How Much is Too Much??

[turtledudeusa]

Hey!

I have a feeling that the cause for the excessive shedding of Snoopy&Droopy's scutes is related to overfeeding them. I know that they need a varied diet. They are about 2 years old, and are about 4 inches in carapace length. I feed them about 3/4 to 1/2 of a leaf of lettuce around 4:00PM and around 15+ Reptomin floating food sticks around 10:00PM a night. Am I overfeeding them? How much do you all recomend for their ages and sizes??

Thanks,
Boujour!
turtledudeusa

[csurfleet]

To be honest that sounds fine, although I would try to use romainne lettuce if you could, the normal stuff has no nutrients.

[turtledudeusa]

Thanks, I do use Romaine lettuce, and sometimes Collard Greens. I was just in a hurry when I posted.

[touie]

"They are about 2 years old, and are about 4 inches in carapace length."

My turtles are only 1year old and 3 of them are already 5-6" Have I been over feeding, for them to get that big or do they just grow at different rates?

Between the 4 of them they get through 1 handfull of prepared turtle food, 1 tablet blood worm, 1 tablet of krill, and whichever greens I put in, usually 1/2 lettuce leaf or a broccoli stalk?

[csurfleet]

Sounds like a bit much to be feeding every day. That sounds fine for 3 times a week though

[Jinx]

Hmmm, touie, i would say they are definately growing way to fast. Too fast of growth can cause problems, not saying you are or they have them, just letting you know. But if they are healthy and not fat, obesity is just as bad for a turtle, I would say that is no big deal, as it is between the four of them, and my Ben can eat that daily.....lol. Maybe cut out a day or two, if you are concerned. I promise they wont die, but they will beg...smiles.

I personally dont have a feeding schedule for my guys, just every couple of days they get a salad and pellets. Live food is always available.

Good luck

Turtledude....your guys sound fine to me as does your food schedule.

[csurfleet]

Quick tip - whe n your turtle is growing too fast, he will start to get "taller" - the shell will start growing vertically faster than horizontally.

Also, when flesh starts to bluge round the legs, they are getting fat.