How to Force Feed a Box Turtle

Though box turtles are generally hardy, healthy reptiles, owners may have to force feed their box turtles on a short-term basis. Metabolic bone disease frequently causes turtles to stop eating, and the resulting lack of nutrition can rapidly worsen the disease. Box turtles also may be force fed after surgery or when suffering from infections. Hatchlings may need to be force fed on a short-term basis until they are able to find and eat their own food.

Things You'll Need

  • Enteral Food
  • Syringe
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take your turtle to a veterinarian before attempting to force feed it. You must have a proper diagnosis, and your turtle may need medication in addition to force feeding. Ask the veterinarian for a recommendation for enteral food, which is liquid food that can be force fed. The veterinarian may write a prescription or recommend a particular brand.

    • 2

      Follow the veterinarian's feeding instructions, even if the instructions on the enteral food package say something different. Mix the food with water and use a syringe to suck up the food. Place the syringe at the beak portion of your turtle's mouth and gently tap in an upward motion as if you were tapping your turtle's mouth open. Do not actually pry your turtle's mouth open or try to force the syringe into your turtle's mouth.

    • 3

      Slowly depress the syringe into your turtle's mouth when it opens its mouth. Do not give your turtle the food too quickly or it may choke. If you see any food coming out of your tortoise's mouth, you're doing it too quickly. If your tortoise will not open its mouth for the food, dribble a small amount on the underside of your tortoise's beak, and apply a small amount of the food all around your tortoise's mouth, making sure not to cover its nostrils. If the tortoise does not open its mouth and attempt to eat this food within five minutes, wipe it off of your tortoise's mouth.

    • 4

      Place the enteral food in a bowl and put your turtle into a bowl. Turtles who will not open their mouths for force feeding may eat enteral food if it they are given the chance to drink it from a bowl.