Here is a list of common foods that are great for your Reeves’ turtle:
- Aquatic snails
- Black Soldier Fly larvae
- Bloodworms
- Canned snails
- Catfish diet
- Cockles
- Collard greens
- Commercial turtle pellets
- Crickets
What do you feed a red eared Reeve turtle?
Reeve’s turtles are omnivores and are not picky when it comes to food. Commercial turtle food is usually the best way to go. Look for a nutritionally balanced diet that covers all of their needs. Expert Tip: This food should be about 30 to 40 percent protein, low in fat, and high in Vitamin D.
What kind of food can you feed turtles?
Lettuce, kale, carrots, melon, and strawberries are all turtle friendly foods. Consider aquatic plants that would be part of a turtle's regular diet, including duckweed, water lettuce, and water hyacinth. If your turtle needs a meat-based diet, you can feed it mealworms, earthworms, crayfish, minnows, snails, slugs,...
How often should I Feed my Reeves turtle?
Adult Reeves’ turtles should be fed once every two or three days with as much food as they can eat in a few seconds. Hatchlings should be fed once per day with a more meat-based diet, again for as much as they can eat in a few seconds.
Can you feed a baby turtle in a cage?
This is not as imperative for baby turtles. Although it is not ideal, you might want to consider feeding a baby turtle in its regular cage if it will not eat otherwise. In that case, however, you will need to clean its tank more frequently. Much like type of food, how you set food up in a cage is breed specific.
How often do you feed a baby Reeves turtle?
How often should I feed my turtle? For adult turtles, it should be fed every 1 to 2 days. For young turtles, it should be fed every day.
Do Reeves turtles eat lettuce?
Reeve's turtles enjoy insects like mealworms, crickets, locusts, and cockroaches. Just make sure that the insects are gut-loaded and dusted with calcium powder. What is this? Leafy greens like water lettuce, duckweed, and water hyacinth are much-appreciated as well.
Do Reeves turtles need a heat lamp?
This Allows the turtle to dry off, warm up, absorb UVB and rest. A good basking spot should be around 80oF and provide sufficient UV. All Turtles require additional UVB lighting. Reeves turtles require UVB light in order to synthesise vitamin D.
How deep should the water be for a Reeves turtle?
The water depth should be no less than 1.5 times the length of the turtle shell and no more than 3 times the length. As these turtles are semiaquatic, they require a large area of water with a suitable land area to bask.
Can Reeves turtles eat cucumber?
Yes it can. You can feed cucumber to your aquatic turtles as long as they are in good health and not overweight.
Can Reeves turtles drown?
Yes, absolutely. Although turtles can remain underwater for long periods of time, they cannot breathe underwater. Under the right circumstances, turtles can drown.
What does a baby turtle need?
They require a habitat with plenty of clean water for swimming as well as dry land where they can rest, hide and bask in the sun. A tank that can hold at least 40 gallons should give your pet turtle an adequate amount of room to move around in.
Do I leave my turtle light on all night?
Many turtle owners wonder if they need to keep the light on in their turtle's tank at night. Luckily, the answer to that is no. Your turtle will be just fine if the light is turned off during night time hours. It is actually recommended that they are exposed to a natural amount of light and darkness each day.
How long does it take for a Reeves turtle to grow?
While it depends on the species of turtle and their living conditions, most turtles reach their full size between the age of 5 and 8 years. The growth of a turtle is not necessarily linear. This means that a turtle will achieve the most growth in the first 4 years of life.
How do you take care of a baby Reeve turtle?
At a minimum, a single baby or Reeve's turtle should be provided about 5 gallons of water volume; this does not mean a 5 gallon tank, but at least a 10 or 15 gallon tank partially filled so that there are actually 5 gallons of water. Increase the volume of water by 2-3 gallons for each additional baby turtle.
How do you tell if a Reeves turtle is male or female?
The most common way to determine gender in a turtle is to look at the length of its tail. 3 Female turtles have short and skinny tails while males sport long, thick tails, with their vent (cloaca) positioned closer to the end of the tail when compared to a female.
How can you tell the age of a Reeves turtle?
To tell a turtle's age, start by counting the number of rings inside one of the scales on the turtle's shell. Then, divide that number in half to get a general estimate of the turtle's age. You can also estimate a turtle's age using its size.
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.
Can you feed water turtles lettuce?
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.
Do freshwater turtles eat lettuce?
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 I feed my baby turtle lettuce?
What can a baby turtle eat? You can feed land baby turtles freshy leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce and cabbage, as well as food you can buy for them at the pet store.
What are some good foods for a Reeve's turtle?
You can provide some snacks to supplement commercial food. Reeve’s turtles enjoy insects like mealworms, crickets, locusts, and cockroaches. Just make sure that the insects are gut-loaded and dusted with calcium powder.
What is a Reeve's turtle?
The Reeve’s turtle ( Mauremys reevesii) is an easy-going reptile that’s a joy to watch. The semi-aquatic species is very active and spends time on land and in the water. While not the most colorful turtle out there, these pint-sized creatures certainly make cute pets that even novice reptile-owners can care for.
How many gallons of water do you need for a turtle tank?
For adults , you’ll need 20 gallons for a single turtle and an additional 10 gallons for each one thereafter. Expert Tip: Keep in mind, the water volume doesn’t reflect the overall volume of the tank since these reptiles need both water and land in their enclosure.
How long do Reeve turtles live?
With proper care, you can expect the lifespan of a Reeve’s turtle to be between 10 and 15 years. They are capable of living a bit longer on occasion, with this species reportedly reaching the 20 year mark from time to time (however, those instances are quite rare).
What temperature should a turtle be in the water?
On the opposite side of the enclosure, ambient air temperatures should be around 75 to 85 degrees. Finally, the water should be around 70 to 80 degrees. Creating these three zones let your Reeve’s turtle thermoregulate as needed.
How deep should a turtle enclosure be?
The enclosure needs to be partially filled to a depth based on your turtle’s size. The water depth should be no less than 1.5 times the length of your turtle.
How big should a turtle tank be?
For a single turtle, we recommend a tank that’s at least 24 inches long by 12 inches tall. Larger is always better though, so it’s good to get a tank that fits your space while still respecting the minimum size. One of the most important aspects of the enclosure setup is going to be water depth.
Male VS. Female
Reeves Turtles are one of the hardest turtles to sex as there is very little sexual dimorphism between males and females. However, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible, and the real differentiating factor lies with the turtle’s plastron (their underside).
Identification
Reeves Turtles have many features that make them pretty easy to identify. First off, they have a carapace that ranges in color from olive green to tan and sometimes even black. You might also notice subtle color-smudging along the carapace resulting in color contrast.
As a Pet
Reeves Turtles are one of the most popular species of turtle, especially amongst people looking to build a collection of exotic animals. The main reason for this is because they grow to an ultimate size of around 6-inches, so they are easy to manage and don’t require as much space as larger turtles.
Lifespan
When kept in captivity, you can expect a Reeves Turtle to live at least 10-15 years. However, this is dependent on them receiving proper diet, housing, and care. When given the correct living conditions, some Reeves Turtles have been known to live for up to 20 years!
Adaptations
One interesting adaptation that Reeves Turtles have developed is a broad head paired with a huge jaw musculature of the megalocephala. It is believed that this adaptation allows them to feed more efficiently on mollusks and crustaceans in the wild.
Breeding Season
The Reeves Turtle breeding season usually begins in early spring, typically around March, and commences throughout mid-summer before coming to an end in July.
Eggs
Once fertilization has successfully been achieved, a very brief gestation period will take place and the female will be ready to nest within 1-2 months. During this time, you may notice that the gravid female loses interest in feeding.
How many eggs do Reeves turtles lay?
Reeves Turtle Eggs. The cluster of eggs laid primarily ranges from 2 to 6 eggs, depending adequately on the size and fertility of the female. Larger females, who are most frequently 9 inches in size, lay larger eggs.
What do Reeves eat?
They also ravenously enjoy tearing into water lettuce, duckweed, and water hyacinth in a voracious, messy manner. Most of the commercially available turtle diets as well as catfish foods make great foods for Reeves turtles.
Why are Reeves turtles kept in predator proof places?
In spite of their protective carapace, the Reeves turtles are largely housed in predator proof places to keep them away from carnivorous pets such as cats and dogs and protect them from possums and raccoons or any other predators.
What is the shape of a Reeves turtle?
The carapace of Reeves turtles is slightly more rectangular in shape than the regular round shape . The carapace customarily displays an array of olive green color which varies from a darker tan color to even black at times.
How long do Reeves live?
The average lifespan of the Reeves turtle ranges from 10-15 years on the average. Studies have shown that with proper diet and care they have even lived up to 20 years.
What do pond turtles eat?
These turtles feast on anything and are not very picky with food so make good pets. Earthworms, bloodworms, cricket, and feeder fish along with kale and romaine lettuce can easily be fed to them.
What temperature should a turtle's water be?
Water temperature should be about 70 to 80 Fahrenheit. The basking area should also be provided, and the temperature should be kept at about 80 Fahrenheit. Here is a review of the best UVB bulbs for turtles to help you in choosing the lighting setup.
Jenkittytech
Hi! I'm new here and wondered if someone could share their experience or expertise in regards to Reeves turtle feeding. I've had "Bowser " for a couple of months, and was told he was approximately one year old when I got him. His previous owner got him and a sibling as hatchlings and opted to rehome one as they grew due to dominance issues.
Kelli101
Congrats on your new baby! I'm excited to see to see the responses here as I've been interested in those little guys for awhile now but they seem to be lacking in the info department.
Jenkittytech
Thanks Kelli! I can tell you he is a sweet, personable little guy, but an avid beggar, and no indicator of how often he should be fed! I'm certain he'd eat 10 times daily if I offered it, which is why I know I initially overfed...He is an adorable little beggar that dives into the water, swims straight to the front of his aquarium, and puts his little feet on the glass and stares at me...and I hated to tell him no!.
Jenkittytech
I've read the available care sheets, but I don't know where he is in development. He's not a hatchling at over 1 year...at what age is he classified an adolescent? An adult? What should I look for in his development to indicate how frequently I should be feeding?
Jenkittytech
And again, I've read WHAT to feed, but nothing seems to indicate HOW MUCH to feed, and everything pertaining to frequency is attached to the terms hatchling/adolescent/adult, but without clear indicators of what constitutes those time periods.
Jenkittytech
Thanks Bethany! I hope you enjoy your Reeves! My "Bowser" is so much fun to watch. I'm not sure if you have any previous experience with turtles...I didn't, and if I could recommend only one thing, too much filtration is better than too little! I was shocked at what a messy eater a turtle could be!
TobyTurtle
I am getting a reeves for christmas and was stressing a lot about how much to feed it but after reading this it was all gods
What do Reeves turtles eat?
Diet. The reeves turtle will eat a range of aquatic foods, meat products and livefood. They can also be fed dried foods when the fresh or live options are not available. The dried food should be created with shrimp or meat protien rather than vegetation.
What to use to cover a turtle?
Giving the turtles partial cover and a mixture of weighted and floating decorations provide great enrichment and help the turtle feel secure. Large pebbles, coated gravel or riverbed sand can be used to line the bottom of the enclosure. It is adviseable to clean any substrate before placing it into the enclosure.
Why do turtles need UV light?
All Turtles require additional UVB lighting.Reeves turtles require UVB light in order to synthesise vitamin D. Without vitamin D (in particular D3) reeves turtles are not able to metabolise calcium properly causing problems with bone growth. A spot light and UV tube can be used over the basking area of the turtle.
How big do Reeves turtles grow?
This is because they will need fully submerged sections without risk of warping or leaking. The reeves turtle can grow to 100mm (4.5'') long and needs a proportional amount of space to live happily. For this reason we suggest a tank with at least 600mm in width.
How hot should a peninsular turtle be?
This Allows the turtle to dry off, warm up, absorb UVB and rest. A good basking spot should be around 80 o F and provide sufficient UV.
How tall should a turtle tank be?
The tank should also be tall enough to provide areas for the turtle to swim so we suggest a minimum height of around 300mm. A ramp and dock should be used to ensure the turtle has a space to get out of the water and bask.
When do Reeves turtles breed?
Reeve’s turtles breed readily in captivity, and are frequently produced by hobbyists and, especially in China, turtle farms alike. As with most temperate species, Reeve’s turtle breeding is seasonally restricted to spring and summer, so captive bred babies are most commonly available from May through September. However, given the significant numbers of babies produced annually, they are usually available year-round, and their pricing is relatively low for an exotic species.
How long do Reeve's turtles live?
With proper diet, housing, and care, one can reasonably expect their Reeve’s turtle to live for at least 10-15 years.
How deep should a Reeve's turtle be?
However, water that is too shallow presents a potential drowning hazard as well, because the turtle may not be able to right itself if it gets turned upside-down. So the water depth should never be less than about 1.5 times the length of the turtle’s shell. A basking area, on which the turtle can leave the water completely, with a good basking light to help the turtle thermoregulate, is an absolute must. An underwater hiding place should be provided as well, with care taken to ensure that the turtle cannot get trapped and drown. Non-toxic live or plastic plants can be provided for hiding and foraging, though the turtles will eventually shred any live plants whether they eat them or not. Although the tank bottom can be left bare, substrate (sand, gravel, etc.) can be used but should be sized such that it either cannot be swallowed or will pass easily through the turtle’s digestive tract.
What is the ratio of calcium to phosphate in turtles?
Calcium (Ca) to phosphate (Ph) ratio at least 2:1. Vitamin and mineral supplementation. Reeve’s turtles are omnivorous, and in addition to prepared foods they will accept both animal and plant matter with equal enthusiasm.
Can Reeve's turtles cohabitate with other turtles?
Although not truly social animals, Reeve’s turtles are capable of cohabitating with turtles of their own and other species with similar housing needs. Both sexes can exhibit dominant or territorial aggression, but this behavior is usually not severe enough to inflict serious injury as long as adequate space and hiding areas are provided. Still, it may be necessary to provide a larger habitat or even entirely isolate offending turtles if consistent aggression is noted.
Do turtles need UV light?
A household outlet timer can be employed to cycle the lighting on and off to provide a reasonable day/night cycle, and can be adjusted periodically to the appropriate seasonal photoperiod. The sun will of course provide heat and UV rays for turtles maintained outdoors, and no further lighting is necessary.
What Is A Baby Box Turtle?
Box turtles are one of the most common turtles species on the eastern coast of the United States. They are often seen in the wild in marshes, along ponds and lakes, and near rivers and streams.
What Does A Baby Box Turtle Eat In The Wild?
In North America, there are six species of box turtles found in wooded areas. What they eat depends largely on which part of the United States they live in. Still, all box turtles are omnivorous, and they eat the same basic diet:
Best Baby Box Turtle Food: What To Feed Baby Box Turtles
Baby box turtles are more carnivorous than their adult counterparts. They require a more specialized diet and need more protein while they grow.
What Is A Healthy Baby Box Turtle Diet?
In captivity, box turtles still prefer the same diet they would get in the wild. It is understandable, however, that you may not want to catch wild bugs for them, and you shouldn’t. Anything wild should be avoided because it may contain pesticides or disease.
What Can Box Turtles Not Eat?
If you’re wondering what you can’t feed your box turtles, just ask yourself, “can this be found in the wild?” A good rule of thumb is that, if something is not found in the wild, you shouldn’t feed it to your turtle. There are some exceptions, of course.
How To Feed A Baby Box Turtle
Feeding a baby box turtle can be a frustrating process because they tend to be quite picky. Although they need vegetables and fruits in their diet, they will often reject them. Instead, they focus on meaty and protein-based foods.
How Often Should You Feed A Baby Box Turtle?
Box turtles love to eat, so you want to make sure that you don’t overfeed them. It’s best to only feed them once every other day. To keep them full and happy, you can feed them small snacks in between days.
Species Summary
Average Reeve’s Turtle Size
Lifespan
Appearance & Colors
Reeve’s Turtle Care
Tank Size
Habitat & Tank Setup
Temperature & Lighting
Humidity
- The humidity levels for a Reeve’s turtle needs to be quite high. You’ll want to aim for 70 to 90 percent. While this might seem high at first (especially compared to other types of pet reptiles), it’s pretty easy to achieve in a semi-aquatic environment. This is because the presence of water naturally helps facilitate a high level of humidity witho...
Water