Things to Feed Turtles
- Vegetables. Vegetables are an excellent source of calcium for your pet turtle. ...
- Fruit. It is common to find that turtles prefer fruits to vegetables and vice versa. ...
- Fresh fish. You can provide your turtle with fresh fish as long as it has a specific diet. ...
- Flowers. ...
- Commercial pelleted food. ...
- Non-poisonous plants. ...
- Canned or processed food. ...
What can I Feed my turtle Besides turtle food?
What to Feed Wild Box Turtles
- Insects; earthworms, mealworms, crickets, and grasshoppers.
- Vegetables; peas, carrots, squash, okra, sweet potatoes, green beans, turnip leaves, dandelion leaves, romaine lettuce, collard greens and mustard greens.
- Fruit; peaches, blackberries, apples, plums, raspberries, mulberries, pears, mango, bananas, cherries, and melons.
How often do you feed a pet turtle?
Types of fruits which are safe to feed your pet regularly include:
- Figs (these have a high calcium content, which is essential)
- Apples, skin on, no seeds
- Pears
- Mangoes
- Grapes
- Star fruit
- Apricots
- Dates
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
What do turtles make good pets?
Why Do Turtles Make Good Pets?
- They’re Fun! ...
- They’re Interesting To Observe They make good pets because they can be extremely fun during feeding time! ...
- They Come In Many Varieties Turtles can be extremely beautiful and a rare animal! ...
- They’re Great Transitional Pets If You’ve Kept Fish Before They are a fantastic transitional species from fishkeeping to other reptiles and vice versa. ...
What happens if a dog eats a turtle?
You may notice these symptoms if your dog becomes infected with salmonella:
- Diarrhea (may have mucus in the stool)
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Increased heart rate
- Lethargy
- Depression
- Swollen lymph nodes
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.
How do you feed a turtle turtle?
3:087:35HOW TO FEED TURTLES - The Basics | Turtle 101 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTo safe vegetables don't feed things like kale or spinach. Because. These actually have an acid andMoreTo safe vegetables don't feed things like kale or spinach. Because. These actually have an acid and that combined calcium. But yeah vegetables are a really great thing to offer to your turtle.
How do you feed a small turtle?
Provide live food. Unlike tortoises, turtles also eat meat. This is an important part of their diet so be sure to have a regular supply of animal-based food for your turtle, including live food. The type of things you should feed your turtle includes crickets, mealworms, waxworms and other small grubs and insects.
What fruits can turtles eat?
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 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 I know if my turtle is hungry?
Most turtles, especially young ones, should be fed daily. For an adult box turtle, a day's food would be three tablespoons of the vegetable mixture and a couple of earthworms. You know your turtle is hungry when it begins to roam around its enclosure checking the place where you feed it.
How Long Can turtles go without eating?
A young turtle (less than six months old) can't go a day without eating. A so-called “sub-adult” turtle (six months to one year old) can't go more than a day without eating. An adult turtle should eat, on average, every 2-3 days.
What is the best turtle food?
The 10 Best Turtle FoodsTetra ReptoMin Floating Sticks Turtle Food – Best Overall. ... Zoo Med Natural Aquatic Turtle Food – Best Value. ... Zilla Reptile Munchies River Shrimp Turtle Food – Premium Choice. ... Fluker's Buffet Blend Aquatic Turtle Food. ... Zoo Med Canned Box Turtle Food. ... Zoo Med Gourmet Aquatic Turtle Food.More items...•
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 can turtles not eat?
Treats to AvoidDairy. Turtles possess none of the enzymes necessary to break down and digest dairy products. ... Sweets. Do not feed any food with chocolate, processed sugar, or corn syrup to your turtle.Salty foods. Most turtles are not used to eating highly salty foods.
How do I keep my turtle happy?
Keeping a Turtle Happy By ensuring that they have a tank of adequate size, clean water, proper temperatures, plants and decorations, a basking spot, and a healthy diet, your turtle should thrive. Providing him with items to keep him mentally stimulated, such as toys and live food, can also make for a very happy turtle.
How often should I feed my turtle?
How often do turtles eat? If your turtle is still juvenile, feed it every day, advises Dr. Starkey. Once it reaches adulthood (around 7 years old), you can feed it every other day—or about 4 to 5 times a week.
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 ...
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.
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 pellets?
If you are trying to replicate how a turtle would feed in the wild, however, the pellets are less authentic than fresh greens and insects. If you use pellets, try to make them part of a balance with fresh food. Think of pellets as forming the only the foundation of the diet.
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.
What vegetables do turtles eat?
Turtles need lots of foods with vitamin A, so choose plants like carrots, squash, bell peppers, and other red, orange, and yellow vegetables. Avoid vegetables with low nutritional value like lettuce and celery. To treat Vitamin A deficiency, a veterinarian may recommend Vitamin A treatments injected or taken by mouth.
What is a turtle pet?
Turtles are unique pets that are entertaining to learn about and watch. Pet turtle care doesn’t involve as much hands-on training as dogs and cats, but turtles have particular needs like appropriately-sized tanks, UVB light, and the right kind of diet. Without an appropriate feeding plan, your turtle could get sick or die, ...
How old do turtles need to be to eat?
Younger turtles between about 7 to 10 years old usually need a larger share of animal-sourced foods. The percentage of animal and vegetable foods your pet turtle needs depends on their species. Animal food sources.
Why are my turtles not eating enough vitamin A?
Symptoms of too little vitamin A in turtles include a decrease in appetite, eyelid and ear swelling, kidney failure, and lung infections.
Why do turtles defecate?
Turtles often defecate while they eat, so keeping their food in a separate container can help them avoid accidentally eating feces. Clean any uneaten food out of their tank regularly so that it doesn’t grow unwanted bacteria and algae. What to do if your turtle won’t eat.
Why is my turtle not eating?
If your turtle isn’t eating enough, it could be a sign of illness, but other factors might be at play. Make sure your tank’s temperature and water temperature, lighting, and size are ideal for your turtle’s species. Hibernation and stress can also lead to lack of appetite in turtles.
What do you feed a turtle?
You can also feed them non-toxic aquatic plants like water hyacinth, water lettuce, and duckweed. How often to feed them. Feed an adult turtle once every day or two, and a juvenile one to two times a day, though this can vary depending on the species.
What do turtles eat?
Turtles have varied diets including fruit and vegetables as well as insects, worms and fish. To care for your turtle you need to understand what food your turtle needs and how often you should feed him. The exact amounts will vary from turtle to turtle, but there are some general guidelines to follow.
How to help an aquatic turtle?
Feeding an aquatic turtle small live fish can help stimulate him 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 a vitamin supplement, be aware that this can rub off in the water. Using pellets can be a way to tackle this.
How to help a turtle with calcium?
Using supplements can help to ensure your turtle gets all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Consider dusting food with calcium and vitamin supplements before offering it to your turtle. Add the calcium supplement to his food twice a week. If you are unsure about the right balance for your turtle speak to your vet.
What do you feed a turtle?
Article Summary X. To feed your turtle, give it lots of green, leafy vegetables, like kale and parsley. You can also feed it fruit and flowers, like apples, bananas, and carnations. However, try to provide your turtle with 4-5 times more vegetables than fruits.
How to keep a turtle healthy?
Get the right balance of food and vitamins. For a creature with a diet as varied as a turtle, getting a good balance of all the different dietary elements is important to maintain your turtle's health and well-being.
What vegetables are good for a sourdough bread?
Good vegetable choices include kale, parsley, green beans, bell peppers, and cabbage. Small amounts of spinach and broccoli are also good choices. Flowers including carnations, roses and hibiscus can be added for variety. For the fruit content use apples, bananas, pears, grapes, kiwi and melon. ...
Do aquatic turtles eat in water?
Aquatic turtles are a little different to ordinary land turtles, as they feed in the water. It is essential for an aquatic turtle to feed in the water. This can lead to problems if leftover food decays in the water.
What are some good vegetables for turtles?
The healthiest fresh vegetables for your turtle include cooked sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, softened carrots, and green beans. Most of these veggies are best offered raw since they retain most of their nutrients this way.
What are the best proteins for turtles?
Worms and bugs are good sources of proteins for turtles. They also deliver a substantial serving of phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin A. The available choices for bugs and worms are varied.
Do turtles eat in captivity?
In the wild, the available opportunities for turtles to eat voraciously are few. As such, turtles will never seem satisfied in captivity and might eat throughout. Moreover, they might seem open to eating almost anything.
What to know before getting a pet turtle?
Before Getting a Pet Turtle. Caring for Your Turtle. Turtles are one of the oldest kinds of reptiles on the planet. Their hard shell and slow-moving mannerisms make them unique pets. They’re hardy creatures and can be fun to care for. They may seem like low-maintenance pets, but most turtle species can live for decades, ...
How big of an aquarium do turtles need?
Even small turtles need an aquarium that’s no smaller than 29 gallons, or 4 feet long and 18 inches wide. Your turtle needs plenty of space to grow.
What to do if you can't care for a turtle?
If for some reason you find that you can no longer care for your pet turtle, you can contact a turtle society for help. Don’t release your turtle into the wild. Pet turtles are not adapted to the outdoors and can become a threat to native turtle populations. Pagination. 1.
What do you need to bring a turtle home?
Before bringing your turtle home, you’ll need the right lighting, temperature, and water filtration system. They will need room to walk about their enclosure, and they’ll need their space cleaned frequently. Turtles need a lot of space to roam. Water turtles need large aquariums with plenty of room to swim and a place to get out ...
How long do turtles live?
Many types of turtles can live up to 20 years or longer , and they'll continue to grow. Their space, diet, and other needs will change as they do, so do your research to choose one you can continue to care for. Diet. Your turtle’s diet will depend on the type of turtle you choose.
What is the best turtle for beginners?
The best turtle varieties for beginners are male painted turtles. These include U.S. mud and musk turtles and male red-eared sliders. They are relatively easy to care for and don't require a lot of special attention. Habitat.
What do turtles eat?
Generally, turtles eat insects, fish, dark leafy greens, and freeze-dried mealworms. They need a healthy mix of 80% vegetables and 20% fruits. Turtles like squash, watermelon, and tomatoes. How much food you give them will depend on the type of turtle you get and their size.
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 ...
Where can I find crickets?
You can easily find crickets, earthworms, mealworms, guppies, and rosy red minnows at your local pet stores and bait shops. I have even found earthworms at my local Walmart! Pet stores also often have duckweed, water hyacinths, and water weeds. Fruits and veggies can be found at your local grocery store!
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;
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.
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 iceberg lettuce?
Turtles can eat romaine lettuce, but not iceberg. Iceberg lettuce does not give turtles any nutritional value, but it makes them feel full, so they do not seek out other food. It is best to feed wild turtles and pet turtles romaine lettuce, because they get nutritional value from eating this veggie.
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.
