what to feed a wild red eared slider

^{Adult red-eared sliders can be fed:}

• Dark leafy greens: romaine lettuce, kale, dandelion greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, or swiss chard.
• Vegetables: bell pepper or carrots.
• Feeder fish: goldfish, guppies or minnows.
• Insects, earthworms, slugs, snails or tadpoles.

How should you give your red eared slider its food?

Providing Good Nutrients for Your Red-Eared Slider

• Animal Protein. As protein is a part of your pet’s dietary needs, you will include this in its meal but make sure you do not feed it with more than ...
• Plants. There are a variety of plants you can feed your turtle and they should make up 50% of the total diet.
• Vitamin Supplements. ...

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 type of water does a red eared slider need?

Sliders are aquatic and need clean, chemical-free water to swim in. Fill the tank with water at least twice as deep as your baby’s shell. Even as hatchlings, red eared sliders are excellent swimmers, you don’t need to worry about them drowning. Though they love water, sliders also need land for basking and drying out.

Can you feed a red eared slider once a week?

You should feed an adult red eared slider vegetables every other day or at least 3 times a week. Offer them a protein source once or twice a week. You can gradually reduce their protein to once a week the older they get.

What do wild red-eared sliders eat?

Red-eared sliders are omnivores. In the wild, they feed on aquatic vegetation, small fish and decaying material such as dead fish and frogs, etc. Pet red-eared sliders will feed on just about anything you give them, but I recommend feeding them a commercial turtle food or pellet to benefit proper growth and health.

What can I feed my red-eared slider turtle?

What do red-eared sliders eat? Juveniles and adults can be fed a base diet of commercially available pellets or sticks that are made for aquatic turtles, along with vegetable matter such as dark leafy greens (dandelion, mustard and collard greens with chopped broccoli, carrots, squash and green beans).

What vegetables can I feed my red-eared slider?

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 red-eared sliders survive in the wild?

Red-eared sliders are native to the Southeast and south-central United States and northern Mexico, where they are commonly found in a variety of ponds and wetlands. Buchanan said they are tolerant of human disturbance and tolerant of pollution, and they are dietary generalists, so they can live almost anywhere.

What can I feed wild turtles?

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.

What food kills turtles?

For example, tomatoes are safe and they're often a favorite of box turtles. But tomato leaves and vines are toxic. Other plants toxic to box turtles include rhubarb leaves, holly, oleander, avocado leaves and seeds, and plants in the nightshade family.

Can I feed my red-eared slider carrots?

Adult red-eared sliders can be fed: Dark leafy greens: romaine lettuce, kale, dandelion greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, or swiss chard. Vegetables: bell pepper or carrots.

Can red-eared sliders eat raw carrots?

1. Carrots. Carrots have a very high vitamin A content, and they are perfect for your turtle. However, they do contain folic acid that can be long-term harmful for your animal, so try it is advisable to not feed carrots to your turtle more than twice a week.

How long can red-eared sliders go without food?

Baby or juvenile red-eared sliders would not be able to last more than a week or so without food, whereas older red-eared sliders will be able to last a month or two. A well-fed adult will be able to live without food for up to two months, three at an absolute stretch, but that really is not advised.

How long do red-eared sliders live in the wild?

around 10 to 20 yearsBaby red-eared sliders are vulnerable in the wild, but they grow very quickly! Wild red-eared sliders typically live for around 10 to 20 years on average. This estimate is notably a bit lower than the approximate lifespan for sliders kept in captivity.

Should I keep a wild turtle?

Many reptile experts and enthusiasts will tell you not to keep a wild turtle as a pet, and they are right. It's the same reason you may be told not to keep a frog you found in your pond or a bunny you found in your backyard. Animals that live in the wild are not used to living boxed-up in a tank, cage, or hutch.

Can you release a wild turtle back into the wild?

Pet store turtles most likely carry diseases, which could affect native turtles and the entire ecosystem. Never release a turtle if it is not from the area; there is no exception to this.

What fruits can red-eared sliders 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.

Can a red-eared slider eat a banana?

Some experts recommend fresh fruits such as bananas, berries, apples, and melons. However, this isn't a natural staple in the red-eared sliders diet, and it may cause diarrhea. If you offer any fruit at all, limit it to very small quantities as a special treat. Don't feed frozen fish, or at least not very often.

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.

Can a turtle eat a banana?

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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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Where Do Red-Eared Sliders Live?

These turtles originate in the southeastern United States, with a heavy distribution around the Mississippi River Delta and the Gulf of Mexico.

What Do Red-Eared Sliders Eat?

Red-eared sliders are omnivores, but in the wild, they tend to feed primarily on plants. They tend to eat more meat when they’re juveniles, but as they grow older, they transition to a plant-heavy diet.

Why Are Red-Eared Sliders Considered Such a Dangerous Invasive Species?

While red-eared sliders are undoubtedly cute, in many parts of the world, they’re seen as a complete menace rather than as an adorable pet.

A Dangerous Animal in a Cute Little Shell

Red-eared sliders are wonderful little companions — they don’t eat much, never need walks, and won’t judge you when you talk out loud to yourself. However, it’s important that these pets stay pets, because if they get loose in new environments, they can cause ecological havoc.

What Do Baby Red-Eared Slider Turtles Eat?

Baby red-eared sliders eat insects, snails, and vegetables like carrots.

What Do Pet Red-Eared Sliders Eat?

Pet red-eared sliders eat insects like crickets, worms, shrimp, greens, lettuce, and vegetables.

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.

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.

How to keep a red eared slider healthy?

A varied diet is both nutritionally and mentally enriching. It also helps them to get a full range of vitamins. Clean Water: Young red eared sliders need very clean water for swimming and drinking. Use an aquarium pump to circulate and filter tank water .

What does a baby red eared slider need?

Baby red eared sliders need a proper and safe habitat to stay healthy and happy. Before getting a turtle make sure you can provide them with everything in the list below: Controlled Temperature: Baby red eared sliders are sensitive to sudden changes in temperature. Drops in temperature can cause pneumonia.

What is the difference between a baby red eared slider and an adult red eared slider?

A major difference between adult and baby red eared sliders is their diet: Adults eat primarily a 50/50 balance of plants to meat. Babies and juveniles need a 30/70 ratio of plants to meat. One quarter of your baby slider’s protein content should come from commercial turtle food pellets.

Why do red eared sliders refuse food?

It is very common for a baby red eared slider to refuse food during the first three days. This is due to the stress of being introduced to a new environment.

How much does a red eared slider baby cost?

The most common red eared slider baby is the wild-type. Most wild-type sliders sell for $30 to $60. Private breeders sell specialty morphs like hypo pastel, albino, ghost, leucistic and piebald too. Rarer morphs like caramel and charcoal are sold for $1,000.

Why won't my baby slider bask?

Baby sliders will not bask for two reasons: They can’t reach the basking platform. The water and air temperatures are not correct. A basking platform needs to be easily accessible, stable, and dry. Use a gently sloping ramp from the water to the basking spot to help your turtle reach the platform.

Why is it important to have a schedule for a baby slider?

Sticking to a schedule reduces stress and makes caring for your baby slider much easier. It also provides stability for your turtle. The most important part of caring for a new slider is cleanliness.