bc it is still a baby. The tank is set up with driftwood coming out of the water leading onto basking rocks.
I use a 40 watt bulb for the basking area, a light strip on top and a fluval 2 filter.
I also try to clean it out once a week.

Is the water heated? Do you know what the temp of the basking spot and water is? He could be a little bit cool, which would cause a smaller appetite.

I'm assuming you mean a 40 watt UVB, but if not that's necessary.

He could also be constapated, is there anything on the bottom of the tank for him to eat? They will eat any rocks that will fit in their mouth. My turtles eat sand CONSTANTLY, which is luckily small enough for them to poop out with no problems, but I've seen turtles eat fairly large rocks also.
 
I'm thinking your water temperature is too cool for him to properly digest food. That's most likely why he isn't eating anymore. Do you have a heater in the tank? Keep the water temp between 76˚ and 80˚ degrees F.
 
bring the basking temp to about 90 and also the water temp to 76-78.....keep minnows in the tank at all times and just wait my yellow belly did this when it was a baby I increased all temps and after a week the minnows started dissapearing
 
allright thanks, ill check the temps today. Also theres no substrate for him to eat or sand or anything, its plain with just the basking rocks and driftwood. Thanks once again.
 
yeah i read that since turtles are cold-blooded, if the water is too cold they're metabolism slows down, makng them not feed.
The water will be warm enough once he's feeding.
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com