My turtle won't eat. What should I do if my pet turtle stops eating?

Inappetance in a turtle is a vague sign and can indicate several different things going on. Your turtle may be suffering from some sort of infection or a metabolic disease affecting her internal organs. I would recommend taking your turtle in to see a veterinarian that specializes in reptiles. They will be able to better diagnosis and treat whatever is going on with Shanya. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck.

I am sorry that Snappy isn't feeling well! Reptiles can take a long time to show that they are sick, and often the signs that they are sick can be subtle, such as a decreased (or lack of) appetite. With what you are seeing, it may be that Snappy has been hiding his illness from you for a while. I would recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian. They will likely ask you a great deal about Snappy's husbandry, as this is very important in reptiles. If the husbandry isn't perfect, often they can get very sick. They can perform a thorough examination, and can evaluate the brown spots that you are seeing. They may be able to take a sample of the areas, and evaluate the material under the microscope to see what it is. Also, they may recommend other diagnostic testing, including radiographs (x-rays) and blood work to evaluate systemic health. I hope this gives you a place to start, and I hope that Snappy feels better soon.

Check the water, ambient and basking temperatures. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. You can review care at the link below. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html Maintain pristine water quality and remove any uneaten food promptly to prevent fouling the water. Commercial pellets should be just a portion of the diet. Balance it out with fresh greens, diced vegetables and prey. Limit or discontinue fruit as it may cause stomach upset or loose stool. Bits of raw beef heart can be used to stimulate the appetite.

Often when reptiles stop eating, it is due to suboptimal husbandry and diet. This may be what is occurring in Pilu. The reason that I say this is that from the picture that you have included, Pilu is actually not a red-eared slider, and actually looks to be a species of map turtle. Also, from the picture, it looks like Pilu has a very short tail, and may actually be a female turtle. This can drastically change how you will be housing Pilu, and may explain why she is not eating. I am not sure where you acquired Pilu, but it may be beneficial to first find out what species of map turtle she is (there are numerous types, and I am not sure what is most commonly available in your area), and then I would recommend adjusting her husbandry based on a care sheet (typically straightforward to find online once you know the species) that is specific for her species. Otherwise, the parameters for temperature, basking spot, type of haul out, amount of water in the environment, diet, etc. can be very

Thanks for reaching out about Joey and including photos. First. test the water quality for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Perform a water change if needed. Have you ever tried different types of food such as live worms or small fish. The movement of the prey item could stimulate appetite. Brighter colored food such as grated carrots or squash or colored pellets. Check environmental conditions such as water and basking temperatures. If none of these work, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

One of the most common reasons is that the temperature, either water or ambient, is too low. Reptiles need warmth to eat and digest food properly. Check and adjust temps if necessary. Confirm good water quality as well since turtles eat in the water and dirty water may affect the appetite. Offer a variety of foods including commercial turtle sticks or pellets, fresh vegetables diced small and crickets or small feeder fish. If your turtle is lethargic, has difficulty breathing, is swimming crooked or has discharge from the eyes/nose/mouth then see your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating turtles. Follow the link for more information: http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

Thanks for reaching out about Marshall. Anorexia can be caused by many things including inappropriate husbandry/diet, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), intestinal parasites or infection, just to name a few. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Check and correct husbandry parameters including temperature and UVB exposure. Good luck.

Check the water temp, ambient temp and basking temp. Low temps can affect appetite in turtles. Maintain pristine water quality and make sure any food offered is small enough for her to eat. Feed her in the water and remove any uneaten food to prevent fouling the water.

Thanks for reaching out about Green and including photos. First, check and correct water quality and temperature. If water or basking site is too cold, appetite is inhibited. Movement will sometimes stimulate a reaction, so a live small worm (mealworm, etc.). If these don't work, a veterinary visit would be recommended.

Check the temperature in his enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in reptiles. A chilled tort will not eat much, if at all. Look in and around his mouth, safely if he will allow, for signs of injury or infection. This can include redness, swelling, discharge or bleeding. See your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet if necessary. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and an unflavored electrolyte replacement beverage for 20-30 minutes. This will warm him up, provide hydration and may stimulate defecation. Be sure to cut food up small enough for him to eat.