Why does my pet turtle not eat?

Before we answer this question, remember that all living creatures need specific care. Cold-blooded animals, like turtles, have different needs than warm-blooded animals. Maybe you had a turtle as a child that seemed to live a long time, but how long did it really live? Small turtles can live about 50 years, medium ones around 80 years, and large ones up to 150-200 years.

Caring for turtles: Turtles need special temperature and humidity conditions, and a complete diet. Before getting a turtle, learn about its needs, like where it should live, sleep, and what it should eat.

Cold-Blooded animals: Cold-blooded animals can slow down their metabolism by 50% depending on the temperature and their condition. Adult turtles can survive without food at 28°C for up to 90 days, losing up to 40% of their weight. However, long-term fasting can cause serious health issues.

Feeding patterns: In natural light, turtles eat less from October to December due to shorter daylight hours. If this is the only reason for not eating, they will start eating again in January or February when the days get longer. Healthy turtles with proper winter care start eating a day or two after heating is turned on.

Health issues: Turtles often get sick slowly and quietly. If a turtle refuses to eat for a long time, it could be due to changes in its environment, the season, or illness. Spring anorexia is common in turtles that have been without moisture for a long time at high temperatures. If a turtle hasn’t eaten for 5 weeks in spring, it needs a thorough check-up and possibly treatment. Wintering turtles often suffer from dehydration, leading to serious health issues like liver and kidney failure, and gout.

Signs of illness: If a turtle looks very thin and lethargic, it needs urgent medical care. If it looks normal but won’t eat, check its eyes for conjunctivitis caused by a lack of vitamin A. In early stages, there may be no swelling, but the turtle will stop eating.

Behavioral changes: Increased activity or anxiety in a turtle could be due to sexual behavior in males, which reduces appetite. Another possibility is constipation or intestinal blockage. Check if the turtle has regular bowel movements.

Treatment: All reptiles, including turtles, should be treated by a specialized vet. Severely emaciated turtles need emergency medical care to restore water and mineral balance before any other treatment. First, you need to restore the turtle’s water and mineral balance. After that, you can start giving nutrients either through a tube into the stomach or by injections. You may also need to use medicines to stimulate the turtle’s appetite.

During treatment, follow the vet’s instructions carefully. Keep the terrarium at the right temperature and give the turtle warm baths (30-32°C) every day for 2-3 hours. Watch for stool and avoid feeding the turtle large amounts of vegetables and fruits that ferment easily, like cucumbers and grapes. About 7 to 14 days after starting treatment, you can try to stimulate the turtle’s appetite.

References WHY THE TURTLE DOES NOT EAT, OR TIPS FOR BEGINNERS - ZooMedVet.