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Post by linzi64uk on Mar 4, 2012 12:30:14 GMT
Hi again
I feed my terrapins the recommended mix but also trying them with different things on a regular basis. I have 2 YBS, (still trying to get pics of their tails and claws etc to post on here for sexing)One of them is a right greedy guts and will almost devour anything (apart from healthy greens of course) The other is quite a picky eater but does love prawns, can I give them prawns everyday or are prawns considered a treat, obviously the prawns with the mix as well
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Post by turtlegirl on Mar 4, 2012 21:39:14 GMT
Dried prawns or fresh ones? All turtles love dried prawns, turtle equivalent of sweeties and a good way t get fussy eaters eating again. Like sweets, dried prawns are fine as part of a balanced diet with pellets, fish ec and greens if you can persuade them to eat any. If they don't like lettuce try thinly siced courgettes or cucumber. better still dandeion leaves, more vitamins than lettuce. It is OK to give a few prawns a day as dessert but don't feed them on prawns exclusively. Fresh prawns should be fed whole if possible with legs heads and tails on. Don't worry turtles can easily crunch the hard bits.
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Post by linzi64uk on Mar 4, 2012 22:46:44 GMT
Thanks turtlegirl
The mix I feed them has dried prawns in it but one of the YBS will only eat them if I hand feed. I do give them whole prawns when I can but what about frozen prawns (defrosted of course) I have tried lettuce,cucumber and courgettes but they just leave it. I have even tried just feeding greens for a day without the mix but they still dont bother with it. I will definately try dandelions leaves though, season permitting. What about spinach or spring green cabbage?
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Post by wayne020668 on Mar 5, 2012 22:58:38 GMT
hi feeding turtles and terrapins can be hard when they won't take foods that are good for them... children will eat sweets all day if you let them... the secret is to offer a wide balanced diet and keep to it, most turtles and terrapins that have been rescued or come from pet stores only know a few foods so have got used to them weather good for them or not, buy improving the foods they eat offers them the choice of taking the foods that they will need to keep healthy, stay with it and if you want to know if they are eating these like greens or fruits then offer them in small chunks and count them... i.e 6 cuts of strawberry's and in the morning do you still have 6 and so on.. these animals can't go shopping so it's like being a parent so you win some you lose but keep trying... a free good food guide comes with any order if you need it.. regards Wayne...
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Post by wayne020668 on Mar 5, 2012 23:03:08 GMT
hi feeding turtles and terrapins can be hard when they won't take foods that are good for them... children will eat sweets all day if you let them... the secret is to offer a wide balanced diet and keep to it, most turtles and terrapins that have been rescued or come from pet stores only know a few foods so have got used to them weather good for them or not, buy improving the foods they eat offers them the choice of taking the foods that they will need to keep healthy, stay with it and if you want to know if they are eating these like greens or fruits then offer them in small chunks and count them... i.e 6 cuts of strawberry's and in the morning do you still have 6 and so on.. these animals can't go shopping so it's like being a parent some you win some you lose but keep trying... a free good food guide comes with any order if you need it.. regards Wayne...
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Post by turtlegirl on Mar 5, 2012 23:20:01 GMT
Spinach and cabbage are also OK occasionally but not too often, Spinach contains small amounts of toxic oxalic acid and brassica type veg (cabbage, sprouts, broccoli) contain a substance which reduces calcium absorption. My big sliders will shred cabbage leaves in seconds, thick stem and all. Never tried them with spinach. You can also try boiled or tinned carrots cut into bite sized pieces. Mine will eat carrots as a last resort if nothing else is available and they are hungry. other people manage to feed grated or thinly sliced carrots. It depends on the individual turtle's taste - just like kids! Leftover bits of raw or cooked fish from human meals (heads, tails, bones, skin)are good for turtles too Bones have lots of calcium. They also like boiled or raw mussels, whelks and scallops - NOT pickled in vinegar. Another favourite is those huge dried prawns from Turtke Rescue shop. It;s fun to hear them crunch their treat. Mine also get strips of unsmoked sliced ham as a monthly treat. They go wild fighting over it. Again, a good last resort if a turtle goes on hunger strike for ober a week and won;t eat pellets
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