Musk Turtles Feeding

Question
QUESTION: We have a baby/juvenile Razorback Musk (about 1 inch in length, in tank with some painteds, a stinkpot and a RES), and think we are doing all the right things regarding feeding ...However he hardly ever eats.   We have seen him nibble on some turtle-pellets ONCE, but he has no interest in bloodworms, live worms, shrimp, etc.  We are worried as we lost a previous Razorback potentially the same way.  The musk is otherwise quite active, and we feed once a day and use a separate feeding container so can see all the other turtles enjoying their food.  Any suggestions?  Any recommendations on what the environment should be in the feeding container (the musk seems afraid to stop and eat)...

ANSWER: Interesting collection! A few thoughts crossed my mind.

While adult musk and basking turtles can share space, small musks are often stressed out by the close proximity to bigger turtles.

I also wonder about the space available to your collection. To avoid crowding and stress, we generally recommend about 10 gallons of water per inch of shell. I don't know how many turtles of what size you have in what kind of habitat, but you may want to check this.

How about water temps? Too cool of water is detrimental to appetites.

Stress? Being taken to a feeding tank often is stressful, and the water is often cold, etc. (I used to be a big fan of feeding tanks, but not any more.)

I don't have any specific brilliant insights but if none of this helped you can try the good folk at http://www.turtleforum.com and see if they have any ideas.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much for that response.  Regarding our juvenile turtles - (1 Rz Musk, 1 Stinkpot Musk, 1 E. Painted, 1 W Painted, 1 S. Painted, 1 RES --all 1-1.5 inches)   it SEEMS like a few of the turtles are starting to get swollen eyes (the Stinkpot, W Painted and 1 E Painted).   I have been reading that this could either be too little Vitamin A or too much.   

They are in a 50 gallon tank, about 10 inches of water, 2 kinds of lights (UVA and UVB) and we feed them in a separate container.   We have been feeding them live worms, bloodworms, turtle-pellets and shrimp.  

Should we change their diet? We will look to get eyedrops today, but any other suggestions?   Thank you.


Answer
Swelling eyes is often vitamin A in Box Turtles, but less often so in aquatic turtles. It is more likely an infection from water quality or one turtle that just picked it up and is spreading it around There is a lesser possibility that it is a herpes virus- but even that is more likely in this group than a Vit. A problem. Eye drops are useful, however, in helping to keep or get the eyes open.

(A lot of turtle medical care sites over-simplify many illnesses, and this is a common one- swollen eyes? Vit. A)

You have about 9" total of turtles in about 20-25 gallons of water, when the average guidelines would call for them to be in about 90 gallons- a 120 gallon tank mostly filled- which would be outgrown rapidly with that herd.

This level of crowding makes it easy for turtles to be stressed, to pass around germs, to generate aggression, etc. The Red-ear especially will outgrow this set up quickly.

You did not mention water temp or filtration, but you may want to think about approaching it from this angle as well. http://www.austinsturtlepage.com has lots of good info about this.