Q&A for How to Feed Your Turtle if It is Refusing to Eat

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Question

What should I be feeding my turtle?

Audra Barrios
Marine Biologist & Reptile Specialist
Audra Barrios is a Marine Biologist and owner of Lick Your Eyeballs, a business offering experiemces, reptiles, supplies and plants. With over 15 years of experience, Audra specializes in reptiles and exotic animals, environmental education, marine biology, conservation issues, and animal husbandry. Audra earned a BASc in Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and studied Natural Sciences at the College of Marin. She is the founder and Executive Director of Things That Creep, a non-profit dedicated to herptile conservation through education. She has spent the last nine years working as a biologist at the California Academy of Sciences.

Audra Barrios

Marine Biologist & Reptile Specialist

Expert Answer

The specific diet for your turtle will depend on what species it is. Different species have really different diets, so you should research the type of turtle you have to find out what's best.

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Question

I found a baby red eared slider turtle and he is not eating. I have tried commercial food, fresh fruits and veggies, and meat, he just swats the food away. What do I do?

Bailey Burnett

Community Answer

I've owned three baby red eared sliders that have grown up. Typically when young they don't eat often. They also prefer live food and meat over fruit and veggies.

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Question

I just bought a turtle and it's refused to eat for 2 days now. What should I do?

Community Answer

When you get a new pet, it might take a couple days for it to get comfortable in the new environment and start eating. Give it some time. Try different types of food. It will eat eventually.

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Question

What is the best choice to feed your turtle?

Joshua Middleton

Community Answer

I use the floating pellets from ExoTerra for my turtle's food. Depending on the living situation of your turtle, pour the food on the side of the tank opposite the filter, to minimize filter blockage.

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Question

I feed my turtle cucumbers and sometimes salad. Once I tried giving him some fruit. Why did he refuse to eat it?

Community Answer

He most likely just doesn't like the type of fruit you tried or wasn't hungry at the time. Not a big deal.

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Question

My little turtle's legs are sticking together. What should I do?

Community Answer

Rub a little cool water on the legs.

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Question

How long can a turtle go without food?

Chara Dreemurr

Community Answer

A turtle sometimes skips a day of eating once a week.

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Question

Is it all right that my baby Asian tortoise sometimes skips a day of eating?

Birds101

Community Answer

They will occasionally do this. It really depends what and how much you are feeding them. Don't worry too much about it.

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Question

I have a yellow bellied slider baby that will not eat. What should I do?

Community Answer

Check the temperature of its living area. If the temperature is low, then turtles normally do not eat. Try mashing their pellets and mixing them up in the water. They will get their nutrition; however, Google for more answers and help. There are forums which provide professional answers.

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Question

I have found a box turtle and it's not eating the pellets. What should I do?

Community Answer

Try some fruit and worms.

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Question

What if I think the turtle is constipated?

Community Answer

Go to the vet and explain his symptoms and ask them to check the animal for health problems.

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Question

Do turtles hibernate during the winter? My turtle has slowed down and isn't eating or walking.

Community Answer

If you're keeping it outside, then yes, its behavior makes sense. In this case, take it inside, because hibernating (technically called "bromating") in captivity is a dangerous and temperamental process. If it's inside, then there is no seasonal reason for its behavior, you might want to do more research or take it to the vet.

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Question

I got a new pet turtle, but it refuses to eat turtle food. What should I do?

Community Answer

If it refuses to eat turtle food from the pet store, try feeding it things like live worms, grubs, or some veggies and fruits.

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Question

My red-eared slider hasn't been eating for a few weeks. Should I start giving her other kinds of foods besides pellets?

Community Answer

Yes, my turtle did that same thing so I started giving him different foods, such as mealworms and lettuce, and then he started to eat.

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Question

My turtle will not eat his food. It has been like that for approximately 2 months, what can I do?

Community Answer

Try mixing up the food, sometimes they don't eat because they don't like it. Try adding some shredded carrots and tuna water.

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Question

My turtle hasn't been eating for several weeks. What should I do? I keep it in the sunlight every day for 3-4 hours. What can I do?

Fabilinchis 25pedo

Community Answer

It needs more UVB light to give it more energy to start its metabolism. Just like if somebody is tired, they won't have any energy and they might not feel like eating.

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Question

Should I be concerned if my red-eared slider has a good diet and appears healthy, but has developed white discolorations on its shell?

Community Answer

This is easily treatable. They develop white spots if they are fed too often, the water is dirty or too warm, or have not have had sufficient amount of dry time every day. Try removing the white spots (if they are hard), then applying silver sulfadiazine over the top. That should help it heal over time.

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Question

What happens if my red eared slinder doesn't eat for weeks?

Community Answer

If your turtle hasn't eaten in a week or two, start getting concerned. If it's been weeks since your turtle has eaten, you need to see a vet right away, because your turtle is likely ill and could starve to death.

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Question

Why won't my red-eared slider turtle eat?

Community Answer

Check to see if it's sick. The water could be too cold, it should be 68 - 78 degrees. Try dipping the food in tuna water, it makes it smell better and taste better.

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Question

How do I get a baby turtle to eat food and not just the dried shrimp and mealworms?

Ayushi Desai

Community Answer

Since the turtle is still a baby, it will take time to get to veggies. You can also try giving it some food pellets, this will surely help.

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Question

My turtle won't eat vegetables, even though I have tried feeding them to her many times. What should I do?

Community Answer

Just feed it the staple food. You can find it at pet stores or online.

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Question

What do I do if my turtle is sleeping all the time and not eating?

Community Answer

Your turtle might be hibernating if it's winter. If it's not, try using the lights in its enclosure to wake it up, then take it outside where it can get direct sunlight and roam around (supervised).

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Question

What do I do if my turtle won't eat out of a bowl, only out of my hand?

Community Answer

Stop feeding him from your hand and just keep food in his bowl. Eventually he will get hungry and eat from the bowl.

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Question

Yesterday my Malaysian turtle fell down from the 4th floor. His shell has a bit broken from the corner. I cleaned it with dettol water, but since then he has not eaten anything. What should I do?

FutureHow

Community Answer

Bring it to the vet, as it could have internal damage, too. It is the only way, sorry.

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Question

What is a good method to use to make an aquatic turtle eat?

Community Answer

A good method for making aquatic turtles eat is to give your turtle live food. Some good live food for turtles includes mealworms, crickets, shrimp and fish. You can also try some aquatic plants or aquatic snails. Also, make sure your turtle is eating in the water. Aquatic turtles need to be under water to swallow.

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Question

Do turtles go without eating for many days? Where do I get calcium powder?

Community Answer

They sometimes stop eating for a day or two a week. You can buy calcium powder at a pet store or online.

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Question

What do I do if my turtle is active but not eating?

Ayushi Desai

Community Answer

If the turtle is a new pet, then it will take some time to get adjusted to its new environment. Try mashing the food pellets in the water it lives in. That will provide it nutrition.

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Question

I fed my turtle with Taiyo turtle food, but it has not been eating it for 2 weeks. It is 2 years old. What should I do?

Community Answer

It’s probably not the right food for their age. Check the age and see if you bought the correct food. You can also try a different food and see if your turtle eats it.

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Question

What do I do if my turtle doesn't eat veggies?

Ayushi Desai

Community Answer

If your turtle is not eating enough veggies, try giving it some live food to add variety to its diet.

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Question

How long can a red-eared slider stay without water?

Ayushi Desai

Community Answer

About 2 hours. Do not try to keep it out of water for more time, as they dry out quickly.

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