Live, wiggly food that is small enough to bite is usually the only thing that entices these little guys to eat. If your temperatures are too cold, even the most appealing treats will be ignored.
6 mo old Eastern box turtle won't eat
- Thread starter tiffew
- Start date
When I have baby boxies they will eat worms that are larger than I would imagine they would eat but they still go after the worm. You can also cut them up and they will still wiggle and be eaten.
Dubai roaches or Crickets from the pet store also work great, smash the head a little and they will wiggle around and the turtles attack them
Also I agree with Yvonne, don't pry his mouth open, that will only stress him more and cause more issues. It's best to soak daily, make sure temps and humidity are correct and leave him alone as much as possible
Dubai roaches or Crickets from the pet store also work great, smash the head a little and they will wiggle around and the turtles attack them
Also I agree with Yvonne, don't pry his mouth open, that will only stress him more and cause more issues. It's best to soak daily, make sure temps and humidity are correct and leave him alone as much as possible
It's a matter of finding something they like to eat. Keep offering food and soaking. Don't stress so much, things will be fine. They can go a while without eating as long as they stay hydrated.
How often are you handling him? I only handle my baby torts and turtles one time a day and that's just to soak them. Once they get about a year old I will handle them a lot more often
How often are you handling him? I only handle my baby torts and turtles one time a day and that's just to soak them. Once they get about a year old I will handle them a lot more often
ColleenT
Well-Known Member
It is bc he is in a new environment. He is nervous. It takes time. let him have some privacy, don't pick him up very often, and he'll relax and eat.
ColleenT
Well-Known Member
feeding box turtles- http://www.boxturtlefacts.org/Feeding_North_American_Box_Turtles.pdf
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- Nov 5, 2014
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sometimes there's noting you can do. as long as your temps are up, lights on schedule (12hours+ on), and humidity good... i bet he'll snap out of it. i had some go months without eating. soak him often. maybe in some pedalyte sometimes if you are really concerned.
only food mine would ever respond to is earth worms.
only food mine would ever respond to is earth worms.
I "think" he ate a red wiggler. We. Role one up and out it in his carrot soaking water. Eaither he ate both pieces or they are stuck to the bottom of his shell. I regret not lifting him up to look and have no way of knowing now that he's back in the moss. Do I just do this every day and hope if he eats these he will eventually eat other foods?
So we got him to eat red wigglers for several days in a row. He seems to enjoy them. He refuses to eat the reptomin sticks and, unfortunately, by the time he wrestles the worm, all the calcium powder is off of it. Is that ok?
Tonight he didn't have any interest in the worm and looked at for a bit and walked away. I tried to put it in front of him a few times, but he had no interest. Is that ok?
Sandy Barnett was helpful with me last week and making the change to a much smaller habitat with fake greenery seems to have gotten him comfortable enough to eat in the first place, I'm just nervous he didn't eat tonight.
Tonight he didn't have any interest in the worm and looked at for a bit and walked away. I tried to put it in front of him a few times, but he had no interest. Is that ok?
Sandy Barnett was helpful with me last week and making the change to a much smaller habitat with fake greenery seems to have gotten him comfortable enough to eat in the first place, I'm just nervous he didn't eat tonight.
ColleenT
Well-Known Member
They don't have to eat every single day. Reptiles can often go a while without eating.
