Author Topic: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?  (Read 1308 times)

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chronovore

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The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« on: September 20, 2010, 12:04:17 PM »
This weekend was the local festival. My son "won" a small freshwater turtle, about 2 inches in diameter. It's swimming around in a goldfish bowl right now, but I have no idea what to feed this thing. I tried a cracker, I tried a small piece of pear (remembering that my tortoise liked apples when I was a kid). I don't think it ate either of them.

Anyone know what these things eat?

EvilBoris

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2010, 12:09:03 PM »
 no experience here.. but try some lettuce
« Last Edit: September 20, 2010, 12:12:36 PM by EvilBoris »

Mupepe

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2010, 12:17:01 PM »

chronovore

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2010, 12:25:16 PM »
Thanks for that.

Actually, I ran into that site earlier today, but it says "diet varies based on type." The turtle I have is the TYPE shown in the PICTURE, so WTF? eHow failed me!

chronovore

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2010, 12:26:53 PM »
no experience here.. but try some lettuce

I'll try that; my tortoise liked lettuce as well as apples. I have a feeling desert turtles and freshwater ones have some inherent differences though.

MAN, I wish there were none of these weird carny games at the festival. WIN LIVE FISH, WIN A BABY CHICK, WIN A TURTLE, WIN SOME SHRIMP.

...Shrimp?

SHRIMP.

Dickie Dee

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2010, 12:57:40 PM »
Have you tried pigeon?

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]
___

Powerslave

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2010, 01:11:47 PM »
PIZZA!

Madrun Badrun

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2010, 01:24:33 PM »
Feed your child to it.  That will teach him for winning exotic pets.

cloudwalking

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2010, 03:16:54 PM »
his diet should consist mainly of turtle pellets.

i used to give my red-eared slider small bits of raw hamburger meat as a treat. they will eat almost anything you throw into the water though. don't dump it in all at once or the water will get filthy really fast. and don't feed him too much.

if you feed him at the same time every day he'll remember and come to expect it, probably bang on the glass or try to climb up it.

oh, and get him a proper terrarium, ditch the fish bowl. turtles are not fish, they need to have a landing where they can climb up out of the water and bask (preferably under a heat lamp). if they are just swimming all the time they can get really tired and, believe it or not, drown.

just get a 10 gallon tank and put a shelf in it, fill water up to the level of the shelf so he can climb onto it and get one of the clip-on heat lamps to clip to the side of the terrarium. whole setup is dirt cheap and will keep the turtle happy. if you want to go all out like i did you can get a filter for the water. you will have to change the water a hell of a lot less.

also removing the chlorine from the water isn't necessary with turtles like it is with fish but i'd recommend doing it anyway. chlorine is an irritant and a bottle of chlorine remover is cheap, you only need a tiny capful for 10 gallons and the turtle will be more comfortable.

hope this helps

Mupepe

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2010, 03:29:48 PM »
Thanks for that.

Actually, I ran into that site earlier today, but it says "diet varies based on type." The turtle I have is the TYPE shown in the PICTURE, so WTF? eHow failed me!
i'd feed him other turtles then :D

Fresh Prince

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2010, 03:56:26 PM »
his diet should consist mainly of turtle pellets.

i used to give my red-eared slider small bits of raw hamburger meat as a treat. they will eat almost anything you throw into the water though. don't dump it in all at once or the water will get filthy really fast. and don't feed him too much.

if you feed him at the same time every day he'll remember and come to expect it, probably bang on the glass or try to climb up it.

oh, and get him a proper terrarium, ditch the fish bowl. turtles are not fish, they need to have a landing where they can climb up out of the water and bask (preferably under a heat lamp). if they are just swimming all the time they can get really tired and, believe it or not, drown.

just get a 10 gallon tank and put a shelf in it, fill water up to the level of the shelf so he can climb onto it and get one of the clip-on heat lamps to clip to the side of the terrarium. whole setup is dirt cheap and will keep the turtle happy. if you want to go all out like i did you can get a filter for the water. you will have to change the water a hell of a lot less.

also removing the chlorine from the water isn't necessary with turtles like it is with fish but i'd recommend doing it anyway. chlorine is an irritant and a bottle of chlorine remover is cheap, you only need a tiny capful for 10 gallons and the turtle will be more comfortable.

hope this helps
"lose"
888

chronovore

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2010, 06:26:22 PM »
his diet should consist mainly of turtle pellets.

i used to give my red-eared slider small bits of raw hamburger meat as a treat. they will eat almost anything you throw into the water though. don't dump it in all at once or the water will get filthy really fast. and don't feed him too much.

if you feed him at the same time every day he'll remember and come to expect it, probably bang on the glass or try to climb up it.

oh, and get him a proper terrarium, ditch the fish bowl. turtles are not fish, they need to have a landing where they can climb up out of the water and bask (preferably under a heat lamp). if they are just swimming all the time they can get really tired and, believe it or not, drown.

just get a 10 gallon tank and put a shelf in it, fill water up to the level of the shelf so he can climb onto it and get one of the clip-on heat lamps to clip to the side of the terrarium. whole setup is dirt cheap and will keep the turtle happy. if you want to go all out like i did you can get a filter for the water. you will have to change the water a hell of a lot less.

also removing the chlorine from the water isn't necessary with turtles like it is with fish but i'd recommend doing it anyway. chlorine is an irritant and a bottle of chlorine remover is cheap, you only need a tiny capful for 10 gallons and the turtle will be more comfortable.

hope this helps

Helps a bunch, thanks!

Fresh Prince

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #12 on: September 20, 2010, 06:33:18 PM »
what it's going to be called. please be raphael
888

chronovore

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #13 on: September 20, 2010, 06:34:59 PM »
I'll ask the boy. But he knows not of the TMNT of which you speak.  :P

Fresh Prince

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2010, 06:36:44 PM »
smh
888

Madrun Badrun

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #15 on: September 20, 2010, 06:57:32 PM »
I'll ask the boy. But he knows not of the TMNT of which you speak.  :P

Worst dad ever.

chronovore

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #16 on: September 20, 2010, 07:40:12 PM »
:lol

I'll see what I can do to live up to your guys' expectations. Meanwhile, FM, try talking to a girl so you at least have a chance of procreating so you can judge this fairly.

Madrun Badrun

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #17 on: September 20, 2010, 07:45:20 PM »
Sure.  Just give me your wife's number  :punch :punch :punch

chronovore

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #18 on: September 20, 2010, 08:48:04 PM »
Sure.  Just give me your wife's number  :punch :punch :punch

You'd still stammer, MC Frimmer-Frammer.

chronovore

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #19 on: September 20, 2010, 08:49:18 PM »
You killed the turtle you heartless bastard!

Wuh-huh? The turtle was still alive when I left for work an hour ago! It was staring at me, actually. I'ma pick up stuff at the pet store during lunch.

EmCeeGrammar

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #20 on: September 20, 2010, 09:17:23 PM »
Turtles perk up whenever I dangled a live earthworm in their face. Do it for fun.
sad

lennedsay

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #21 on: September 20, 2010, 09:29:56 PM »
Those things get to be the size of a football, btw. They're really hard to take care of and the water gets all gross really quick. And depending on the breed, it probably needs a lot of calcium and sunlight or UVA/UVB lighting, or else it's bones and shell will be deformed.

You should probably just ship it to me ASAP because it's probably trying to find a little turtle gun to off himself.

spoiler (click to show/hide)
I've always had tortoises and always wanted water turtles, especially red ear sliders, but you legally can't buy them here.  :'( And they live here, but I've never been able to find one.  :'( :'( :'(
[close]
(|)

chronovore

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #22 on: September 24, 2010, 08:42:40 AM »
Turtle is surviving. Eating dried fish (not hard to come by in Japan) and enjoying shallow water and climbable rocks now.

Thanks for all the helpful advice! My son named it "Kametaro," or "turtle boy," after "Momotaro."

Groogrux

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #23 on: September 24, 2010, 03:59:17 PM »
I bought a red eared slider when I was a teenager and it was already the size of a cereal bowl.  I wanted a bigger tank for it so I ended up buying a clear Rubbermaid storage bin rated for 50 gal.  Worked just the same as the tank and the turtle was none-the-wiser.  We fed him pellets and the occasional guppie or goldfish as a treat.  He always ate them quickly, except one.  He let one live and it stayed in the tank with him for well over three months.  After that time rolled by, I ended up taking the goldfish out to my mom's pond where she kept Koi.  The friggen thing lived another 2 years and got to be 6 inches long.
WTF

Groogrux

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Re: The feeding of a freshwater turtle?
« Reply #24 on: September 24, 2010, 04:03:46 PM »
spoiler (click to show/hide)
I've always had tortoises and always wanted water turtles, especially red ear sliders, but you legally can't buy them here.  :'( And they live here, but I've never been able to find one.  :'( :'( :'(
[close]

Is it possible to get one shipped to you from another country?
WTF