Turtle feeding, how often and how much?

[ScarletteM]

Hi, I was looking for some guidelines on how much and especially how often to feed these guys. Alot of the information I've read on them really underlines the fact that they are often overfed (who can say no to that face?) and that this can be detrimental to them in the long run. My heosemys is a juvenile (about 4-5 years old according to the vet & 6 inches long ) and will pretty much eat anything and everything you put in front of him and still be constantly begging for more! I don't want to overfeed him but I don't want to starve him either (and believe me, he acts like I do ) Any information on your individual feeding routines and schedules would very much appreciated. Thanks!
P.S I think I'm all right as far as the content of his diet goes, here is a list of the various things I feed him, if you have any suggestions about food or supplements to add, that would be great.

Romaine lettuce, kale, strawberries, apples, bananas, carrots, mealworms, earthworms, chopped hardboiled egg, dried shrimp and krill, and reptomin turtle sticks.I try to make sure they get a little something from each foodgroup (a little protien, a little bit of leafy greens, etc) at every feeding and I sprinkle calcium powder with d3 over what he eats.

[Marnix Hoekstra]

Hi Scarlette,
What you're feeding sounds fine to me. Mealworms have little nutritional value, but they are okay as a treat.
I feed my turtles twice or three times a week. They get as much as they can eat in 10-15 minutes and I remove what is left.
It's easy to overfeed them if you put the food in front of him. A good strategy is to hide the food somewhere in the enclosure. Let them work for it. Foraging is natural for them and it's fun to watch.
Did you see this page? dietaryrequirements.php
This study has a limited scope (it was based on a survey) but it gives an indication of how much they eat.
Keep us updated on Atticus.

[ScarletteM]

Thanks! That is very helpful, I was feeding him every day, I guess I'll cut back

[Marnix Hoekstra]

Cutting back is okay, but I should add that young ones need to eat more often than adults.