The reasons why turtles don’t eat

1. Not adapting to the new environment

When you just buy a turtle, you often have to feed it. It doesn't pay attention to the food you feed it, and may even turn around and run away. The reason is that it has not adapted to the environment when it arrives in a new home, so it will take some time, usually 2 to 7 days.

2. The environmental space is too small

Compared to aquatic turtles, the water level must be deep enough to eat. If the water level is not even higher than the skirt of the turtle's carapace, it is probably not eating. In addition, if the environment is too small and the water quality is too dirty, it will be affected. If the environment is not suitable, it can be changed in time.

3. Temperature

Usually, if the temperature of the place where the turtle is raised is lower than 20 degrees Celsius, the turtle will be inactive and have a reduced appetite. If the temperature is too low, food will not be eaten. For aquatic turtles, the water temperature should be around 26°C. The turtle basking area is more suitable for temperatures between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius. If it is a tortoise, the temperature should be between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius during the day, and the temperature can drop to 20 and 25 degrees Celsius at night. Generally, the environmental temperature of tortoises should not be lower than 16 degrees Celsius. If the water is not warm enough, use a heating rod to warm it up.

4. Is there enough light?

Turtles also need enough light to maintain a healthy appetite. Illumination includes direct sunlight and light exposure, and light exposure includes UVA lamp and UVB lamp. Since I usually raise turtles indoors, I will bask them in the sun when I have time on weekends. Basking in the sun can not only increase the tortoise's appetite, but also better supplement calcium to the tortoise's shell. Of course, you can also use light, but it is not as effective as basking in the sun. It is best to provide your turtle with no less than 12 hours of light a day. If there is insufficient light, it may stop eating.

5. Sickness

If your turtle does not eat, and it has nothing to do with the temperature or the breeding environment, then your turtle is likely to be sick. For example: vitamin A deficiency, respiratory infections, constipation, eye problems, etc.

If your tortoise has white spots on its shell and refuses to eat, your tortoise may be deficient in vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency has also been linked to respiratory infections in turtles. Symptoms of a respiratory infection include wheezing, difficulty breathing, sneezing, runny nose, swollen eyes and lack of energy.

Turtles have eye problems and cannot see things. For example, Brazilian tortoises often have white eyes. Treatment method: use eye drops three times a day, such as chloramphenicol. Then apply chlortetracycline eye ointment around the area until it opens its eyes.

If your turtle stops eating and also stops excreting, it may be constipated.

6. Turtle enters hibernation period

Whether a turtle enters hibernation period depends on the weather temperature, not the season. For example: In March in spring in my country, the weather temperature in the north is lower than 10 degrees Celsius, while the weather temperature in the south is usually higher than 15 degrees Celsius. The temperature in Guangdong is generally higher than 15 degrees Celsius.All over 20 degrees Celsius and above. On the same day, the turtles living in the north are still hibernating, while the turtles living in the south have finished hibernation and started eating.

By the way, a turtle that has just finished hibernation should not be fed too much. Feeding it all at once during a long hibernation period will overwhelm it. There is a great risk for a weak turtle to enter the hibernation area. Although the metabolism is slow during hibernation and consumes less energy, it still needs energy to maintain. During hibernation, the temperature should not be lower than 5 degrees Celsius.

7. Hot weather

Not eating because the weather is too hot or cold is a normal physiological condition of the turtle. Just cool down or keep the turtle warm.