Reptomin and overeating

[pinkspore]

Today I offered the boxies some moistened Reptomin sticks that my newt wouldn't eat. They usually refuse pelleted foods no matter how I dress them up, so I was very surprised when they inhaled it. Now they're all staring at me expectantly, which is adorable but kind of weird.

If they're going to continue to snarf the stuff down, should I worry about overfeeding them? Normally they're all outside digging, swimming, and stomping around, so they get plenty of exercise. They usually get fresh fruits and veggies along with home-raised earthworms, mealworms, and the occasional bag of crickets from the pet stores. I usually have some sort of pelleted food to offer them occasionally, just in case they feel like eating something that smells like fruity breakfast cereal.

Is it possible for them to overeat? They're almost all adults and have their weight monitored regularly.

 

[Millerlite]

It is very possible for a turtle to over eat. In the wild they don't come across food as often as we feed them. When they do find food they tend to eat it all. You could always feed them every other day to help control it. Turtles are reptiles and can go days/weeks without food, so every other day schedule is not bad at all. If you start seeing fat between the back legs you know they are eat to much and gaining fat. Just use your best judgment

 

[wellington]

You also might want to keep the sticks as a treat only.

 

[pinkspore]

Thanks! I'm not planning on giving them the Reptomin regularly, but it's nice to have something they really like.

Out of curiosity, can anyone show me a picture of a fat turtle versus one at a healthy weight?

 

[Millerlite]

I've rescued tortoises that were fat mostly Russians from what I've seen. No pictures tho.

Also variety is always the best,

 

[lisa127]

I do use Reptomin as a part of a varied diet for boxies. They do love it and will overeat on it I'm sure! I feed it moistened and mashed up with veggies and fruits. But as I said it is part of a varied diet. I also feed nightcrawlers, mealworms, scrambled eggs, and organic wet dog food for protein all rotated.

 

[thea lester]

My turtle Juanita got super fat about 10 years ago over a spring and summer... oops(on my part)... When she would pull into her shell her rear "leg pits", hips, I guess? I don't know what to call them would kind of pop out and her butt wouldn't all fit in her shell. Even her forelegs and chest got chunky! I was working a lot and school etc... and I wasn't observing them enough overfeeding them to "compensate". Nowadays, I give old Miss Sophia 1st chance at the food and if I have to, I keep Juanita away until everyone else is done eating.
Case in point: today Juanita lounged all afternoon on the food dish. Head and legs extended in the sunshine, practically asleep.
She is still a little heavier than Sophia, but she is bigger overall, and I'm guessing, younger.
I've never given them reptomin, but like any food for boxies, I'd say, if they're going bananas for it, it's gotta be used in limited feedings because it's so darn easy for them to get hooked on one food. I've definitely learned that lesson. Last year it was corn. Went out of town, left instructions and frozen veggies fruits etc... came back, they were all hooked on corn. Hadn't meant the corn for them in the first place but, that's what happened. Lately they're all crazy for peaches. Phasing those out now...
Fortunately we are blessed with lots and lots of bugs here!
Sorry so long winded...
Thea

 

[pinkspore]

Thanks for the story! My grumpy girl was found under a peach tree, eating peaches. It took me a couple of weeks to get her interested in anything else.

Offered the Reptomin again today to my reluctant eaters and they both refused it in favor of spingmix salad. They are fickle little beasties.

 

[thea lester]

What the heck, right? That's great though, good to hear they're eating a wide variety of stuff. Mine are too, but it's always so tricky to keep it balanced. I mean seriously, these things eat better than I do!
Thea
PS Grumpy Girl! I love the name

 

[pinkspore]

Her name is actually Euclid the Angry Box Turtle. The friends that found her and gave her to me were convinced she was I'll, but after a lot of vet visits and testing it turns out she's just a really grumpy turtle.

 

[Mrsforman217]

Box turtles shouldn't eat mealworms constantly they cannot digest them and it causes stomach upset. Also be careful with pelleted foods made for other species because they could be higher in proteins that turtles do not need.

 

[pinkspore]

They seem to handle the mealworms ok when they get them once or twice a week, but it's all part of a very varied diet. I doubt anyone here is feeding them constantly. Likewise, pelleted food is also a very small part of my boxy diet. The goal is too feed them many different foods.