[Raven81]

I feel like one of these terrible people that gets a new pet without properly researching them!  We have inherited two (roughly five inch long) heiroglyphic turtles (these are similar to map turtles) and we did in fact do a lot of research, but the only thing we can't figure out is how much we should be feeding them!
They have a lovely big tank with a dry area, heat lamp, UVB lamps etc.
They came with Reptomin food and we were told they are always hungry, unfortunately I have found all sorts of advice between feeding one stick of food every other day to feeding as much as they can possibly eat twice a day!! I do, however know not to overfeed them - which is not overly easy as obviously we don't want to underfeed them!!

[joyfull]

just been googling and yes it is very confusing regarding food - meat or not etc but have found this which I hope will be of use:-

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/pseudemyscare.htm

[asd1]

Hi iv had the same problem with our musk turtles and after trying various things we now feed them once a day alternating between repomin and  king british, on the tub of food it says feed twice day but we found our terrapins got chubby legs when we did that and we also have guppies in the tank if they get really hungry! 

[spottymint]

Join this forum, couldn't be more helpfull.

They can be nasty if they think you don't care or just bought on a whim, but if you explain the situation & you want to learn, they will help no end.

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/shelled-turtles-tortoise/

I know nothing of turtles really.

As a kid we found a red eared slider (terrapin), we fed him raw mince, liver, dried shrimp ect.

They may take frozen bloodworm ect, food items should be no bigger than the gap between their eyes. A varied diet is best, sticks as a staple maybe with other foods added.

These people on the forum keep them or similar species so they speak from experience.

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/shelled-care-sheets/166307-aquatic-turtles-terrapins.html

Reading the care sheet, they take greens/veg.

Take notice of the calcium supplements, reptiles in captivity tend to lack calcium & it can kill (MBD) metabolic bone disease.

Vetark products are good, but keepers with experience can point you in the right direction, as I only know lizard needs.

I've probably made you think it's hard to keep reps, but it's not, get the basic right & they are easy, get it wrong, then it becomes hard.

[spottymint]

Forgot,

How old is the UV bulb ?

If it's an Arcadia, Arcadia John reckon's it's good for a year, other makes cannot say, but most people will advise changing every 6 months.

The light will still work, but the UV will drop off & there will be no benefit to the animal.

The UV represents the sun & allows the manufacture of vitamin D3 which is used for calcium absorbtion, calcium being one of the most important minerals in the body both for healthy bones & shell, but also the blood.

That's why the papers keep mentioning modern day kids with Ricketts, mummy slathering on the sun lotion.