hi just a few questions my first is i have 2 map turtles at 2.5inches im just wondering how often should i feed them? right now im feeding them everyday on dried shrimp and the occasional frozen bloodworm.

my other question is im about to purchase a fluval 205 external filter and im wonderin how often the filter media will need to be changed? and what part needs to be changed?

thanks in advance for replies.

How old are the turts?

Stop feeding the shrimp, it's high in protein but not a lot else. You need to get them onto some good quality pellets as the basis of their diet, this will give them the essential vitamins and minerals they need, then you can supplement this with other fresh protein and veg.

Out of interest how much are you paying for the filter? You may be able to get something much better than the Fluval for the same money!

If you use the right filter media it may never need to be changed.

__________________
2.3.0 Southern Painted Turtles
1.0.0 Florida Red Belly
2.1.1 Common Musks
1.0.0 Classic Cornsnake
0.0.2 GALS + infinite babies
0.1.0 Tibetan Spaniel
1.2.0 Brahma Chickens

thanks for your reply graham. the filter is around £60. im not sure how old they are there shell is 2.5 inches in length if that helps. the guy at the pet store told me alot of wrong information on how to look after turtles.

i will get some pellets, just roughly how much of that should i be feeding them?

i bought my exsternal filter online its a tetra tec 1200 and it was £60 deliverd.

For just under £60 delivered you can get an Eheim Classic 2217 which is a much better filter than a Fluval 205, it's rated for aquaria up to 600 litres compared to the Fluval which is only rated for 200!

Eheim Classic External Filter: amazing values at zooplus

(note that you get a discount with your first order, bringing the price to less than £60)

Pellets and other high protein food feed them once a day, an amount equivalent to the volume of their heads, obviously as they grow this amount will increase proportionally.

I would recommend feeding pellets 6 days a week and fresh protein on the 7th day.

After a few months start to decrease the frequency of feeding until by the end of the year you're only feeding every other day.

You can give them as much veg as they'll eat in addition to the other food.

__________________
2.3.0 Southern Painted Turtles
1.0.0 Florida Red Belly
2.1.1 Common Musks
1.0.0 Classic Cornsnake
0.0.2 GALS + infinite babies
0.1.0 Tibetan Spaniel
1.2.0 Brahma Chickens

thanks for the help graham