The little red-eared turtle doesn't eat anything. What happened to a friend - why doesn't the red-eared slider eat?

The red-eared turtle, despite the generally accepted idea of it as a lazy and slow animal, in natural conditions habitat behaves quite actively and lively, showing curiosity in every suitable case. The passive behavior of a reptile seems even more strange when Pond slider does not eat, sleeps and is lethargic. If the owner of a red-eared slider does not have extensive experience in handling reptiles, it is better to consult a veterinarian just in case.

Poor nutrition

The red-eared turtle stops eating due to a number of circumstances. The owner of a reptile simply overfeeds his beloved pet by giving it food too often. In nature, red-eared turtles need to eat no more than once or twice a day, and it is not worth increasing the frequency of feeding the reptile. If the problem arose due to a violation of the diet, then the owner of the red-eared turtle should reduce the number of daily portions and give the turtle as much food as it can eat at a time. In this case, leftover food must be removed, since spoiled food is quite capable of causing various diseases.

Hibernation

The hibernation that red-eared turtles go into in winter is another reason why the pet suddenly stops eating and does not show itself from behind its shell. Don't underestimate the risks this state red-eared turtle, since at home it is very difficult to create an authentic environment in which the reptiles wait out the winter. Therefore, if you suspect that your tortoise is about to hibernate, take steps to prevent it from falling asleep, otherwise there is a chance that your pet will not wake up from its sleep state in the spring. To do this, increase the temperature in the terrarium to 28˚C, increase the level of illumination there, extending the period of daylight by two to three hours.

If you still missed the moment when the red-eared turtle hibernated, provide it with conditions for comfortable waiting out the cold season. Place it in a wooden box and place it in a place with increased level humidity and low temperature. The red-eared slider should begin to emerge from hibernation around mid-March. If the red-eared turtle still does not wake up, the owner of the animal should begin to take measures to awaken it, otherwise the pet will die from exhaustion and dehydration. To do this, you need to gradually increase the level of illumination and temperature of the box with the turtle every day.

Mating games

Finally, one more natural cause The change in behavior of the red-eared slider, when it stops eating, is the onset of the mating season, however, if the reptile is kept alone or has not reached the age of sexual maturity, this option is unlikely. If a male and a female red-eared turtle are kept together in the same aquarium and have reached the ages of 5 and 4 years, respectively, then you are unlikely to be able to prevent them from conducting mating games, and you just need to wait until they start eating again as before. . During this period, red-eared turtles become aggressive and refuse to eat.

Pneumonia

The most unpleasant explanation for the low activity of the turtle is the possible illness of the pet. Often it is malaise that leads to the fact that the turtle eats little and sleeps a lot. The most common disease in house-kept red-eared turtles is pneumonia. When pneumonia occurs, the reptile becomes lethargic, inactive, stops eating food, and begins to float to the surface of the aquarium with its mouth open. The cause of pneumonia in a turtle may be hypothermia, which occurs due to a prolonged lack of heating in the terrarium, as well as a long stay in a draft. If a red-eared turtle gets pneumonia, it will collapse on the affected lung when swimming. At the same time, the reptile will breathe through its mouth and dive into the water less often, as it will experience difficulty breathing.

Prevention

A monotonous or inappropriate diet may also be among the reasons why a red-eared slider is lethargic and does not eat. Veterinarians recommend including in your diet food that reptiles eat in natural conditions: lean fish, beetles, worms. Bone meal supplements will help strengthen the shell. It is recommended to include vegetables and herbs in the diet.

Reluctance to eat is sometimes accompanied by other symptoms of painful conditions. The turtle may experience inflammation of the eyelids, nasal discharge, bleeding, sneezing, and coughing. If you notice such symptoms, contact a competent veterinarian who can determine the cause of the ailment.

Hello, Marina!

Unfortunately, you did not talk about the conditions in which the pet is kept. Refusal to eat and lethargy are a consequence of the turtle being very uncomfortable. Or perhaps you were sold a sick animal - land reptiles are especially susceptible to all sorts of ailments.

Why doesn't the turtle eat?

Temperatures below 25 degrees cause the turtle to refuse food.
Stress due to changes in living conditions can cause a hunger strike.
Changing weather also causes stress and reduces appetite
Lack of light. If you cannot feed your pet precisely because of this, then you need to increase the temperature in the terrarium by using a light source. Metabolism is normalized, and the reptile will begin to be interested in food. Otherwise sluggish turtle will try to hibernate, but this should not be allowed at home.
If you offer the wrong food, your pet will refuse to eat.
A meager diet and the same food do not arouse enthusiasm in the turtle.
If you keep reptiles of different sexes together, they will refuse food during the breeding season. After mating, they will regain their appetite.

The turtle's eyes are closed

Constantly closed eyes of a reptile are an alarming signal. The reasons may be that the pet is not getting enough ultraviolet irradiation. UV light is important for the turtle’s body to produce vitamin D. Otherwise, hypovitaminosis, rickets develops, and metabolism is disrupted. As a result, the reptile becomes lethargic, refuses food, its eyes swell and it keeps them closed. How to help a turtle:

Install a UV lamp. It is recommended to use Repti Glo. For a land reptile, you need an 8.0 or 10.0 lamp. An adequate substitute with a UV-B value of 8 - 10% will also work.
The lamp must be on 12 hours a day.
Give ReptoCal and Reptolife with food. They need to be mixed in a ratio of 3 to 1. Dilute the mixture of powders at the bottom of a teaspoon with a small amount of water and inject it into a piece of food. This “medicinal” food should be given with each feeding. If your pet is not yet eating, force the mixture into his mouth once a day, and when he begins to feed on his own, switch to a “fortified” food as indicated above.
Give reptiles baths with chamomile infusion. The duration of the procedure is half an hour. The bath temperature should be from 26 to 30 degrees. Please be present during the procedure and make sure that the turtle does not drown.

Sometimes the turtle not only has closed eyes, but also swollen eyelids and inflamed conjunctiva. Most often this occurs due to a lack of vitamin A. Under the lower eyelid you may notice a discharge similar to pus. In turtles, vision plays an important role when feeding. If such a thing develops inflammatory process, the reptile refuses to eat. How to help:

Make two injections of the Eleovit vitamin complex. There is a 2 week pause between injections. Dose - 0.6 ml per kilogram of reptile weight.
Rinse eyes twice a day. Use warm saline solution for this. Good results also gives chamomile decoction.
After washing the eyes, you need to instill Sofradex drops. The course of drops lasts no more than five days. You can also drip with the drugs "Alucid", "Tsipromed".
If the eyelids are very inflamed and reddened, an ointment - tetracycline or gentamicin - should be applied to them.
While the reptile is not eating, you can support its body with five percent subcutaneous injections ringer and glucose.

Best regards, Galina.

Sometimes reptile owners have to figure out why their turtle isn't eating. pet may refuse food in several cases, and not all of them pose a danger to his health. To correct the situation and still feed your pet, you need to find out the reasons for his refusal to eat and eliminate them.

Why doesn't the turtle eat anything?

frequent feeding
hibernation
breeding season
illnesses

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Frequent feeding

Sometimes inexperienced pet breeders may simply overfeed an animal without knowing its nutritional requirements. If you are wondering: “The turtle is not eating, what should I do?”, first of all, think about the frequency of its feeding. For adult animals, one meal every few days is enough, and their frequent coercion to consume food can cause them to refuse food. You cannot force feed your pet - the animal itself knows how much it needs to eat in order to replenish its energy reserves. Offer your pet exactly as much as he usually eats. Monitor the frequency of his feeding and do not offer food frequently.

Also, some inexperienced breeders wonder whether lack of drinking can cause food refusal. The answer is simple - you don’t need to water the turtle, you should bathe it. It is during this process that the reptile will receive the amount of moisture it needs. Dehydration cannot cause food refusal, since feed contains some liquid. Watch your pet - if the turtle prefers only succulent food, perhaps it really does not have enough moisture.

Hibernation

As a rule, before falling into a long sleep, the reptile's activity sharply decreases. If your turtle is lethargic and not eating anything, he may just be about to go into hibernation. It begins with the onset of winter. At home, it is not recommended to create conditions for animals for such long sleep. If you notice attempts to fall asleep for a long time, increase the temperature environment for the reptile and increase the brightness of the light in its home.

Breeding period

If you are wondering why a turtle doesn't eat anything, then be prepared for the most unexpected answer. During the breeding season, reptiles can change their behavior dramatically. However, this will only happen when the same aquarium or terrarium contains two individuals of different sexes. If you notice mating games, if your pets are ready for procreation, do not worry about their refusal to eat. The reluctance to eat will go away as soon as the turtles mate.

Diseases

The turtle does not eat - what to do? Unfortunately, this question is most often asked by owners of sick reptiles. Many diseases completely deprive your pet of appetite. If The turtle is lethargic and does not eat, have it inspected. You may be able to notice symptoms of illness in your turtle. If visible reasons To refuse food, you have not detected, have not identified the development of the disease, or simply cannot determine the disease, a visit to the veterinarian is recommended. It is the specialist who will be able to identify real reasons poor appetite pet, appoint correct treatment and, if necessary, carry out some therapeutic measures. At the veterinary clinic you can also find out possible reasons refusal of food in your species of turtles, get advice on preventing poor appetite. Veterinarians often advise using either their aquatic counterparts to ensure that the reptile’s body receives all the elements it needs.

If the turtle is lethargic and does not eat, the best solution is to urgently contact veterinary clinic. Self-diagnosis reasons can only harm the pet, and incorrect actions can worsen its health. If it is not possible to visit a specialist, try to find the reason for refusing food. Listed above are the most common situations in which a pet’s appetite can significantly deteriorate.

The red-eared turtle is one of the most common pets. We fell in love with the turtle for its unusual bright color and its ease of care. However, many people do not know the rules for keeping a turtle or simply ignore the recommendations of veterinarians and pet store sellers. This is where problems arise with her health and physical condition. It often happens that after buying a red-eared turtle, the owners bring it home and notice that it is inactive and sleeping most time, sometimes lethargic, refuses food. In fact, the reasons for the occurrence of such syndromes great amount, so let's look into the conditions of keeping the turtle to eliminate our own guilt.

The red-eared beauty comes from America, it’s not for nothing that her second name is American turtle. This a pet will be a great friend because... at home and at proper care turtles are active and very hardy. These pets often have a distinct personality and character, and are very intelligent and quick-witted. If you have two individuals, you can observe the aggressive antics of the red-eared slider - taking food, fighting, rivalry. At home, turtles live quite a long time, up to 40 years. Another pleasant bonus of purchasing such an animal is the absence of allergies to it. The red-eared beauty is known for its striking olive-colored coat, with a red stripe running across its entire body. The size varies, from 3 cm to 30 cm, and it is worth considering that at home, red-eared turtles develop much faster than in nature.

The turtle can also make characteristic sounds - hissing, squeaking or snorting.

How to care for red-eared turtles

To keep a turtle you will need an aquarium, choose the size yourself, but keep in mind that they grow quickly, in the future they will need a lot of space. It is also worth building an island for access to land. The island must be installed so that part of it is covered with water; it must be secured well so that the turtle does not get hurt; Also, the most important thing is that the island must be heated and warm so that the reptile can bask on it. It is also worth purchasing a heating lamp to maintain the required temperature; you also need a UV lamp, which will help properly absorb calcium in the body so that the turtle does not suffer from rickets or a bent shell.

To keep the turtle healthy, need to monitor her diet. The types of food are very diverse, it can be vegetables, special feed, insects or plants. Main condition - a large number of calcium in foods, which is necessary for the formation of the shell.

The diet should be age appropriate. Young reptiles are less demanding, while adults need plant food, which should be in abundance.

Water is the main condition for keeping the red-eared turtle. There should be a lot of water and it needs to be changed often, because... pets live in this water, eat, and go to the toilet. Otherwise, reptiles may get sick from microbes that develop in dirty water.

It is necessary to constantly maintain the water temperature at 23 °C and above. At low temperatures, the reptile may go into hibernation, from which it may not emerge, and then die from dehydration.

Everyone noticed that the turtle’s claws and beak grow very quickly, and they also require special care. As the claws grow, they need to be trimmed, otherwise the pet will not be able to move on land. You can do this yourself or by visiting a veterinary clinic.

It would be a good idea to watch the following video

Dangerous! Never trim the growing beak; it provides turtles with the opportunity to eat meat.

Causes of poor turtle health

You have learned the rules for keeping a red-eared turtle and its characteristics. Now let's figure out why they are sometimes lethargic and sometimes don't eat anything at all? The most common reasons:

Poor nutrition (abundance of food, poor diet, poor quality products)
Breeding period
Disease
Climate change
Reduced or elevated temperature water
Aggression in a group of turtles

How to deal with the causes of poor health

You notice that the reptile does not eat, is inactive, sleeps often, and does not make sounds - this is a reason to worry.

Let's try to find solutions for the reasons feeling unwell.

Nutrition should be balanced:

An abundance of food can lead to overeating. What to do? Turtles need to be fed on time; young reptiles need to be fed daily, while adults can be fed every other day.
An incorrect diet can be easily balanced - feed the young big amount squirrel, teenagers with any food, older ones - with a large amount plant products. The main condition is that the food must contain vitamins and be rich in calcium, otherwise calcium must be supplied separately from the food.
Poor quality products are a consequence of the owner’s savings. You should not choose the cheapest food; you need to pay attention to the manufacturer and composition.

The breeding season for turtles is accompanied by their passivity. For them, this is a new sensation, a period of calm. What to do during reproduction? Nothing. You just need to wait out this moment, then prepare for replenishment.

Disease- a frequent visitor for red-eared turtles. You should immediately go to the veterinarian; you should not try to cure the turtle yourself, the consequences can be sad.

Watch a video on the topic

Climate change also affects the condition of the turtle. If you just bought a pet and brought it home, then passivity definitely awaits you. The reptile will adapt to the new climate and new environment for several days. What to do in this situation? Observe your pet and also create for him comfortable conditions for existence.

Hibernation time for reptiles- a common occurrence. In nature, in autumn and winter, they constantly lie down at the bottom of the reservoir to sleep and do not wake up until warm days in the spring. What to do and how to avoid this? To prevent the turtle from feeling the onset of cold weather, it needs to maintain the water temperature at least 23°C and provide a constant supply of light. If the reptile hibernates, it must be placed in a box and left in a cool and damp place until it warms up.

Water temperature greatly affects the turtle's well-being, so you need to monitor its heat level. To do this, purchase a thermometer and install it on the aquarium so that you can always see the temperature, do not rely on your own feelings.

Aggression is characteristic of reptiles in a group. They love to compete and fight. Has your pet become lethargic and sleeps frequently? Perhaps he does not have enough food, perhaps others are offending him. To do this, monitor the actions of your cohabitants during feeding; if food is taken away from the turtle, feed it separately. If she is offended, she may have to get another aquarium or give the pet to another owner.

There can be a large number of reasons for the poor health of the red-eared beauty.

Video shows a red-eared turtle unable to eat

Only a very responsible owner can find the causes and solve the problem; searching for the causes is a difficult and painstaking process. If you cannot find the reasons, you need to urgently contact a specialist who will conduct an examination and prescribe necessary treatment. Also, do not forget that it is better to prevent a disease than to correct the consequences of an irresponsible attitude towards animals.

The question of why the turtle doesn’t eat arises for most beginners. Almost always, the answer should be sought in improper living conditions, the desire to feed the pet more, as well as simple ignorance of some of the life functions of reptiles.

How long can a turtle go without eating?

The pet has been refusing food for several days now, and it is unknown whether there will be a change in behavior in the near future. Many turtle owners observe this picture. Quite naturally, panic begins, because refusing food cannot be safe for the body for a long time. If we consider the question of how long a red-eared turtle can go without eating, then here we're talking about about a period of about three weeks. Some land species do not want to eat during the heat, when the thermometer is above 25°C. Fasting can last up to two to three months.

Why doesn't the turtle eat anything?

Refusal to eat may be a consequence of the most various reasons. Some species are sensitive to temperature changes, others do not eat the food offered, sometimes this is an adaptation process or behavioral characteristics in different periods years.

When an exotic pet appears in the house, the process of feeding it is exciting and you want to pamper it with different delicacies. However, the first and common cause Why the turtle doesn't eat is due to overfeeding. The young eat little by little every day, and the adult eats enough in just three meals a week. By observing the turtle, you can determine its portions and taste preferences, because you can’t force-feed.
If there are several individuals in the aquarium, the male turtle does not eat due to the desire to reproduce. Pets simply do not want to waste time and energy on food. After mating, everything will return to normal and the appetite will resume.
When a turtle does not want to eat and does not open its eyes, it should be taken to a specialist. A common cause of illness is low temperature, improper care. This issue can only be resolved after consultation.

Why don't turtles eat in winter?

With the arrival of autumn cold weather, many species begin to prepare for hibernation. There are several important points in this matter.

The idea of wintering is to sleep in a cool, damp place before the temperature starts to rise. If there is food left in the stomach, the turtle's death is inevitable after waking up. best case scenario she will wake up sick and begin long-term treatment.
Therefore, at home, provide correct mode hibernation is difficult. But nature itself suggests giving up food and switching to low energy expenditure. The red-eared turtle does not eat in winter for the same reason: it is gradually preparing for suspended animation.
To prevent hibernation, you should increase the temperature and install a UV lamp.

Why doesn't the red-eared slider eat anything?

This species is capricious and picky in matters home care. Long before purchasing, you should learn more about the basic rules in order to avoid common mistakes.

The land turtle does not eat

Inexperienced owners often do not fully understand the importance of observing the conditions for keeping reptiles. The Central Asian species does not claim a lot of attention; the reptiles are truly unpretentious. However, every beginner faces the problem of lack of appetite. If the already listed general answers to the question why the turtle does not eat do not fit the description, the land pet is probably refusing food due to another reason.

Why doesn't the turtle eat food?

When it comes to feeding, any extreme can cause irreparable harm to the pet’s health. Therefore, the combination of dry store food and natural food considered the optimal solution. If your turtle doesn't eat a certain food, this may be a sign that it needs to change its diet.

Every pet has its own taste preferences. It is likely that you did not like the proposed brand of food. Sometimes the composition causes constipation or indigestion, causing the turtle to ignore the pellets and not eat.
If you only offer natural food, the body will spend more energy on digestion, but will receive fewer minerals and vitamins. A diet of only dry food will compensate for the lack of microelements, but will worsen digestion. You will have to use trial and error to find out why the turtle is not willing to eat, but rely on the promises of the manufacturers. The breeder's task is to find the optimal ratio of natural and granulated food.

The turtle does not open its eyes and does not eat

After winter period The pet should regain activity and its previous appetite. If this does not happen on the fifth or sixth day, you should consult a specialist. An alarm signal is the turtle's constantly closed eyes.

An obvious reason why a turtle is not eating may be a lack of vitamin D. A UV lamp will help replenish its deficiency. Closed eyes, lethargy and refusal to eat are the first symptoms of rickets or metabolic disorders. Sunbathing The turtle should take about 12 hours a day under the lamp; in addition, vitamins and medications must be introduced into the diet to restore the body after wintering.
The picture when a turtle does not eat anything, and its eyes are closed and signs of conjunctivitis are already visible, is characteristic of a lack of vitamin A. The fact is that vision in reptiles is impaired vital role for nutrition, therefore inflammation of the eyelids will certainly lead to a refusal to eat. Washing, injections and other procedures will be prescribed by a specialist; in this case, self-medication is real threat life of a turtle.

The turtle does not eat and constantly sleeps

Wintering in apartment conditions without hibernation presupposes a low-active lifestyle, but this period is confined to a very specific time frame. Large adult individuals hibernate for 12-14 weeks, young animals for 8-10. If on the fifth day after the supposed end of hibernation the turtle does not begin to return to its previous rhythm, this is a sign of disturbances in the body.

The turtle does not eat and does not swim

Proper living conditions are relatively easy to maintain; this is the key to the health and life of your pet. Let them walk on the floor or carpet, do not check the temperature of the water and air, forget about the gradual decrease or increase temperature regime with the change of season - all this is a direct path to the development of pneumonia in a turtle. If aquatic turtle does not eat, and in the water immediately falls over on his side, these are symptoms of pneumonia. Injections, warming under a lamp, increasing the temperature and warm steam baths will help here. All this is prescribed by a specialist.

Little turtle doesn't eat anything

For young animals typical reasons refusal of food is adaptation after a change in living conditions, improper care. To avoid health problems when your baby turtle doesn't eat, you should follow the advice of experienced breeders.

Purchase a reptile only from a trusted pet store.
Deliver it home as quickly as possible, and try not to catch a cold.
Provide everything at home the necessary conditions content, give a week to adapt. Only after five to seven days can food be offered.