How to Treat a Turtle That Won't Eat

They are not all this easy to convince...

When turtles stop eating, it can be hard to tell if something is actually wrong with them or if they are just not feeling hungry. Because turtles are reptiles, their environment can affect their appetite, and they may stop eating for as much as two weeks without any ill effects. However, if your pet turtle's fasting is worrying you, there are some ways to tempt him to take a bite. In this article, we will discuss how to treat a turtle that won't eat.

Instructions

1. 

   Offer bright colored foods. Turtles see in full color, so they find brightly colored foods appealing and easy to spot. Try strawberries--a turtle favorite--bananas or broccoli.

2. 

   Tempt with delicious smells. Turtles have a keen sense of smell and respond to food that smells good to them. Canned dog food with gravy may appeal to a picky eater when nothing else will.

3. 

   Make sure the food is moist. Turtles can actually smell water and they enjoy food that is wet much more than dry snacks. Juicy fruits like cantaloupe or tasty balls of moist raw hamburger meat are good foods to try.

4. 

   Serve live bait. Because turtles do not see very well close up, they respond instinctively to motion by snapping. Lively night-crawlers or beetles may trick them into taking a bite before they even think about what they are doing.

5. Help them relax. Turtles can lose their appetites if their environment is too stressful. If your turtle has been handled a lot or exposed to dogs or other domesticated animals, refusing to eat may just be its way of coping with stress. Place your turtle in an out-of-the-way area of the yard or house to help your pet calm down.

Tips & Warnings

• Turtle shells can carry salmonella, which causes food poisoning. Make sure you wash your hands after interacting with your turtle.