mark davis
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2014
- Messages
- 2
Hello all - just joined this forum. Tons of info!
I have had a box turtle for 8-9 years who is doing fine, he even successfully completed a 12 step program and is a recovered nightcrawler junkie. I just introduced a new box turtle (mature, 5/12"shell) who was coming in and out of my yard. I put him in the terrarium with the other turtle about two weeks ago.
Its a 50 gal with reptile substrate, UV and incandescent light, temp areas are 79-80 warm and 72-74 cool with good size water bowl, rocks, and some wood branches. Light is for 12-13 hours a day right now. i mist regularly. The new turtle is a male (they both are) and by all i can tell, in excellent health. He is cruising the enclosure without climbing the walls to get out, using the hide box along with the original turtle, sun posing, and, occasionally burrowing, and, been in and out of the water. THE PROBLEM: The new guy hasn't eaten anything in the two weeks i've had him. I've tried a variety of foods (berries, red lettuce, pieces of chicken, mushrooms, cantaloupe., etc.). He even ignored a couple of nightcrawlers!
The last few days i've started 15 min tepid soaks and even removed the other turtle for a few hours to see if the new one will eat. Nada. Meanwhile the original turtle is pigging out on all that untouched food.
So, I have two questions: (1) how long can the new turtle go without eating before i'll need to let him go?
(2) Any other ideas about how to "make" him eat, like hand feeding or some other method to start him up?
Thanks in advance!
Mark Davis
I have had a box turtle for 8-9 years who is doing fine, he even successfully completed a 12 step program and is a recovered nightcrawler junkie. I just introduced a new box turtle (mature, 5/12"shell) who was coming in and out of my yard. I put him in the terrarium with the other turtle about two weeks ago.
Its a 50 gal with reptile substrate, UV and incandescent light, temp areas are 79-80 warm and 72-74 cool with good size water bowl, rocks, and some wood branches. Light is for 12-13 hours a day right now. i mist regularly. The new turtle is a male (they both are) and by all i can tell, in excellent health. He is cruising the enclosure without climbing the walls to get out, using the hide box along with the original turtle, sun posing, and, occasionally burrowing, and, been in and out of the water. THE PROBLEM: The new guy hasn't eaten anything in the two weeks i've had him. I've tried a variety of foods (berries, red lettuce, pieces of chicken, mushrooms, cantaloupe., etc.). He even ignored a couple of nightcrawlers!
The last few days i've started 15 min tepid soaks and even removed the other turtle for a few hours to see if the new one will eat. Nada. Meanwhile the original turtle is pigging out on all that untouched food.
So, I have two questions: (1) how long can the new turtle go without eating before i'll need to let him go?
(2) Any other ideas about how to "make" him eat, like hand feeding or some other method to start him up?
Thanks in advance!
Mark Davis