Ok I have a male turtle that I had for a month and since then I can't get him to eat the food pellets that I brought. My dad gotten a big tank for him but he had to get rid of the tank because he couldn't take the smell and he doesn't want to have to clean it every month. I have my turtle in a square like bucket with water and it's easier for me to clean now. So how can get my turtle to eat?

The plastic in the bucket may be toxic to him. Put him back in the tank, and if it smells, clean it. That's part of turtle ownership. I had a turtle for a long time, in a tank, and it had to be cleaned every 3 days just about, but that's the responsibility part of pet ownership. If it was only being cleaned once a month, that's why it stank, and you will have to clean that bucket about EVERY day to get rid of the smell.

As for not eating, are you sure he's not eating or do you just not see him eat right away? The turtle could be too cold, put him in the tank and pick your preferred way of providing heat (heat lamp, lounging rock, etc) and make sure that's not too hot for it.

It may also be the stress of being moved from its nice home to a bucket.

Water sanitation may also be an issue. With no cover on the tank, chemicals may accidentally get in the water, and also, without a filter, it's not as clean.

Try other foods too, and see if he likes them.

If he still will not eat after you do these things, take him to a vet to find out what's wrong with him.

Here is some additional information. Click on this link and there are different subjects that may be helpful for you.Valerie Haecky's (Mostly) Water Turtle Information Pages

My mums turtle also has to be cleaned every 3 days , turtles can eat a lot of different foods, try asking the shop what they used.. they also like to eat fresh and live foods to , we like to feed my mums shrimp/prawn, bloodworm, etc and they also like vegetables fresh, try pinning down a piece of cucumber in the tank ,
Swap him from the bucket to his tank, get a better filter that is capable of filtering a 4 ft tank or bigger , give him some land and a bulb so he can come out and sun himself if need be...
As mentioned the plastic may be releasing toxins into his water and making him ill, or he could be stressed, you need to get him back in the tank and if your dad doesn't want to clean him out then clean him out yourself, if nobody is prepared to do the work properly then maybe he is better off with a new owner who doesn't mind the 3 day cleanout.. don't mean this to be offensive vut the main concearn here is the turtles health, if you can't supply what he needs then let somebody else do it for him ;)

One question is hew wild caught or from a store..

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Originally Posted by petguy

one question is hew wild caught or from a store...?

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I got him from the store, but everything is OK now because I finally got him to eat! He only eats the worms and lettuce, thanks.