I recently caught a hatchling slider (a yellow ear I think). I have had the turtle for about 10 days and have not gotten him to eat yet. I have offered him small feeder fish, crickets, tiny meal worms, and a variety of turtle foods, but he will not engage any of the prey items. He is being housed in a ten gallon tank (I am moving him to a thirty gallon next week) with a water area that is 5 inches deep and about 8 inches wide/long. The water area has floating vegetation and rocks for basking. The land area is about 6 inches long and 8 inches wide. I have provided a basking lamp and a full-spectrum flourescent light. The turtle is very active, but I am concerned about his eating, or non-eating I should say. If you could, give me some tips about caring for the hatchling turtle and getting his appetite started. Thanks so much!

The only thing I've gotten hatchlings to start eating on was live blackworms. Many aquariums stores sell them. The few hatchlings I have had did not eat for weeks at first and then went after blackworms. The water may be a bit deep for the baby as well. My page on baby turtle care is at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/turtles/hatchling.htm