- red-eared sliders need a pelleted commercial diet.
- Commercial turtle treats and freeze-dried krill may be given as treats.
- Non-toxic aquatic plants (anachris, water lettuce), dark leafy vegetables and sliced vegetables such as squash and carrots.
- Comet goldfish, earthworms and insects may be offered as treats.
What human food can a red ear slider turtle eat?
What Can Turtles Eat From Human Food?
- Fish. Turtles love fish. ...
- Meat. Every person that has kept turtles knows that they enjoy eating meat. ...
- Fruits. Giving fruits on a regular basis to your turtles is a great way to improve their overall health and reduce the risk of disease.
- Vegetables. Vegetables should be part of every turtle diet. ...
- Human Foods to Avoid. ...
- Final Thoughts. ...
What kind of vegetables can a red eared slider eat?
Red-eared sliders can be fed dark leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, kale, dandelion greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, or swiss chard. Vegetables such as bell peppers or carrots can also be fed. Fish that can be fed as feeders: goldfish, guppies, and minnows. The insects, worms, slugs, snails, and tadpoles are all related.
What vegetables can the red slider turtle eat?
Plant foods that can be given to the red-eared turtle in limited quantities:
- apricot
- watermelon
- banana
- cherry
- pear
- melon
- zucchini
- kiwi
- Strawberry
- raspberries
Are red eared slider turtles dangerous as pets?
Yes, baby turtles can get shell rot. This fungal infection red eared slider turtle shell rot is very dangerous. When the owner observes the symptoms of shell rot they should immediately contact the local vet and get it treated. How Do You Treat A Red Eared Slider Shell Rot?
What is the best food for red-eared sliders?
A big handful of leafy greens, a pinch of turtle pellets, and a couple worms or insects should be plenty. Adults eat a lot less meat, so make sure you offer plenty of dark leafy greens, vegetables, and aquatic plants. Foods rich in protein, such as fish and invertebrates, should only be offered once a week.
How often should you feed a red-eared slider?
The frequency of feeding depends on the age and size of your red-eared slider. Smaller or juvenile turtles will eat heartily every day. As they get older, adult turtles may be offered a good-sized portion of food every two or three days.
What fruits and vegetables can red-eared slider turtles eat?
Like humans, red-eared sliders are also omnivorous and have a very varied diet. Sliders can eat many types of vegetables- such as green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, and squash- but also a wide range of fruits – skinned apples, bananas, berries, melons, nectarine, and mango.
How much do I feed my red-eared slider?
A good rule of thumb is to feed as much as your turtle will consume in 15 minutes.
What vegetables can I feed my red-eared slider?
Leafy Greens: Collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, kale, and bok choy. Iceberg lettuce should never be fed because it is not nutritious enough,1 and dark green leafy lettuce such as romaine can be fed sparingly. Make sure you feed items with appropriate calcium-to-phosphorous levels.
How long can a red-eared turtle go without eating?
Healthy adult red-eared sliders can go without food for a few weeks up to two or three months at most.
What can I not feed my red-eared slider?
Avoid These Red-Eared Slider FoodsFeeder fish.Crickets.Earthworms.Crayfish.Ghost shrimp.Krill.
What foods are poisonous to turtles?
Food Avoid to Feed Box turtlesBread, bakery products, and pasta.Candies, chocolate, and other products containing sugars.Processed meat and canned food.Avocado skin and pits.Tobacco leaves and products.Rhubarb.Tomato and potato leaves.Dairy products.More items...
What can I feed my turtle Besides turtle food?
Animal food sources. Animal-based food sources for turtles can include processed pet foods like drained sardines, turtle pellets, and trout chow. You can also feed them cooked chicken, beef, and turkey. Live prey can include moths, crickets, shrimp, krill, feeder fish, and worms.
How do you know if a turtle is happy?
Swollen, cloudy, or "weepy" eyes with a discharge are all common signs your turtle is sick. Another very common sign is mouth breathing or straining to breathe. If your turtle looks healthy and is breathing normally, this is a good indicator they're happy.
Do turtles need a light at night?
Night Lights They can also provide some heat, which can be important for hatchling turtles, who often sleep on the basking area at night. Adult turtles don't need night lights, and most turtles don't care whether they're red or blue as long as they're not too bright.
Do red-eared sliders need to be in water all the time?
The answer is, yes. Red-eared sliders need to be in the water. For starters, red-eared sliders lack saliva and need water to swallow their food. They can eat without water, it's just a lot more difficult.
What Red Eared Slider Turtles Eat
Since red eared slider turtles are omnivorous they can eat a huge variety of ailments. So to make things simpler I will divide them in 5 categories:
How to Properly Feed Your Red Eared Slider Turtle
Over the years I’ve read about countless methods of feeding turtles. But out of all of them two stood out the most, as being the most used and the most efficient. And they are the 15 minutes method and the size of the head method.
Red Eared Slider Turtle Feeding Schedule
The first thing that you have to take into consideration when thinking how often you have to feed your turtle, or when making a feeding schedule, is the age of the turtle. Baby red eared slider turtles need a different amount of food than juveniles, and juveniles need a different amount of food than adult red eared slider turtles.
Occasional Treats
Another thing that I want to address is that you can occasionally give your red eared slider turtle treats. 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.
Final Thoughts
While red eared slider turtles can eat a lot of things, not all of them can be good for them.
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What do red-eared slider turtles eat?
Red-eared slider turtles are omnivores, so they eat both plants and animals. Adults mostly eat aquatic plants such as elodea, duckweed, water lettuce and water ferns. Adults eat so many plants they are considered herbivorous. They will only eat meat if it is readily available and there are no plants nearby.
What to feed a red-eared slider?
Good plants to feed red-eared sliders are dark leafy greens, aquatic plants, and vegetables. Feeder fish, invertebrates, and commercial turtle pellets are good sources of protein. Make sure your turtle is also getting a calcium supplement at least once a week and is not being handled after feeding.
Why do turtles regurgitate food?
Turtles are very smart and quickly learn when it is time to be fed. Turtles and many other animals tend to move slower after eating, so regurgitating food in order to escape more quickly is a common tactic. Red-eared sliders may regurgitate their food if they are handled too soon after eating.
How long should I let my turtle eat?
Any vegetables you feed should first be boiled and chopped into pieces small enough to fit into the turtle’s mouth. Let your turtle have a 15 minute feeding session. After the feeding session, just remove anything that hasn’t been eaten to keep the water clean.
How often should I feed my slider turtle?
Turtles in the wild will eat whenever they can. However, pet sliders should only be fed every two to three days because they do not have to hunt. Many people like to feed their turtles fruit, but they are very high in sugar and can give your turtle diarrhea.
How do red-eared sliders hunt?
Red-eared sliders hunt by either sitting motionless, waiting for a fish to swim by and then snatching it, or by chasing and snapping up any bugs that land in the water. Adults will also swim along the bottom of ponds or lakes and eat aquatic plants or algae.
How often should I feed my turtles?
Adults should be fed a hearty amount of food once every two days. A big handful of leafy greens, a pinch of turtle pellets, and a couple worms or insects should be plenty. Adults eat a lot less meat, so make sure you offer plenty of dark leafy greens, vegetables, and aquatic plants.
Red-Eared Slider Turtle Background Information
Don’t let the name fool you… Red-Eared Sliders don’t actually have ears, well, at least not in the way we’re accustomed to! With no outer ear, these turtles rely solely on a middler inner ear structure for their auditory needs.
Red-Eared Slider Turtle Diet & Feeding
The easiest way to keep your turtle happy? By offering a varied diet of course! You see, Red-Eared Sliders could technically survive on pellets alone, but you would be doing their bodies a major disservice by not offering them feeder foods (animal/insect protein), veggies, and vitamins in addition to pellets.
Red-Eared Slider Turtle Habitat & Tank Setup
A happy and well-stimulated Red-Eared Slider will be one that LOVES its tank. You can help promote that homey feeling by adding in fake plants, caves, and other accessories for them to explore and experience.
Red-Eared Slider Turtle General Health Information
Although most Red-Eared Slider health concerns can be prevented with proper diet and husbandry, it is virtually inevitable that at some point or another your turtle may become sick. As such, you’ll want to pay special attention to areas such as the shell, face, and eyes, which are typically where early signs of sickness will be most evident.
Red-Eared Slider Turtle Handling & Bonding
Want to bond with your red-eared slider but aren’t sure how? Fear not! There are plenty of activities you can engage in with your turtle, such as hand feeding, to promote bonding WITHOUT having to pick them up.
Is A Red-Eared Slider Turtle Right for YOU?
If you’re on the hunt for an entertaining medium to large sized aquatic turtle and have the budget to create a large and appropriate tank setup, then consider the Red-Eared Slider Turtle a fabulous option for you!
What do red-eared sliders eat?
Commercial turtle treats and freeze-dried krill may be given as treats. Non-toxic aquatic plants (anachris, water lettuce), dark leafy vegetables and sliced vegetables such as squash and carrots. Comet goldfish, earthworms and insects may be offered as treats.
How to clean a turtle's habitat?
Keep the habitat clean and remove uneaten food and feces right away. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the habitat at least once a week: place turtle in a secure habitat; scrub the tank and furnishings with a 3% bleach solution; rinse thoroughly with water, removing all traces of bleach smell.
Where did the red-eared slider originate?
Red-Eared Slider. Originating in North America, the red-eared slider is named for the distinctive red streak on each side of its face. The Red-Eared Slider is primarily aquatic and will emerge from the water for basking.
What do baby red-eared slider turtles need?
In their juvenile period, baby turtles most need proteins, vitamins, and minerals. It’s vital for their growth and development. In general, red-eared slider turtles are omnivores, which means their diet should consist of animals and plants. However, the diet of baby red-eared slider turtles should lean more on the animal side.
What do baby turtles eat?
However, don’t overdo it. Make that just a small part of their diet. Small feeder fish, bloodworms and shrimps are all great choices.
What is the best pellet for a baby turtle?
Commercial pellets are an excellent choice for a baby turtle. They are packed with the right combinations of nutrients, specially designed for your turtle needs. Juveniles need more proteins in order to grow and develop.
Do baby turtles eat plants?
Baby turtles will rarely accept foods that are not from animal origin. As they get older, their diet will shift from animal-based to plant-based. Don’t hesitate to give them plants once in a while, even though they refuse it to eat.
Do red-eared slider turtles survive?
They are more prone to diseases, they need special attention and they need to be fed more regularly. And unfortunately, many of them will not survive the first years of their lives.
Can you feed a red-eared slider?
Red-eared sliders are messy animals. If you feed them regularly, which you should definitely do, your turtle tank will get dirty sooner than later. To make your life easier, set up a separate small plastic container where you can feed your turtle. When your turtle finishes eating its meal, just put it back in the tank.
Do baby turtles survive the first year?
And unfortunately, many of them will not survive the first years of their lives. That’s why in that period you need to be careful, and you need to make sure that your turtles have the best possible conditions for living. In their juvenile period, baby turtles most need proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
What to feed a red eared slider?
With adult red eared sliders, it is recommended that you only offer a source of protein around once or twice a week, depending on how old they are. The best vegetables for a red eared slider are kale, anacharis, red-leaf lettuce and romaine lettuce.
What do red eared sliders eat?
This includes worms, aquatic plants, fish and many other sources of food.
How long do red eared sliders live?
With proper care and attention, your red eared slider can live for up to 30 years ! YouTube. Alen's Pet Animals. 10.7K subscribers.
How to measure turtle shell size?
To do this, all you must do is take a measuring tape or a ruler to determine the size. You will want to measure from the topmost part of the shell from the turtle’s head, down past the middle of the shell and towards the rear. This is to determine the length, rather than the width of the particular shell.
Do turtles eat all day?
Turtles will always beg for more food, and could probably eat all day if they were left to it. This does not necessarily mean that they are hungry, or are starving for food, they are just sometimes a little gluttonous. If you think that your turtle is pigging out, we have a handy guide of how often to feed a red eared slider.
Do red eared sliders need more protein?
Red eared sliders of different ages will require different diets. For example, young red eared sliders will need more protein in their diet every day, whereas older red eared sliders will need more of a vegetable orientated diet to keep them as healthy as possible.