what to feed eastern box turtles

Eastern box turtles kept as pets should be fed a similar diet as their wild counterparts, including fruits and vegetables like:

• Kale
• Blackberries and raspberries
• Green beans
• Apples (with the seeds removed)
• Collard greens
• Squash and zucchini
• Grapes
• Spinach

Full Answer

What do eastern box turtles eat in the wild?

What Vegetables Can Box Turtles Eat?

• Radish Tops
• Romaine Lettuce
• Savoy
• Shredded Squashes
• Spinach
• Sweet Potatoes
• Swiss Chard
• Thawed Frozen Mixed Vegetables
• Turnip Tops
• Watercress

What to feed your box turtle?

• Dark leafy greens, such as collard greens, mustard greens, parsley, endive/escarole, dandelion greens, beet tops, spinach, and kale (but be aware of the oxalates in the type of greens you ...
• Chinese and green cabbage
• Green beans
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Grapes
• Apples (with skin but not seeds)
• Papaya
• Butternut squash

More items...

What is the life span of an eastern box turtle?

Eastern box turtles usually live 40 years, but can live over 100 years.

What do you need for a box turtle?

What Goes Inside My Box Turtle Habitat?

• Substrate. Box turtle substrate, or bedding, helps retain moisture and heat in your enclosure. ...
• Heat Lamp. If your box turtle is living in an outdoor enclosure, make sure to put their pen in a partially sunny spot in the yard.
• UV Lamp. An indoor box turtle doesn’t have access to sunlight and requires a UV lamp. ...
• Water and Food Dishes. ...
• Decor. ...

What does an eastern box turtle eat?

Feeding. Juvenile eastern box turtles feed mostly on animal material, such as slugs, worms, insects and larvae. As adults, they eat mainly plant material, such as seeds, fruits, roots, fungi and grasses. Adults are also known to feed on carrion, fish, amphibians and eggs.

What can you not feed an eastern box turtle?

Avoid light green vegetables, including iceberg or head lettuce and celery, as they are composed mainly of fiber and water with few nutrients. The inner, light-colored parts of some vegetables are less nutritious than the darker green outer leaves, so they should not be offered.

What can I feed a box turtle in my yard?

Box turtles are omnivores. Diet in the wild includes insects, grubs, worms, snails, slugs, crustaceans, eggs, carrion, mushrooms, flowers, fruit and other plant material. Captive box turtles may be fed a diet that is 50% mixed fresh vegetables with some fruit, and 50% low fat protein like canned low-fat dog food.

How often do eastern box turtles eat?

Young turtles need to be fed a full meal every or every other day. Healthy adults only need to be fed full meals every 2-3 days. Box turtles will appreciate a small snack on the days when they go without a full meal.

What human food can turtles eat?

They especially like leafy green veggies, so kale, collard greens, and mustard greens are both healthy and delicious for them. They'll also chow down on carrots, squash, green beans, and peas. As far as fruits go, you can give them bananas, apples, and pears, among other things.

Do box turtles eat bananas?

Yes, bananas are a safe food for box turtles and other turtles as well, but they should only be fed in moderation.

How do you feed a wild box turtle?

A wide variety of fruits and vegetables should be offered to your box turtle daily in order to provide a balanced diet. Items should be clean and pesticide free and some people strongly recommend feeding only organic items.

Can I keep a box turtle in my yard?

Ideally, box turtles should be kept outdoors in a backyard or in a purpose-built enclosure. Fencing around the yard or enclosure must be secure enough to protect the turtle from dogs and other potential predators. Box turtles can dig under or climb over fences.

Can I keep a box turtle I found?

Box turtles can make great pets if cared for properly. Before bringing any pet – reptile or other - home, be sure to do research to learn about its requirements, so that you can properly care for it. Most box turtles do not get very large (unlike tortoises).

What is a turtle's favorite food?

Plant food sources. Plant-based food sources for your pet turtle should mostly be leafy greens like collards, dandelions, and mustard greens. Some of these vegetables, such as chives, parsley, and spinach, contain high levels of chemicals called oxalates, which you should avoid.

How long can a box turtle go 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.

Do Eastern box turtles like water?

Box turtles need constant access to water for drinking, wading, and soaking. Your turtle should have a water-‐filled dish or pan large enough for it to soak in but shallow enough for it to easily climb in and out of.

Can You Have an Eastern Box Turtle as a Pet?

Yes, eastern box turtles are commonly kept as a pet. Most pet turtles are caught in the wild and sold to pet stores. Depending on the climate, east...

Do Box Turtles Lay Eggs in the Ground?

Female box turtles lay their eggs in nests that they dig in the ground. Egg-laying season is typically around May or June. The mother turtles will...

What is the Lifespan of Eastern Box Turtles?

Eastern box turtles live 25 to 35 years on average. When in captivity, they often live to over 100 years old when well-cared for. Living in the wil...

How Often Should I Feed My Eastern Box Turtle?

Most young turtles eat daily, while older turtles can be fed daily or every other day, depending upon the pet’s individual appetite, body weight, and overall health.

What Types Of Plants Can I Feed My Eastern Turtle?

Most (80-90%) of the plant material fed to box turtles should be vegetables and flowers, and only 10-20% should be fruit. As a rule, dark, leafy greens should make up the largest part of the diet. Yellow, red, and orange vegetables can also be included.

What Animal-Based Protein Foods I Can Offer My Turtle?

Depending on the age, breed, and health status of your box turtle, your veterinarian may or may not recommend feeding animal-based protein sources. When offered, some appropriate animal-based protein sources include grasshoppers, crickets, mealworms, wax worms, silkworms, moths, slugs, earthworms, and hard-boiled eggs.

Do I Need To Give My Box Turtle Vitamins And Minerals?

Like most reptiles, turtles require more dietary calcium than phosphorus. Most veterinarians recommend lightly sprinkling the vegetable matter offered to the box turtle with a calcium powder (calcium gluconate, lactate, or carbonate) 2-3 times per week.

Diet

Box turtles are omnivores. Diet in the wild includes insects, grubs, worms, snails, slugs, crustaceans, eggs, carrion, mushrooms, flowers, fruit and other plant material.

What are some good foods for box turtles?

The following list is a variety of fruits and vegetables (listed in no particular order) that have good calcium to phosphorus ratios and are suitable for box turtles to have included in their diets. Dark leafy greens, such as collard greens, mustard greens, parsley, endive/escarole, dandelion greens, beet tops, spinach, ...

What do box turtles eat?

Box turtles are omnivores, which means they will eat a variety of both animal and plant-based foods. The proportions of animal versus plant-based food items will depend on both the age and the species of box turtle that you are feeding.

What is the best ratio for calcium for turtles?

The items with the calcium greater than 1.0 are those which have a good ratio and should be emphasized in the diet. As an example, bananas (a favorite of many turtles) have a ratio of 0.3:1 (which is low) so this means they should be fed in moderation.

Do turtles need vitamin D3?

Turtles kept outdoors under natural sunlight will produce their own Vitamin D3 and won't need this vitamin supplemented, but calcium is still beneficial in order to prevent metabolic bone disease if you are not providing a well-rounded diet.

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.