What Musk Turtles Eat
- Fruits. Most fruits are good to eat, but there are some that aren’t good for turtles due to the high amount of...
- Vegetables. Just like fruits, vegetables are great for turtles, but there are some that contain a lot of phosphorus.
- Meat. In general all meat is good for turtles, whether it comes from a cow, chicken, pig or a fish. Just make sure that...
What do musk turtles eat in captivity?
The same can be said to musk turtles living in captivity; most of them enjoy a varied diet as well. You can feed your musk turtles with their favorite foods, including crickets, earthworms, redworms, dragonflies, small shrimps, snails, and crayfish.
What can I feed a baby turtle?
To feed a baby turtle, start by figuring out what kind of turtle you have since different varieties of turtles prefer different foods. If your turtle is an herbivore, provide it with a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as aquatic plants like duckweed and water lettuce.
What do you need to know about baby turtle care?
It is vital to establish that your baby turtle is fed in a comfortable, safe environment so that it will eat and get all of the nutrients it needs. Know the eating habits of your turtle.
What size water filter do I need for a musk turtle?
Most water filters are tested in tanks that contain fish, but musk turtles are considerably messier. So for a 30 gallon musk turtle tank, you will need a 60 gallon water filter. Two other important things that you want from a water filter are for it to be silent and clog proof.
How do you take care of a baby musk turtle?
7:0911:03Musk Turtle Care Guide (the best beginner turtle?!) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEat anything really floating on the surface of the water i've seen some people have success withMoreEat anything really floating on the surface of the water i've seen some people have success with floating foods.
How do I get my baby musk turtle to eat?
2:424:14Feeding BABY Musk Turtle BIG Worms - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn fast flowing streams they'll just typically. Be a pond or just really still water if you thinkMoreIn fast flowing streams they'll just typically. Be a pond or just really still water if you think mustard oils are awesome and you want to buy.
How much do you feed a baby musk turtle?
Musk turtles less than 6 months old should be fed twice daily and turtles over 6 months old should be fed once every other day. These animals must be fed in the water to facilitate swallowing as their tongues are not meant to push food to the back of the mouth for swallowing.
What can musk turtles eat?
Musk turtles are omnivores, animals that eat both meat and plants. These foragers eat algae and seeds as well as invertebrates like insects, crayfish, snails, leeches, and tadpoles.
How long can a baby musk turtle 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 fruit and veg can musk turtles eat?
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. “For fruits, consider shredded apples and melons, as well as chopped berries,” recommends Dr. Starkey.
How deep should musk turtles be watered?
Babies should be kept in a smaller aquarium and moved as they grow. Due to them being a ground walker rather than swimmer, provide a shallow water depth of 10-15cm (4-5 inches); increase this depth as they grow.
Do musk turtles need a heat lamp?
Although common musk turtles do not always emerge from the water to bask, a basking light is essential for captive turtle health. High-quality UVB bulbs are especially necessary for helping turtles metabolize calcium and to avoid vitamin A and D3 deficiencies.
Can you overfeed a musk turtle?
It's essentially a form of Metabolic Bone Disease and occurs when your turtle is overfed. It's not good for the turtle and could lead to their organs being squeezed or being damaged. The biggest culprit of shell pyramiding is usually from feeding your turtle too many pellets.
Can musk turtle eat fruit?
Can Musk Turtles Eat Fruit or Vegetables? Musk turtles can and will eat fruits and vegetables. Make sure to wash them to get rid of harmful microbes and parasites. If needed, cut them into smaller pieces so that it's easier for your turtles to munch on them.
How much water does a baby musk turtle need?
An aquarium of 80 liters (20 gallons) is enough for one, and to keep two make sure you have an aquarium double that size! When your turtles are small, make sure your water is not too deep. This is because musk turtles are not great swimmers. They tend to sink to the bottom as they do not have an air bladder like fish.
Can musk turtles eat fish food?
Fish food is safe for turtles to eat, but it should not be part of their main diet. Fish food is not toxic to turtles and you do not have to fear if your turtle does end up eating a few bites worth.
Why is my baby musk turtle not eating?
There are a long list of reasons that could explain why your baby turtle isn't eating. The most common reasons are change in the environment/stress, temperature, illness, lighting, and diet.
Why won't my baby musk turtle eat?
1:245:42TURTLE ISN'T EATING?!? | How to get your turtle to eat pellets - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLive food basically if a prey item moves eternals automatically enticed to try to go eat it becauseMoreLive food basically if a prey item moves eternals automatically enticed to try to go eat it because it's moving around and that's kind of what they go after in the wild.
Why won't my musk turtle eat?
If your turtle is not eating and you have checked the environment, your turtle may be suffering from an illness. Stress, and illnesses such as vitamin A deficiency, constipation, respiratory infection, eye problems, or pregnancy.
How deep should the water be for a baby musk turtle?
4-5 inchesBabies should be kept in a smaller aquarium and moved as they grow. Due to them being a ground walker rather than swimmer, provide a shallow water depth of 10-15cm (4-5 inches); increase this depth as they grow.
How to make sure a baby turtle eats?
Create a food-friendly environment. Turtles need to feel comfortable to eat. In order to make sure your turtle will eat in its tank, create a food-friendly environment. To keep a clean home for your turtle you will typically want to feed it in a separate cage. This is not as imperative for baby turtles.
Why is it important to feed a baby turtle?
It is the time when they most need vitamins for growth and development. It is vital to establish that your baby turtle is fed in a comfortable, safe environment so that it will eat and get all of the nutrients it needs.
How old do turtles have to be to be considered adults?
Turtles are not considered adults until they are at least 7 years old. However, after three years their appetite should taper off naturally. When you notice your turtle eating less, it may be a sign that it is ready to transition to a new diet. Talk to your vet first, however, when you begin changing feeding frequency.
What happens if a turtle stops eating?
If your turtle stops eating, keep an eye out for other common turtle problems. Watch for shell problems. A turtle's shell is an indicator of health and wellness. Changes to the shell can indicate poor nutrition, especially, though not exclusively, too little calcium in its diet.
What do turtles eat?
If your turtle needs a meat-based diet, you can feed it mealworms, earthworms, crayfish, minnows, snails, slugs, and wax worms.
Why do turtles have a runny nose?
Change in a turtle's appetite, energy, and weight might indicate a parasite. Respiratory infections can be caused by a vitamin A deficiency. A runny nose or drooping eyelids can indicate a deficiency. Serious infections are marked by mouth-breathing, mucus in the mouth, or wheezing.
Is a turtle omnivore or carnivore?
Other types of turtles remain strictly carnivores or strictly omnivores their whole life. Snapping turtles, for example, will always need a primarily carnivorous diet while loggerhead turtles will always need a combination of meat and plants. Figure out what kind of turtle you have.
How to feed a musk turtle?
Placing food onto dry land very rarely elicits a feeding response in musk turtles. Instead, drop the food into the water infront of your turtle. If your turtle is hungry then it should start feeding rapidly. Note that some musk turtles can be quite shy.
What do musk turtles eat?
While musk turtles may eat the odd piece of pond weed in the wild , their diet is almost exclusively made up of meat. In captivity, this carnivorous diet can be supplemented with a number of specially-made turtle foods, which can make feeding your musk turtle much easier. Here are some of the best foods for your musk turtle:
How long does it take for musk turtles to eat roaches?
A better alternative here is known as “gut loading”. A mineral-rich supplement is fed to feeder insects like crickets or roaches for 24-48 hours, before the insects themselves are fed to your musk turtles. When your turtle eats the insect, they also benefit from all the nutrients inside the gut. Sale.
What kind of worms do turtles have?
Also available from aquarium shops are live bloodworms. These small, red aquatic worms are typically bought in a sealed plastic bag. Just snip the corner off and pour the bloodworms into your turtle tank.
Do musk turtles eat in water?
Observations in the wild have found that musk turtles do almost all their eating in the water – not on land. Furthermore, studies have shown that when the water temperature drops below 18’C musk turtles simply stop eating. The first step in feeding musk turtles is therefore ensuring that their water is warm enough.
Can musk turtles eat mussels?
Some keepers have found that bivalves like cockles and mussels are also readily accepted by musk turtles. Once again, however, be sure to limit the intake to avoid increasing sodium levels too rapidly.
Do musk turtles crawl?
An interesting observation is that musk turtles seem to crawl along the bottom of their cage looking for food, so food that sinks tends to be far more readily accepted than anything that floats.
1. High Protein Content Food
The first thing you need to know about feeding your musk turtles is that they should be fed high protein diets. It means turtles’ diet should contain more than 15% protein. The best sources of proteins are:
2. Fruits And Vegetables
Musk turtles are omnivores. That means that they will eat both fruits and vegetables.
3. Commercial Foods
Some musk turtles like to eat commercial foods. This option is ideal for those who live in areas where it is difficult to find fresh foods.
4. Turtle Food Mixes
Another option for feeding your Musk Turtles is to make your mixture of foods. This way, you can control what goes into the mix and ensure that it contains all the nutrients your turtle needs.
5. Algae
Algae is one of the best sources of nutrients for Musk Turtles. You can also buy algae supplements for your Musk Turtles. Algae is an excellent source of minerals and vitamins.
6. Freshwater
Your musk turtles need clean and fresh water to stay healthy. They may not drink as much as other species, but they still require plenty of water.
The Diet of a Musk Turtle
Musk turtles are omnivores, which means that they will eat fruits, vegetables, as well as meat, insects, and pellets. A well-balanced diet for a pet musk turtle will be mainly based on pellets, with the occasional fruits, vegetables, and dried insects.
How to Set Up the Tank of a Musk Turtle
The tank is where your musk turtle will spend most of its life so it’s important to make it as comfortable as possible. Luckily for us, musk turtles don’t require too many things in their tank, but the things that they require are completely essential.
Musk Turtle Size and Lifespan
On average most musk turtles live between 40 and 60 years and reach sizes between 2 and 4.5 inches.
How to Determine the Gender of a Musk Turtle
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to tell the gender of the musk turtle, as most of the distinctive signs only appear when they reach maturity. So if you own a baby musk turtle you could try to figure out the gender, but it’s usually impossible.
Possible Strange Behavior
After a while, you will start to know the normal behavior of your musk turtle. You will get to know how your turtle swims, when and how it will play, and all sorts of different things. And as a result, you will also notice some occasional strange behavior.
Final Thoughts
This article should cover everything that you should know about how to care for a musk turtle. But if you still have questions you can always leave them in the comment section below and I will answer them as soon as possible.
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MuddyBob
I have had many mud and musk hatchlings and they always respond to live earthworms. You have to cut the worms up into smaller pieces for hatchlings, but the wiggling gets their attention. A distant second best is fish, probably due to the odor. Some hatchlings will eat pellets right away if you are lucky.
winnerbaldwin
I feed my musk Hikari Carnivore Pellets and Hikari Algae Wafers and have done since he was a hatchling. I break the algae wafers up as they are HUGE! The ittle fella hoovers them up! These are great too, as they sink. Hope this helps. C.D.B
MuddyBob
Hatchlings are easily stressed. In the wild they would normally hide in dense vegetation. Everything from large birds to snapping turtles are a threat to them. Do you have a photo of your setup? Temperature is important too. Musk hatchlings should probably have water set around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
julesb
The Reptomin have never worked for me as well. Everytime I throw them in, I find it all by the filter. I have a baby Common Musk and I have started feeding meal worms. At first I would wait for him to finish one before iving another, now I just toss a few in and their gone the next day. They tend to lurk the bottom so its easy.
Grubb
I wouldn't recommend feeding only meal worms, they aren't very healthy and should be fed mostly as a treat. It is hard to get some turtles to eat pellets but they will eventually - it just takes some patience. Reptomin and Mazuri are both high quality pellets and are a healthy staple in a turtle's diet.
julesb
I sometimes throw reptomin in their anyway, but he just doesn't eat it. I've read that musk turtles, any young turtles in general are carnivorous. But like Britt_Brat, we just want them to at least eat something.
