Hello everyone - this is not my first mud turtle but this little guy is new to our home, less than 2 weeks and he is very young. His husbandry is very good and he seems to love his tank, his small mountain and his plants. His water temp is about 82/83 and the basking side of the tank varies between 85 and 90. I try to feed him twice daily by putting him in a small feeding bowl, on a heating pad with a small spot light by him (to ensure he stays warm) and I have tried every kind of food recommended to me for him and he will just swim around the bowl - have never seen him nibble at anything. I was recommended baby turtle pellets, freeze dried shrimp, krill, meal worms and blood worms, also tried frozen brine shrimp and other marine food that my other mud turtle loved, was told to try tuna water in his feeding dish, soaking his pellets in tuna water, nothing is working and it is going on 2 weeks. Is there anything I am missing - any other suggestions. I am terrified because he is so small but he is active except for his eating. Help me please.
my baby striped mud turtle won't eat
- Thread starter susieq450
- Start date
Baby turtles need plants to hide in. Without that, they will feel stressed and a baby will simply not eat. They will starve themselves to death. They need to feel secure as the number 1 instinct is to find safety. Sounds like the water is a bit too warm as well. They do better with water in the mid to high 70s. I know you say your husbandry is good, but may we see a picture of the tank and how it is set up?
To get baby turtles to eat, and especially bottom walker species like spotted, mud and musk, I always start them in a small tank with no substrate, but plenty of fake plastic plant garland. The plant garland fills about 3/4 of the tank. Some type of surface they can crawl out on to bask, and a small basking light. Feed them there where they can hide in the plant and see bloodworms wiggling on the tank bottom just below them. Only have the water level about 2-3 inches deep.
Once the turtle is eating well and growing, I then transition them to a larger setup. At that time, you can work on teaching them to eat in a separate container if you wish, but I choose to not do that. I just use good filtration on my tanks.
Here is a small tank I am starting a clutch of spotted turtles that just hatched. I believe it is a 3 gallon tank.
To get baby turtles to eat, and especially bottom walker species like spotted, mud and musk, I always start them in a small tank with no substrate, but plenty of fake plastic plant garland. The plant garland fills about 3/4 of the tank. Some type of surface they can crawl out on to bask, and a small basking light. Feed them there where they can hide in the plant and see bloodworms wiggling on the tank bottom just below them. Only have the water level about 2-3 inches deep.
Once the turtle is eating well and growing, I then transition them to a larger setup. At that time, you can work on teaching them to eat in a separate container if you wish, but I choose to not do that. I just use good filtration on my tanks.
Here is a small tank I am starting a clutch of spotted turtles that just hatched. I believe it is a 3 gallon tank.
Try feeding the turtle is it's normal enclosure instead of removing it and putting it in something else to eat.
Thank you so much Mark - As I also mentioned, he sleeps a lot which I assume is normal for a baby. In response to you, The temps that I have on the water and basking area is what they told me to do where I got him, through the Turtle Store. Maybe because he is so little. I know I kept it at the temps you recommended for my other turtle as he got older. As for his housing, I actually have a small tank placed inside the larger tank at this time (because of space or lack of) but this is the same tank I used for my other guy when he was little. I am not sure but think it is a 5 gallon tank – big enough for him at this time and I have it filled about 6 inches high (which is what they told me). I just added a couple more plants as you suggested but I just found that silly little guy sitting under the waterfall of the filer. But most times he is on the mountain, like you see in the picture, or in the low plant on the left back of his tank. I know striped mud turtles are finicky eaters to begin with but I really need him to eat something!!
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Pastel Tortie
Well-Known Member
I have two three-striped mud turtles (BOLD and PINSTRIPE - they have their own thread in this section). When they were little, Pinstripe would basically only eat it if it was wriggling or looked like it used to. Small pieces of red wigglers went over quite well. Both turtles loved the dried red river shrimp, even though it isn't good as a staple.
What I learned from @Moozillion and her experience with another picky mud turtle is that, if all else (other healthy commercial diets) fails, try the Hikari Sinking Carnivore Pellets. Try everything else first, because the small bags you find in pet supply stores are expensive. If your turtle likes it, however, the bulk size (order online) is more cost effective.
What I learned from @Moozillion and her experience with another picky mud turtle is that, if all else (other healthy commercial diets) fails, try the Hikari Sinking Carnivore Pellets. Try everything else first, because the small bags you find in pet supply stores are expensive. If your turtle likes it, however, the bulk size (order online) is more cost effective.
Thank you so much. I will try anything. I am getting concerned. I am trying to avoid the live things. What are red wigglers? I will see if I can find the sinking pellets though but he sure seems really fussy. Also, I can't seem to find the thread here for the 3-striped mud turtle and would love to learn more.
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Im sorry for your loss. I thought the sleeping all the time was a bad sign but I didn't want to scare you.
Try putting some bloodworms. Or live crickets.
For NEXT time....... when I was a kid earthworms was my go to food. Small enough to swallow or chopped up. Other days I fed various kinds of meat; whatever was in the fridge?. However live food might be a good idea to try.
Hello to all again - I am receiving another baby 3-striped turtle in a couple of days and want to ensure this new little guy has every chance for a good life. I hate how they have to ship these turtles - it comes from Florida and I am in Tennessee but I was advised when I get it to just put in a small container with warm water for a while until he is a little comfortable after being shipped - is it a good idea to put him in his tank after that? And I usually always fed my turtle in a separate container but not sure if I should do that right away or let him get settled for a couple of days after the stress of being shipped.
Thank you
Pastel Tortie
Well-Known Member
Quite a few members here with aquatic turtles, especially mud and musk turtles, have referred to (and continue to refer to) the sound guidance at Austin's Turtle Page.
This is the direct link to the care sheet for Three-striped Mud Turtles:
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-3_striped_mud.htm
This is the direct link to the care sheet for Three-striped Mud Turtles:
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-3_striped_mud.htm
Pastel Tortie
Well-Known Member
This is the thread I made for my two female three-striped mud turtles, Bold and Pinstripe:
https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/three-striped-mud-turtles-bold-pinstripe.172778/
That's how I set up my hatchlings, the issues I encountered, and what I did. Other people do it differently, and there are probably things I might do differently if I did it over again. I am hoping my experiences will help you out a little bit.
https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/three-striped-mud-turtles-bold-pinstripe.172778/
That's how I set up my hatchlings, the issues I encountered, and what I did. Other people do it differently, and there are probably things I might do differently if I did it over again. I am hoping my experiences will help you out a little bit.
I appreciate this and have referred to it in the past but I am going to be dealing with and caring for a hatchling of about 6 to 8 weeks old or so. I can't seem to find detailed information on how to care for the baby like this and this article does not cover that. I know I can provide the care - I just need to know what care they require to ensure their health. Funny thing is, I had my other mud turtle since he was barely the size of a nickel to a quarter and at the time was a novice - and he survived and has been the joy of my life. I just want to be sure this little guy gets the proper care. I appreciate all help and tips and thank you in advance.
I think the first little guy was sick when you got him. Hopefully you receive a healthy one this time. I wouldn't worry too much you'll be fine. You shouldn't have any problems with a healthy one. They're pretty hardy little turtles. @Pastel Tortie and @Moozillion can give you great advice.
Pastel Tortie
Well-Known Member
In addition to the care sheet above...
World Chelonian Trust
Mud Turtles - Kinosternon species
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/kinosternidaecare.htm
Turtle Rescue of Long Island
Mud and Musk Turtles (Kinosternidae) by David T. Kirkpatrick
http://www.turtlerescues.com/mud_and_musk_turtles.htm
Turtle Rescue of Long Island
Striped Mud Turtles article by David T. Kirkpatrick
Originally published in Reptiles, April 1999
http://www.turtlerescues.com/striped_mud_turtles.htm
World Chelonian Trust
Mud Turtles - Kinosternon species
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/kinosternidaecare.htm
Turtle Rescue of Long Island
Mud and Musk Turtles (Kinosternidae) by David T. Kirkpatrick
http://www.turtlerescues.com/mud_and_musk_turtles.htm
Turtle Rescue of Long Island
Striped Mud Turtles article by David T. Kirkpatrick
Originally published in Reptiles, April 1999
http://www.turtlerescues.com/striped_mud_turtles.htm
Pastel Tortie
Well-Known Member
When Bold and Pinstripe were babies, I fed them each in separate plastic ramekins (outside their normal housing) so I could tell exactly what they ate. They usually pooped then, too, which made for easier monitoring and clean-up.
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