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Why has my turtle stopped eating lately2007-11-24 2:05:02

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I have 5 red eared sliders and yours could have slowed down for many reasons from lower water temp, to possibly starting to hibernate. Do you have some sort of sun lamp on him as he needs this to get vitamin D to keep his shell from going soft. You say he's not eating much which means he is eating some and they do slow up there eating at times. Try some new foods. Is his water re lately clean?

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Change in behavior is always a red flag, so good that you're trying to figure it out. Has he eaten the new food at all? Is he basking more than usual? Sleeping on the basking area?

I think you're right that in FL it is less likely to be seasonal changes. I would get your turtle to a vet.

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try him on another type of food, say some wiggly earthworms

or mealy worms

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This time of year it is usually due to hibernation urges. Turtles are triggered to hibernate by falling temps and shortening light cycles. Yours is an indoor turtle, so it is the temps and light that it sees from its tank that count.

To counteract this, we do a 'super summer'- summer-like temps and light cycles- instead of 75-80, we boost about 5 degrees. We aim for a 12/12 light cycle (often, in our houses, the day cycles is a lot shorter). You say you are using UV already- good!

Now- besides eating, how are the other behaviors? Sluggish? Hiding? These are consistant with hibernation urges.

If it is still active, basking, energetic, then it just may be having a picky phase. Try some new foods- live foods often help here. At 2 years it is also ready for a little vegetation- try some dark leafy greens (lightly boiled to help them sink in the water). If it is still active and otherwise OK, we usually don't worry about these picky phases too much.