what to feed little baby turtles

by Tyson Mraz Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Baby land turtles should be fed finely chopped vegetables and commercial food.
Aquatic turtles should be fed in a separate tank to maintain the integrity of the water in their main tank.
Feeder fish and crickets are good meals for your baby turtles
Your baby turtles need vitamins and minerals, and you can provide this through supplements
Feed your baby turtles twice or thrice daily
Clear the food after half an hour to prevent your turtle from messing it up.

Full Answer

What would you feed a baby fresh-water turtle?

Give the turtle food. Turtle pellets should be broken into fourths as a baby turtle's mouth is smaller and you don't want it to choke. Any fruits bigger than a blueberry should be mashed or cut up to prevent choking. Vitamin and calcium supplements are sometimes recommended for young turtles to make sure they're getting adequate nutrition. ...

What kind of food do baby turtles eat?

What Do Baby Turtles Eat at The Home Aquarium?

Earthworms. Earthworms are not good food for turtles. ...
Crickets. When it comes to the food that baby turtles eat, crickets are a common choice among turtle owners. ...
Insects. – Reptiles such as turtles have a diverse diet that includes insects. ...
Fish Eggs. ...
Snails. ...
Slugs. ...
Frozen Fish Food Pellets. ...

What do you feed baby aquatic turtles?

Feed land baby turtles a combination of commercially produced food and fresh leafy vegetables, such as romaine lettuce and cabbage. Make sure you chop the food into tiny pieces. Feed your aquatic baby turtle in a smaller feeding tank. Aquatic baby turtle are sloppy eaters and they relieve themselves in the middle of their meals.

Can you feed baby turtles betta fish food?

Betta fish should not be kept with turtles, because turtles eat fish and even though your pet turtle might look harmful in the beginning, one day, if gets a chance, will eat your adorable betta fish. Here is a cool video showing a Betta sharing the tank with two adorable baby turtles. They seem being able to stand each other, but it is just a ...

What does tiny baby turtles eat?

Baby turtles can eat the same kinds of proteins adults can: earthworms, snails, slugs, grasshoppers, beetles, and crayfish. Ask your local pet store if they have live food for reptiles, and this is where you can buy it.

What fruit do baby turtles eat?

If you have a herbivorous or omnivorous turtle, give it a variety of vegetables and fruits in addition to pellets. Kale, lettuce, carrots, strawberries, and melon are all good choices.

What do baby turtles need to survive?

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.

How do you feed a baby pet turtle?

Feed your pet baby turtle "feeder fish and crickets" for some meals. Feed baby turtles two or three times a day. Leave your baby turtle's food in the tank for a half hour, and then remove what's left. You can feed it to your turtle again later.

What vegetables can baby turtles eat?

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.

Do baby turtles drink water?

Yes, turtles do drink water. Just like most living beings, turtles also require water for their survival. Water is essential for the many of their vital metabolic processes.

Can I keep a baby turtle I found?

0:031:36How to Care for a Wild Turtle | Pet Turtles - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's best to just leave it there there are actually laws protecting most of our native turtle andMoreIt's best to just leave it there there are actually laws protecting most of our native turtle and tortoise species in this country.

Can baby turtles eat bananas?

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 ...

How do you take care of a baby turtle at home?

How to Care for a Pet TurtleSet Up a Tank. A turtle's indoor habitat should be at least 40 gallons to allow for growth to adult size. ... Set Up Temperature Control. ... Find Out How Much Your Turtle Should Hibernate. ... Provide Food. ... Clean Tank and Change Water Frequently. ... Do Not Play with Your Turtle Often. ... Wash Your Hands.

How long can baby turtles 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.

Can baby turtles eat bread?

Turtles Can't Digest Bread Since turtles eat animal and plant-based matter, you might not think about dairy being such a bad choice. However, dairy products contain lactose, which your turtles cannot break down in their system, as their bodies do not have the correct enzymes to make that happen.

Do baby turtles eat grass?

Baby Turtles in Nature Since turtles are omnivores, the best-replicated turtle diet is of lean raw meat, grasses and greens, and the occasional fruit.

What fruit do turtles like?

Can baby turtles eat strawberries?

And if you're wondering whether or not these turtles should be going to town on fruit, don't worry animal fans — strawberries are perfectly safe for turtles to eat. In fact turtles love a variety of fruits and veggies, especially tropical fruit like papaya, guava, and banana.

What fruits and vegetables can 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.

What human food do 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.

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 do you call a baby turtle?

Baby turtles are called hatchlings.

Is my baby turtle a boy or girl?

The turtle's cloaca may provide a clue as to its gender. Females tend to have a cloaca located closer to their body that's shaped a bit like a star...

Do baby tortoises bite?

Yes, they may bite for various reasons.

Is it illegal to have a baby turtle?

Selling small turtles in the U.S. has been illegal since 1975, and some states don't allow you to have a turtle. The Humane Society advises calling...

What do land turtles eat?

Feed land baby turtles a combination of commercially produced food and fresh leafy vegetables, such as romaine lettuce and cabbage. Make sure you chop the food into tiny pieces. Feed your aquatic baby turtle in a smaller feeding tank.

What is the best vitamin for baby turtles?

Give baby turtles vitamin supplements, especially vitamin D , which is good for shell development. It's also good to keep baby turtles in the sunshine, so they can get natural vitamin D [source: Schreiber ]. Originally Published: Jun 2, 2011.

Do baby turtles need special care?

Baby turtles are cute little creatures that require totally different care than adult turtles, needing a lot of special care to keep them alive and healthy. They're prone to many diseases and carry many disease-carrying germs [source: CDC ]. You have to feed a baby turtle food that is available in the pet store, ...

Where is the cloaca on a turtle?

Females tend to have a cloaca located closer to their body that's shaped a bit like a star, while males have more of a straight line for a cloaca, which resides near the tip of the tail .

Is it illegal to sell a turtle?

Selling small turtles in the U.S. has been illegal since 1975, and some states don't allow you to have a turtle. The Human Society advises calling your local animal shelter or animal control to learn about turtle ownership laws. .

How to keep baby turtles from eating?

Aquatic baby turtles are sloppy eaters, and they relieve themselves in the middle of their meals. Therefore, they are bound to dirty their aquarium. #3 Give your turtle feeder fish and crickets for some meals. #4 Feed baby turtles two or three times a day. #5 Remember to leave your baby turtle’s food in the tank for half an hour ...

How to feed a turtle live crickets?

Feeding your turtle live crickets can seem a little tricky, but it helps to replicate how a turtle would eat in the wild. Feeding an aquatic turtle small live fish helps to stimulate the turtle and give him some exercise. Using vegetables that float is preferable to those that sink for an aquatic turtle. If you dust your food with ...

What to feed a baby turtle?

So, here are some pointers on how to feed baby turtles: #1 First, Feed land baby turtles, a combination of commercially produced food and fresh leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and cabbage, and make sure you chop the food into tiny pieces. #2 Feed your aquatic baby turtle in a smaller feeding tank. Aquatic baby turtles are sloppy eaters, and they ...

What do water turtles eat?

Water turtles can feed on vegetables and fruits. Also, provide live food to the turtle. This is an integral part of their diet so be sure to have a regular supply of animal-based food for your turtle, including live feed. These live foods include crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and other small grubs and insects.

Why should you clean your turtle's food?

Whenever you give them food, you should make sure to clean the feeding area. This is because leftover food decay, and this is not healthy for a turtle.

Do turtles eat pellets?

If you are trying to replicate how a turtle would feed in the wild, however, the pellets are less authentic than fresh greens and insects. If you use pellets, try to make them part of a balance with fresh food. Think of pellets as forming the only the foundation of the diet.

Do turtles eat the same amount of food?

No two turtles will eat the same amount of food, so recommendations on the amount to provide have to be generalized. In that case, it’s important to note that young turtles should be fed often. Juvenile turtles, a term that most describes baby turtles, need lots of food and need to be fed most often than mature turtles.

What is the most common semiaquatic turtle?

Red-Eared Sliders. One of the most common semiaquatic turtles currently in the pet industry is the red-eared slider. Like their box turtle brethren, adult sliders are omnivores, but with their primary habitat being lakes, ponds and streams, sliders have access to different sources of meat and plants.

What do box turtles eat?

Named for their hinged shell, which they can close around their head, legs and tail, sealing themselves up like a box, box turtles as adults are omnivorous -- they eat plants and meat. As hatchlings, however, box turtles will prefer meat over greens.

How often should I feed a semi-aquatic turtle?

Feeding Semi-Aquatic Turtles. Feed baby and juvenile semi-aquatic turtles daily and adults every two to three days. Feed semi-aquatic turtles, like box turtles and Reeve's turtles, off a shallow plate or slate tile, on land. Wait until mid-morning, after the turtle has had time to wake up and warm up before feeding.

How long can a turtle live without food?

If Your Turtle Won't Eat. In the wild, some tortoises can survive without food up to three months. How long a turtle can survive with no access to food also depends upon his stored fat pads. For younger turtles, bring out the tasty big guns with live protein such as crickets, mealworms and beetles.

What to do if your turtle refuses to eat?

If all else fails, and your pet turtle is simply refusing to eat, get him to your reptile vet for a full blood checkup. There, the doctor will check for common culprits such as parasites, infections or vitamin deficiencies.

How long do squid refuse to eat?

They likely will refuse all plant matter for the first 8 to 10 weeks, but they instinctively know what vitamins and minerals they need and will adjust their diet when their internal clock tells them to. Allow feeding for an hour and remove uneaten morsels to keep the area clean.

Is a red footed tortoise an omnivore?

Red-Footed Tortoise. While land and semiaquatic turtles grow up to be omnivores, tortoises remain herbivores for their entire lives. In this class, the most common pet is the red-footed tortoise. Because they are vegetarians, ensuring the proper balance of vitamins and minerals is key.

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 ...

Where can I find crickets?

You can easily find crickets, earthworms, mealworms, guppies, and rosy red minnows at your local pet stores and bait shops. I have even found earthworms at my local Walmart! Pet stores also often have duckweed, water hyacinths, and water weeds. Fruits and veggies can be found at your local grocery store!

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;

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.

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 iceberg lettuce?

Turtles can eat romaine lettuce, but not iceberg. Iceberg lettuce does not give turtles any nutritional value, but it makes them feel full, so they do not seek out other food. It is best to feed wild turtles and pet turtles romaine lettuce, because they get nutritional value from eating this veggie.

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.

What do baby turtles eat?

People always ask, “What do baby turtles eat”? The answer is simple baby turtle food of course. But seriously baby turtles require a special diet when it comes to feeding them properly. They will usually take to lettuce of all kinds except for iceberg, worms, krill, river shrimp, mealworms and pellet food. Variety is the best thing for your baby turtles diet. We know that you can’t always go out in the yard and dig for worms and they are so messy anyway. Pellet turtle food is one of the easiest ways to feed your baby turtle. Our Premium Aquatic Baby Turtle Food has all the vitamins and minerals in it that a baby turtle needs. It is high in protein yet low in fat for optimal growth and development in young turtles, and of course it is the same baby aquatic turtle food that we feed our own baby turtles. This turtle food is now available in a 20 gram. tube all the way up to a 20lb. bag. A 20 gram. tube of turtle food will last one baby turtle for about 1 month when used daily. When feeding your turtles we have found that it is best to feed them out side of their habitat. This will put a lot less work on your turtle tank filter. Simply take your turtle and place it into a bowl of water and add 2 to 4 pellets of food to the water. Give your baby turtle some time to eat, about 20 minutes is enough time. Then simple put it back in its habitat. Be sure to scrub your hands with warm soapy water after handling your turtle. Myturtlestore.com ships turtle food anywhere in the United States, we use both Ups and the U.S Mail to get it to your home or office fast and on time. So now the next time someone ask " What do baby turtles eat ", you will know the answer.

How long does a 20 gram tube of turtle food last?

This turtle food is now available in a 20 gram. tube all the way up to a 20lb. bag. A 20 gram. tube of turtle food will last one baby turtle for about 1 month when used daily. When feeding your turtles we have found that it is best to feed them out side of their habitat. This will put a lot less work on your turtle tank filter.

Can you feed a baby turtle pellet food?

We know that you can’t always go out in the yard and dig for worms and they are so messy anyway. Pellet turtle food is one of the easiest ways to feed your baby turtle. Our Premium Aquatic Baby Turtle Food has all the vitamins and minerals in it that a baby turtle needs.

Turtle Facts

There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to turtles versus tortoises, but the easiest way to keep them straight is that most turtles are aquatic or semi-aquatic. There are exceptions to this, like the Eastern Box Turtle, but generally speaking, tortoises are terrestrial and turtles are aquatic.

Are Baby Turtles Good Pets?

Baby turtles do not make particularly good pets, even though they’re cute as a button. Most turtles are not big on being handled and it can stress them, leading to health problems and even aggression. Most turtles are best left alone except when otherwise needed for enclosure maintenance, feeding, or healthcare.

Where Can I Get a Baby Turtle?

Most big box pet stores sell turtles that are usually babies or juveniles, depending on the species. You may be able to find a baby turtle at local aquatics or pet stores as well, although they may be more difficult to find this way. A surefire way of acquiring a baby turtle is through breeders and online shops.

How Much Does It Cost To Own a Baby Turtle?

To purchase a baby turtle, you will likely spend a minimum of $50. If you are purchasing a unique shell pattern or species, then you can spend $500 or more. When you get a baby turtle, it may be tempting to purchase a small enclosure since the turtle is so small.

What Kind of Home Does My Baby Turtle Need?

For aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles, you will need a watertight aquarium that is, at minimum, 29 gallons. For terrestrial turtles, you will need a tank that allows for a vivarium setup, but it should be within the same size range as tanks for aquatic turtles.

What Should I Feed My Baby Turtle?

All baby turtles are omnivorous, but terrestrial and aquatic baby turtles have different dietary needs. Terrestrial baby turtles tend to eat more veggies than aquatic turtles do. They should be offered chopped leafy greens, like romaine lettuce, fruits, like melon, and commercial turtle food.

How Do I Take Care of My Baby Turtle?

Feed your baby turtle 2-3 times daily and remove uneaten food. Some people recommend placing aquatic turtles into a separate tank for meals because they can be very messy and have a tendency to defecate while eating.