what to feed a pacific pond turtle

Here are a few of the pond turtle’s favorite foods:

• Insects: spiders, beetles, millipedes, grasshoppers, flies, aquatic insects, larvae, snails
• Amphibians: frogs, toads, newts, salamanders
• Crustaceans: crawfish, freshwater crabs
• Annelids: earthworms, leeches
• Aquatic plants and algae
• Fish

Full Answer

What can pond turtles eat besides fish?

As long as they are not too consistent, you can give your turtle a few live fish, fruits, vegetables, or dried insects, without worrying that you disturb their feeding schedule. While pond turtles can eat a lot of things, not all of them can be good for them.

What can I Feed my aquatic turtle to make him happy?

You can get live worms and crickets from your local pet store, as well as pre-packaged dead ones. Feeding your turtle live crickets can seem a little tricky, but it helps to replicate how a turtle would eat in the wild. Feeding an aquatic turtle small live fish helps to stimulate the turtle and give him some exercise.

How often should I Feed my pond turtle?

You can either feed your pond turtle once every two days, the amount of food that it will take to fill their head. Or you can feed them half of that amount every day. There is no difference for them if you feed them every day, or if you feed them every two days, as long as the amount of food is right.

What can I feed pond turtles?

Pet pond turtles eat special turtle pellets, insects like crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and earthworms, feeder fish, and leafy greens like kale and collard greens. They can also have vegetables like shredded carrots and cut up squash. Pet pond turtles also eat fruit, especially apples, melons, and berries.

What can I feed a turtle I found in my yard?

Choose dark green vegetables like collards or turnips and cultivate strawberries in the habitat as well. Supplement your turtle's diet with live crickets and worms.

What is the best thing to feed a turtle?

The best veggies are chopped dark leafy greens such as kale, collard, and mustard greens, Dr. Starkey says. Shredded carrots, squash, and zucchini are great foods that turtles can eat, too. You can also go with edible aquatic vegetation such as water lettuce, water hyacinth, and duckweed.

What can I feed my western pond turtle?

Diet: Western Pond turtles are omnivorous. They eat a variety of insects, tadpoles, frog eggs, snails, leeches, aquatic beetles, dragonfly larvae and fish. Plant foods include filamentous algae, lily pods, tule and cattail roots.

What human food can turtles eat?

They especially like leafy green veggies, so kale, collard greens, and mustard greens are both healthy and delicious for them. They'll also chow down on carrots, squash, green beans, and peas. As far as fruits go, you can give them bananas, apples, and pears, among other things.

Can pond turtles eat bread?

Turtles Can't Digest Bread Since turtles eat animal and plant-based matter, you might not think about dairy being such a bad choice. However, dairy products contain lactose, which your turtles cannot break down in their system, as their bodies do not have the correct enzymes to make that happen.

Can I feed my turtle lettuce?

Is Lettuce Safe for Turtles? There isn't any type of lettuce that should be poisonous to a turtle. They can eat all kinds, and many varieties — like romaine and radicchio — are both nutritious and delicious for them. Iceberg, on the other hand, is basically just crunchy water.

How do you take care of a pond turtle?

How to Care for a Pet TurtleSet Up a Tank. A turtle's indoor habitat should be at least 40 gallons to allow for growth to adult size. ... Set Up Temperature Control. ... Find Out How Much Your Turtle Should Hibernate. ... Provide Food. ... Clean Tank and Change Water Frequently. ... Do Not Play with Your Turtle Often. ... Wash Your Hands.

What vegetables can turtles eat?

Desirable vegetables to offer include dark leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, collard greens, mustard greens, carrot tops, endive, Swiss chard, kale, parsley, green beans, dandelion greens, turnip greens, and clover.

Can you keep a pond turtle as a pet?

Aquatic turtles can be great pets, though they're not ideal for young children and do require a good deal of care. Similar to tortoises and box turtles, aquatic turtles can benefit from spending time outdoors in a backyard pond.

Can turtles eat bananas?

Fruit should be fed more sparingly than vegetables, since they are often preferred by box turtles over vegetables and tend to be less nutritious. Fruits to offer include apples, pears, bananas (with skin), mango, grapes, star fruit, raisins, peaches, tomato, guava, kiwis, and melons. Fruits that are particularly ...

Can turtles eat cucumbers?

The best way to keep your turtle healthy is to offer them a wide variety of different meats, fruits, and vegetables throughout the week to make sure that all their nutritional needs are met. Cucumbers can be an excellent addition to any turtle's diet, assuming that the turtle likes them.

What should I do with a turtle I found?

1:503:14What to Do If You See a Turtle in the Road - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWalk the turtle in the direction the turtle was walking. Do keep in mind that turtles can carryMoreWalk the turtle in the direction the turtle was walking. Do keep in mind that turtles can carry salmonella. Even if they look fine. So it's just a really good idea to wash your hands.

How do I take care of a turtle I found?

0:271:36How to Care for a Wild Turtle | Pet Turtles - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhere they have shelter and food. And that turtle is probably just seeking out some food or aMoreWhere they have shelter and food. And that turtle is probably just seeking out some food or a nesting area. And if you move it it could actually affect. Its survival if you find a turtle.

How do you get a wild turtle to eat?

1:195:42TURTLE ISN'T EATING?!? | How to get your turtle to eat pellets - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe smell will really entice them to actually go out after that because the tuna is very veryMoreThe smell will really entice them to actually go out after that because the tuna is very very fragrant. And that's usually enough for them to start eating.

What vegetables can turtles eat?

Desirable vegetables to offer include dark leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, collard greens, mustard greens, carrot tops, endive, Swiss chard, kale, parsley, green beans, dandelion greens, turnip greens, and clover.

What to feed a turtle?

Fresh, cooked, unseasoned meat (stick with chicken and shrimp) Chopped vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, etc) Water vegetation. Dead insects. If you need something more stable for your pet turtle, you can also purchase store-bought turtle diets, which can be excellent nutrition choices.

What do turtles eat?

You can put aquatic plants in an aquarium or a pond, and turtles love to eat them. Carrots (tops are fine), squash, and green beans are examples of other vegetables. Here is my favorite pellets from amazon. They only cost $10 and I am certain your pond turtle will love them.

How long do pond turtle sliders live?

They are tough turtles that live for a very long time, sometimes up to 70 years. In the wild, pond turtles eat a range of foods, and while we can’t necessarily replicate these foods for our pets, we can offer them some similar choices.

Can turtles eat pellets?

Aquatic turtle pellets are an essential part of your pet turtle’s diet, but they also shouldn’t be the only thing they eat. Always place the food in the pond, and don’t try to hand feed them directly.

Can you feed a turtle candy?

No candy, chocolate, or other sugary foods are allowed. Not only is it bad for a turtle’s wellbeing, but these foods are usually hard and pose a choking danger to your pet. Do not share meals or snacks with your turtle. Salmonella bacteria are carried by many turtles, as well as other marine animals.

What Do Pond Turtles Eat?

Pond turtles eat a variety of insects, crustaceans, aquatic plants, and fruits. They are primarily omnivores, though each species has a distinct diet.

Surviving Through the Winter

Pond turtles are common in the Northern Hemisphere, where winters can be long and harsh. Prey items are scarce during these cold months, and waters turn icy, forcing pond turtles to slow down until spring.

What to Feed Your Pet Pond Turtle

Pond turtles make popular pets; they are relatively easy to take care of, and some can live up to thirty years. The health and longevity of your pet pond turtle is largely dependent on what you feed them, and how well kept their environments are.

What Do Baby Pond Turtles Eat?

Pond turtles lay eggs in clutches, often along the banks of rivers or ponds. The sex of the offspring is entirely dependent on the temperature of the eggs as they incubate. Once the eggs hatch, the baby turtles are left to fend for themselves.

What are some foods that snapping turtles can eat?

Here are some foods that are safe for wild snapping turtles; Aquatic Plants: duckweed, water hyacinths, water weeds, water fern, water lettuce, yellow pond lilies, and bog moss.

What do turtles eat?

But in general, it is safe to feed most wild turtles earthworms, grasshoppers, crickets, peas, chopped up apples, carrots, pears, romaine lettuce and most leafy greens (like collard, mustard, and parsley). Different types of turtles need different diets ...

What do painted turtles eat?

What to Feed Wild Painted Turtles. Wild painted turtles eat mostly animal prey when they are young and eat more vegetation as they grow older. They are still omnivores, so they need a balanced diet of animal prey and vegetation. Here are some foods that are safe for wild painted turtles;

Why are sea turtles different from freshwater turtles?

Sea turtles are like freshwater turtles because they too have a unique diet for each species, but they are also very different. Some sea turtles keep the same diet throughout their entire life while others change what they eat when they grow into adulthood. A sea turtle’s diet varies by age and species.

Can turtles eat carrots?

Carrots are an excellent vegetable for turtles! If you are feeding a wild turtle or a pet turtle, you should grate the carrots into bite-size pieces so they can eat them. Be careful not to feed too many carrots to a wild turtle though.

Can you feed a turtle bread?

NO! You should NEVER feed a wild or pet turtle bread, or any processed foods for that matter. Man-made foods that are high in sugar and flour (like candy and bread) are very bad for a turtle’s stomach. Turtles are not adapted to eating processed foods and eating them can do serious damage to their digestive system.

Do turtles eat land?

Aquatic turtles have a hard time eating on land, and if you leave the food on land, they will probably drag it to the water anyway. You also need to make sure the food is cut into bite-size pieces, and any fruits with skin (like melons and grapes) need the skin removed.

What do pond turtles eat?

One report states that the southern Pacific pond turtle is “an omnivorous feeder, opportunistic predator, and occasional scavenger”, so in other words they eat just about everything and anything! The majority of their diet consists of crustaceans, midges, dragonflies, beetles, stoneflies, and caddisflies, but they will also feed on carrion and plant matter. They are often seen clinging to rocks in riffles, where they are feeding on chironomid (blackfly) larvae.

What do turtles use for food?

They use dry sunny basking sites for warming themselves such as rocks, logs, or thick floating vegetation.

Where can I find pond turtles in Los Padres?

The southern Pacific pond turtle is found in our forest’s waterways, which are some of the most ecologically sensitive and heavily impacted areas of the Los Padres. The Forest Service proposes providing increased stream and riparian area protection through management standards in the Forest Plan; such as by designating Riparian Conservation Areas which have their own set of special management requirements. While a good starting place in theory, the proper implementation of these standards and guidelines needs to be monitored to meet goals for protecting the species.

Why are pond turtles declining?

The primary reason for population declines in southern Pacific pond turtles is loss of suitable habitat exacerbated by intense nest predation. The availability of persistent, pooled water along low-elevation streams has been greatly reduced as the result of agricultural activities, urbanization, flood control and water diversion projects. Raccoon densities are artificially high within a mile or two of housing areas, and illegal transport and release of trapped raccoons at Forest Service campsites maintains raccoon densities even in remote areas.

What to feed a baby turtle?

So, here are some pointers on how to feed baby turtles: #1 First, Feed land baby turtles, a combination of commercially produced food and fresh leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and cabbage, and make sure you chop the food into tiny pieces. #2 Feed your aquatic baby turtle in a smaller feeding tank. Aquatic baby turtles are sloppy eaters, and they ...

What do water turtles eat?

Water turtles can feed on vegetables and fruits. Also, provide live food to the turtle. This is an integral part of their diet so be sure to have a regular supply of animal-based food for your turtle, including live feed. These live foods include crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and other small grubs and insects.

How to keep baby turtles from eating?

Aquatic baby turtles are sloppy eaters, and they relieve themselves in the middle of their meals. Therefore, they are bound to dirty their aquarium. #3 Give your turtle feeder fish and crickets for some meals. #4 Feed baby turtles two or three times a day. #5 Remember to leave your baby turtle’s food in the tank for half an hour ...

How to feed a turtle live crickets?

Feeding your turtle live crickets can seem a little tricky, but it helps to replicate how a turtle would eat in the wild. Feeding an aquatic turtle small live fish helps to stimulate the turtle and give him some exercise. Using vegetables that float is preferable to those that sink for an aquatic turtle. If you dust your food with ...

Why should you clean your turtle's food?

Whenever you give them food, you should make sure to clean the feeding area. This is because leftover food decay, and this is not healthy for a turtle.

Do turtles eat the same amount of food?

No two turtles will eat the same amount of food, so recommendations on the amount to provide have to be generalized. In that case, it’s important to note that young turtles should be fed often. Juvenile turtles, a term that most describes baby turtles, need lots of food and need to be fed most often than mature turtles.

Can turtles eat yogurt?

First of all, don’t feed them the same food over and over again because they can easily get attached and refuse other foods. You should also avoid giving dairy products such as milk, yogurt, or cheese to turtles. They cannot digest dairy, and this may cause illness.