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Posted by bloomindaedalus on May 09, 2003 at 20:43:01:
In Reply to: Is there any way to force feed a turtle who isnt eating? posted by lacie143 on May 09, 2003 at 19:07:21:
It can be done but keep in mind two things
(1) turtles can go a long time ( a month or more) without serious il effects
and
(2) a turtle which once ate well and is now reluctant to do so is probably scared or sick.
Do you have a turtle you think you need to force feed?
If so....
How long has it been since it ate? Is this an animal you have had a long time?
Does it show any other signs of sickness? Have you recentely changed its cage or cage location or given it a roommate? Perhaps you should check careful you husbandry (check tempertaures and items being offered for food, water depth and cage size and levels of chemicals in water etc..)
Turtles can be tube fed like snakes but i have found that an eye-dropper works just as well. The hard part is getting a turtle to open its mouth for you (tapping gently on its mouth with a finger or cotton swab sometimes works). Once that is done, squeezing some liquified turtle pellets or a well blended mix of greens and tuna is usually accepted. You may follow with a small amount of fresh cool water. The turtle should then be placed in water quickly (not necessary but helpful to prevent choking) and kept warm enough for a few days to digest its food.
