what to feed a western pond turtle

• Earthworms, crickets, waxworms, silkworms, aquatic snails, bloodworms, daphnia, crabs, krill, and mealworms are some of their favorite prey.
• Collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, kale, and bok choy are examples of leafy greens.
• 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.

Full Answer

What do pond turtles eat in a pond?

Western pond turtles are omnivorous. Most of the diet includes insects, crayfish, and other aquatic invertebrates. Fish, tadpoles, and frogs are eaten occasionally, and carrion is eaten when available. Plant foods include filamentous algae, lily pads, tule and cattail roots.

What can I put in a turtle tank?

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.

What kind of habitat do pond turtles need?

Turtles can be encouraged to use artificial basking substrate, or rafts, which allows for easy detection of the species in complex habitats. In addition to their aquatic habitat, terrestrial habitat is also extremely important for Western pond turtles.

What fruits and veggies can turtles eat?

Safe fruits and veggies for most turtles include carrots, squash, romaine lettuce, collard greens, melons, berries, apples, and bananas. You should remove the skin from all the fruits and veggies and cut them into bite-size pieces for the turtles. Remember, baby turtles do not need a lot of plant matter, so do not give them too much.

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.

Can you keep a western pond turtle?

The population of Western Pond Turtles is already threatened by several factors. Hence, it is better not to take them as pets and allow them to grow on their own in the wild. Collection them from the wild for the pet trade is illegal in many states.

What do you do if you find a western pond turtle?

Make a point of leaving (and leave!) by walking away with heavy footsteps and loud voices. If you sneak off, the turtle may wait you out – leaving it vulnerable to predators or the elements. If you find a live turtle crossing a road, safely move it to the far side in the direction it was heading.

How long does a western pond turtle live?

50 yearsIndividuals grow slowly in the wild, and their age at their first reproduction may be 10 to 12 years in the northern part of the range. The western pond turtle may survive more than 50 years in the wild.

How long can the western pond turtle stay under water?

During the summer, pond turtles can hold their breath for over 15 minutes. In winter, they are able to stay submerged much longer as they brumate, sometimes weeks or even months!

Do western pond turtles hibernate?

In some areas, Western pond turtles brumate (hibernation-like state) during the winter months. During brumation, they will burrow into the mud above or below the water and remain inactive until it gets warm again. Western pond turtles are diurnal and usually hunt late in the day.

How big do western pond turtles get?

between 7 and 9 inchesDESCRIPTION: The western pond turtle is a medium-sized turtle, reaching between 7 and 9 inches. Adult turtles have a yellowish belly, with dark blotches and black spots or lines found on top of their heads.

Are Western pond turtles endangered?

Not extinctActinemys / Extinction status

Are Western pond turtles endangered in California?

As the West Coast's only native freshwater turtle, the western pond turtle is listed as endangered by the state of Washington, as “sensitive/critical” in Oregon and as a “species of special concern” in California.

Do turtles get lonely?

For the most part, turtles do not need a companion or friend. They can live together, but they won't get sad, lonely, bored, or depressed on their own. Keeping more than one turtle in a tank can lead to fighting and other competitive behaviors.

Do pond turtles bite?

Though their shells provide very effective protection, most turtles will bite to protect themselves if necessary. This is especially prevalent among wild turtles, but pet turtles may bite as well.

What does the western pond turtle look like?

What they look like: The coloration of the western pond turtle ranges from brown to black on the carapace (the upper shell), with lighter marbling visible close up. The plastron (the lower shell) is black and yellow. The head and legs are dark with possible yellow markings (but not stripes like the painted turtle).

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.

How big do western pond turtles get?

between 7 and 9 inchesDESCRIPTION: The western pond turtle is a medium-sized turtle, reaching between 7 and 9 inches. Adult turtles have a yellowish belly, with dark blotches and black spots or lines found on top of their heads.

Are Western pond turtles endangered?

Not extinctActinemys / Extinction status

Can turtles live in backyard pond?

If you have the space, a pond could be a fun summer turtle project. Painted and other aquatic turtles can thrive in backyard turtle ponds. Basking turtles appreciate deep water that they can plunge into when alarmed. Live plants in a pond can provide turtles a place to rest, and they provide cover, too.

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.

Where do pond turtles live?

They live in marshes, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes.

How long do pond turtles stay out of water?

Since many ponds can dry up during summer and fall months along the west coast, especially during times of drought, Western pond turtle can spend upwards of 200 days out of water.

How long does it take for a female pond turtle to mature?

It takes around 10 years for females to become reproductively mature and when mature, they lay only 5-13 eggs a year. So the loss of only a few adults can also influence the rapid decline of the Western pond turtle populations.

Why are pond turtles endangered?

Western pond turtles face many threats including habitat destruction due to urbanization, disease, fire, flooding, and droughts. These turtles have a very slow reproduction and although they live up to 50 years, they reproduce slowly.

What is the color of a pond turtle?

11-21 cm. The Western pond turtle is a medium-sized turtle native to the western coast of the United States and Mexico. They are usually dark brown or dull olive in color, with or without darker reticulations or streaking.

How far away do pond turtles lay eggs?

Females produce 5-13 eggs per clutch. They may travel some distance from water for egg-laying, moving as much as 0.8 km (1/2 mile) away .

What do juveniles eat?

Plant foods include filamentous algae, lily pads, tule and cattail roots. Juveniles are primarily carnivorous and eat insects and carrion.

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 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 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.

Identification

The Western Pond Turtle, commonly referred to as the Pacific Pond Turtle, is a small to medium-sized freshwater species that belongs to the Emydidae family. It is regularly found along the Western Coast of the United States and Mexico.

As a Pet

Although Western Pond Turtles are not yet extinct, their natural habitat faces threats from urbanization and agriculture. Because of this, they aren’t recommended as pets. Instead, they will benefit from being left in the wild because here they will have more opportunities for their population to grow and thrive.

Lifespan

You should expect your Western Pond Turtle to live for between 50 and 70 years. Most will reach reproductive maturity at around 10 years of age. In the wild, this species tends to grow fairly slowly.

Adaptations

As the seasons change, a Western Pond Turtle will endure a physical adaptation. As drought approaches and the conditions become drier they become less active but require a lot more oxygen. They tend to become dormant in the mud.

Breeding Season

These turtles typically mate between late April and early May, however, this isn’t to say that they aren’t going to mate during other months throughout the year. At this time, the females will move from the water to a drier location upland. They will then begin to nest before laying their eggs.

Eggs

A sexually mature female can lay anything from 1 to 13 eggs at any one time, however, the average number is around 6. Normally, female turtles will lay at least one clutch a year but there are many that will lay 2 a year.

Growth Rate

This species of turtle grows fairly slow. In fact, females don’t reach maturity until they are between 10 to 15 years old. For males, this process does occur much quicker with most maturing by the age of 12.

What do western pond turtles eat?

The western pond turtle is omnivorous and most of its animal diet includes insects, crayfish, and other aquatic invertebrates. Fish, tadpoles, and frogs are eaten occasionally, and carrion is eaten when available. Plant foods include filamentous algae, lily pads, tule and cattail roots.

How many eggs do western pond turtles lay?

Sexually mature females of the western pond turtle produce 5–13 eggs per clutch. They deposit eggs either once or twice a year. They may travel some distance from water for egg-laying, moving as much as 0.8 km (1/2 mile) away from and up to 90 m (300 ft) above the nearest source of water, but most nests are within 90 m (300 ft) of water. The female usually leaves the water in the evening and may wander far before selecting a nest site, often in an open area of sand or hardpan that is facing southwards. The nest is flask-shaped with an opening of about 5 cm (2 in). Females spend considerable time covering up the nest with soil and adjacent low vegetation, making it difficult for a person to find unless it has been disturbed by a predator.

How long do western pond turtles stay out of water?

Since many intermittent ponds can dry up during summer and fall months along the west coast, especially during times of drought, the western pond turtle can spend upwards of 200 days out of water.

How tall is a turtle in Oregon?

It ranges up to 305 m (1,001 ft) in Washington, and to about 915 m (3,002 ft) in Oregon. It also occurs in Uvas Canyon area, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, and in the North Bay, and lakes such as Fountaingrove Lake. Many taxonomic authorities now split what had been considered one species of turtle into two species.

What is the name of the western pond turtle?

The range of the western pond turtle. The Western Pond Turtle ( Actinemys marmorata ), also known commonly as the Pacific pond turtle is a species of small to medium-sized turtle in the family Emydidae.

Where is the turtle soup?

It was once a large part of a major fishery on Tulare Lake, California, supplying San Francisco with a local favorite, turtle soup, as well as feed for hogs that learned to dive for it in the shallows of Hog Island, also on Tulare Lake. As of 2007, it has become rare or absent in the Puget Sound area.

Where do pond turtles live?

The species is endemic to the western coast of the United States and Mexico, ranging from western Washington state to northern Baja California. It was formerly found in Canada, but in ...