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.
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.
What is the best food for turtles?
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. Most importantly, the food must have a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2:1. Those nutrients are paramount for good health.
Are Reeves turtles omnivores?
So, while Reeves turtles are omnivorous and will happily feed on aquatic plants and animals, they are able to consume this hard-to-eat but readily available prey with greater ease. Reeves Turtles have also developed an adaptation that allows them to live exclusively in the water. Ironically, however, they aren’t actually very good swimmers!
How often should I feed a 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 Reeves turtles eat mealworms?
Reeves turtles have a big appetite, and will eat most things, including greens, crickets, meal worms, blood worms and commercial turtle food pellets.
Do Reeve turtles like to be held?
Like most species in their family, Reeve's turtles don't enjoy being handled. They'll tolerate it when necessary, but you should never hold them for more than a few minutes.
How do you keep a turtle Reeves?
Reeves Turtle care sheetHousing: a turtle terrarium of at least 60cm in length.Heating: basking temperature of 100oF and intense UVB.Water Maintenance:temperature of 80oF and a strong filter.Diet: carnivorous mix of shrimp, meat and insects.Decoration: basking platform with a ramp.
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.
How much water does a Reeves turtle need?
For an adult turtle kept indoors, a 20 gallon aquarium tank should be appropriate. The tank should have a swim area and a basking area. The swim area should have water that is 20 to 40cm deep. The basking area refers to an area above water where the turtle can get completely out of the water to dry off and absorb heat.
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.
Can turtles recognize their owners?
Turtles Know Their Owners! Most people don't realize this, but many turtles recognize the sight and sounds of their owners! In fact, many owners comment how their pets swim right up to the water surface to greet them when they walk in the room.
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 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.
Can I feed my turtle mealworms?
Turtles can eat mealworms as food. However, these are not a good staple to feed them all the time because of the high protein and because they can produce more waste than they can handle in some cases. They can be used occasionally for treats however.
Do turtles eat dried mealworms?
Freeze dried meal worms are an excellent food source for your aquatic and box turtles, and offer the natural nutrition they require. Being preservative and additive-free, dried mealworms will help keep your turtles healthy and happy.
Can aquatic turtles eat live mealworms?
Depending on the size of the turtle, amphibians such as tadpoles and frogs can be offered, as can earthworms, snails, slugs, beetles, grasshoppers, moths, crickets, mealworms, wax worms, and other insects.
How many meal worms do you feed a baby turtle?
How many worms can pet turtles eat? Turtles generally require 12-14% of their diet to be natural proteins like worms. The amount varies on the type of turtle, age, and the conditions in which the turtle lives. So, you should feed your captive turtle worms only once or twice a week.
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 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 temperature should a turtle be at?
It should reach temperatures of 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Some turtles may prefer slightly higher temperatures of 100 degrees.
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.
What is the best food for a turtle?
Commercial turtle food is usually the best way to go. Look for a nutritionally balanced diet that covers all of their needs.
What to do if you have a Reeves turtle?
If you have a pet Reeves Turtle and you notice any of these issues, take them to your veterinarian immediately.
How many eggs do Reeves turtles produce?
A female Reeves Turtle will typically produce two clutches of eggs per breeding season, although this is obviously much easier to prevent when kept in captivity. The number of eggs produced will also decrease with each clutch.
How long does it take for a Reeves turtle to grow?
Reeves Turtles grow at a relatively slow rate, and it can take as long as three years for a hatchling to reach just 2.5-inches long. This is one of the reasons why they are such a popular exotic pet. It’s also worth noting that a Reeves Turtle is unlikely to reach a size longer than 6-inches when fully grown.
Why are Reeves turtles endangered?
This is solely due to hunting, as the Reeves Turtle is used for both food and medicine in its native China.
How big do Reeves turtles get?
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.
What is the plastron of a Reeves turtle?
A male Reeves Turtle has a nominally concave plastron. A female Reeves Turtle has a flat plastron, although it might also be slightly convex.
What is the number one predator of the Reeves Turtle?
In the wild, the number one predator of the Reeves Turtle is humans and their exploitation of them for food and medicine has seen them given an endangered species status. They also face predation from possums, raccoons, dogs, and cats.
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.
How big do Reeves turtles get?
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.
Why do peninsular turtles need UV light?
A good basking spot should be around 80 o F and provide sufficient UV. All Turtles require additional UVB lighting.Reeves turtles require UVB light in order to synthesise vitamin D. Without vitamin D (in particular D3) reeves tur tles are not able to metabolise calcium properly causing problems with bone growth.
What kind of light do turtles need?
A spot light and UV tube can be used over the basking area of the turtle. Either a 60w or 100w basking bulb should be sufficient depending on temperatures achieved. A 12% intense UV tube (either T5 or T8) can be used to provide the intense UV. Alternatively a sigle mercury vapour bulb can be used to provide both heat and UV. This bulb should be placed 30cm or closer and will need a porcelain or ceramic lamp holder.
How to cover a turtle enclosure?
Artificial plants are a great way to provide cover under water and add colour to the enclosure. Those with weighted bottoms can be fully submerged whilst light plastic decorations can be left to float on top. Giving the turtles partial cover and a mixture of weighted and floating decorations provide great enrichment and help the turtle feel secure.
What to use to line the bottom of a turtle enclosure?
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. The substrate should be left to settle before the euipment is turned back on and the turtles are put in.
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.
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.
Can turtles live in a tank?
Reeve’s turtles are adaptable, and can be readily housed in practically any suitably sized tank. Stock tanks, glass aquariums, plastic totes, and garden ponds can all be furnished appropriately for housing individual or groups of Reeve’s turtles. They can be maintained indoors or out, and adequate protection from predators as well as escape prevention measures should be provided in either case.
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.
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.
Is a Reeve's turtle an omnivore?
Reeve’s turtles are omnivorous, and in addition to prepared foods they will accept both animal and plant matter with equal enthusiasm. Along with fish, worms, and insects, they can also be offered green leafy vegetables as well as aquatic plants such as water lettuce, water hyacinth, and duckweed.
Can you handle a Reeve's turtle?
Reeve’s turtles are not domesticated animals that thrive on human affection and contact, and they should not be handled except as a matter of necessity. Occasional handling to inspect the turtle for health or injuries, and occasionally relocating turtles to alternate containers for cleaning and maintenance of their primary habitat is acceptable. In any case, handling is best kept to an absolute minimum. Despite appearances to the contrary, handling is stressful to the turtle and subjects the handler to biting and scratching by the turtle. And as always, thoroughly washing hands with soap and warm water before and after a turtle or any related materials or equipment has been handled will help to avoid any disease transmission between human and turtle.
Species Summary
Average Reeve’s Turtle Size
Lifespan
Appearance & Colors
Reeve’s Turtle Care
Tank Size
Habitat & Tank Setup
Temperature & Lighting
Humidity
Water
- Your turtle will get all the hydration they need from the water portion of their enclosure. There’s no need for a separate water source in their enclosure. This means it’s crucial for you to monitor their water conditions closely. Test for ammonia and nitrates regularly and keep your filtration system in good condition. You should also perform part...