my turtle dont want to eat!!!

Question
I juste bough a baby red eared slider turtle its been 3-4 days and she refused to eat I tried to make her eat vegs and fruit and pellets by: nutrafin,but she don't want to eat anythingh . please help me !!!!

Answer
Hi Marie-Chantale,

I just answered this same question for someone else, so I'm going to cut and paste my answer to them.  You need to make sure your turtle is set up correctly with enough swimming room, a basking area, proper temperatures, and a good source of UVB.

RES can grow quite large--males up to about 8" and females to 12".  An adult RES requires a large tank--at least 50 gallons, and bigger is better.  Along with that, they require excellent filtration, a basking light, a good source of UVB (a combination heat/UVB bulb will provide both in one bulb), and a good varied diet.  You have a few years before your turtle grows that large, but you should be prepared to provide large accommodations for it in time.

You didn't say how you have your turtle set up.  I'll attach some links with care information for you, but essentially you need to provide a tank (at this size a 20 gallon tank will do for a while) with filter, and a basking area with heat/UVB.  The water temperature should be about 75-78 degrees, and the basking area about 88 degrees.  If the turtle can't warm itself enough, it won't eat--conversely, if it's too warm it won't eat, either.

Hatchling RES are more carnivorous than adults.  They aren't fed by their parents, so hatch out able to eat a regular diet (just in small bites).  You can try offering pellets (Reptomin), boiled chicken/shrimp/egg, worms, mealworms, small crickets, etc.  Give leafy greens, too--turnip, collards, kale, dandelion, etc.  Aquatic plants like anacharis or duckweed may be put in the tank as well.  Put a piece of cuttlebone in the tank so the turtle can nibble on it for extra calcium.

Here's some links for you--read them over carefully so you'll know all the basics on turtle care.  Good luck!

www.redearslider.com
www.austinsturtlepage.com (read the RES care sheet, along with the pages on housing, water quality, and health)