what to feed wild red eared sliders

Below is a complete list of foods safe for red-eared sliders to eat:

• Crickets
• Mealworms
• Minnows
• Tadpoles
• Frogs
• Earthworms
• Redworms
• Feeder goldfish
• Waxworms
• Aquatic snails
• Bloodworms
• Daphnia
• Shrimp
• Water ferns
• Duckweed
• Elodea
• Romaine lettuce (in small amounts)
• Kale
• Mustard greens
• Turnip greens
• Swiss chard
• Bell pepper
• Carrots
• Carrot tops
• Zucchini
• Cucumber
• Squash
• Corn
• Okra
• Celery
• Green beans
• Cactus
• Commercial fish food

Full Answer

How should you give your red eared slider its food?

Providing Good Nutrients for Your Red-Eared Slider

• Animal Protein. As protein is a part of your pet’s dietary needs, you will include this in its meal but make sure you do not feed it with more than ...
• Plants. There are a variety of plants you can feed your turtle and they should make up 50% of the total diet.
• Vitamin Supplements. ...

What kind of vegetables can a red eared slider eat?

Red-eared sliders can be fed dark leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, kale, dandelion greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, or swiss chard. Vegetables such as bell peppers or carrots can also be fed. Fish that can be fed as feeders: goldfish, guppies, and minnows. The insects, worms, slugs, snails, and tadpoles are all related.

What type of water does a red eared slider need?

Sliders are aquatic and need clean, chemical-free water to swim in. Fill the tank with water at least twice as deep as your baby’s shell. Even as hatchlings, red eared sliders are excellent swimmers, you don’t need to worry about them drowning. Though they love water, sliders also need land for basking and drying out.

Can you feed a red eared slider once a week?

You should feed an adult red eared slider vegetables every other day or at least 3 times a week. Offer them a protein source once or twice a week. You can gradually reduce their protein to once a week the older they get.

What can I feed a wild turtle?

Plant greens and berries in the enclosure. Box turtles are omnivores who eat a majority of plant materials as well as some protein. Choose dark green vegetables like collards or turnips and cultivate strawberries in the habitat as well. Supplement your turtle's diet with live crickets and worms.

What do wild baby red-eared sliders eat?

What Do Baby Red-Eared Sliders Eat?Mealworms.Earthworms.Shrimp.Snails.Tadpoles.Crickets.Small fish.

What is the best food for red-eared sliders?

A big handful of leafy greens, a pinch of turtle pellets, and a couple worms or insects should be plenty. Adults eat a lot less meat, so make sure you offer plenty of dark leafy greens, vegetables, and aquatic plants. Foods rich in protein, such as fish and invertebrates, should only be offered once a week.

Can red-eared slider turtles live in the wild?

Red-eared sliders are native to the Southeast and south-central United States and northern Mexico, where they are commonly found in a variety of ponds and wetlands. Buchanan said they are tolerant of human disturbance and tolerant of pollution, and they are dietary generalists, so they can live almost anywhere.

How long can red-eared sliders go without food?

Baby or juvenile red-eared sliders would not be able to last more than a week or so without food, whereas older red-eared sliders will be able to last a month or two. A well-fed adult will be able to live without food for up to two months, three at an absolute stretch, but that really is not advised.

What can red-eared sliders not eat?

Avoid These Red-Eared Slider FoodsFeeder fish.Crickets.Earthworms.Crayfish.Ghost shrimp.Krill.

What fruit can a red-eared slider eat?

Like humans, red-eared sliders are also omnivorous and have a very varied diet. Sliders can eat many types of vegetables- such as green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, and squash- but also a wide range of fruits – skinned apples, bananas, berries, melons, nectarine, and mango.

Do red-eared sliders need to be in water all the time?

The answer is, yes. Red-eared sliders need to be in the water. For starters, red-eared sliders lack saliva and need water to swallow their food. They can eat without water, it's just a lot more difficult.

How many times a day should a red-eared slider eat?

The frequency of feeding depends on the age and size of your red-eared slider. Smaller or juvenile turtles will eat heartily every day. As they get older, adult turtles may be offered a good-sized portion of food every two or three days.

Should I keep a wild turtle?

Many reptile experts and enthusiasts will tell you not to keep a wild turtle as a pet, and they are right. It's the same reason you may be told not to keep a frog you found in your pond or a bunny you found in your backyard. Animals that live in the wild are not used to living boxed-up in a tank, cage, or hutch.

Is it OK to release a pet turtle into the wild?

Pet store turtles most likely carry diseases, which could affect native turtles and the entire ecosystem. Never release a turtle if it is not from the area; there is no exception to this.

How long do red-eared sliders live in the wild?

around 10 to 20 yearsBaby red-eared sliders are vulnerable in the wild, but they grow very quickly! Wild red-eared sliders typically live for around 10 to 20 years on average. This estimate is notably a bit lower than the approximate lifespan for sliders kept in captivity.

What do red-eared sliders need in their tank?

In captivity, red-eared sliders need a warm, dry area and a large pool of warm water. Red-eared sliders should be maintained in at least a 30- to 50-gallon tank that has both a pool and an area for the turtle to crawl out and keep warm and dry.

What vegetables are good for red-eared sliders?

Leafy Greens: Collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, kale, and bok choy. Iceberg lettuce should never be fed because it is not nutritious enough,1 and dark green leafy lettuce such as romaine can be fed sparingly. Make sure you feed items with appropriate calcium-to-phosphorous levels.

How much do I feed my red-eared slider?

A good rule of thumb is to feed as much as your turtle will consume in 15 minutes.

How can I tell if my red-eared slider is male or female?

Feel the bottom (underside) of the shell with your hand. If the plastron is flat or slightly curved outwards, the slider is a female. If it curves inwards, the slider is a male. The shell shape starts to develop in young turtles between 1 to 2 years old.

What Do Red-Eared Sliders Eat?

Red-eared slider turtles are omnivores, so they eat both plants and animals.

Red-Eared Slider Food

Red-eared sliders are omnivorous so they can eat both plants and animals.

Summary

Red-eared slider turtles are omnivores, so they will eat both plant and animal matter. However, as they age, they need less protein.

What Red Eared Slider Turtles Eat

Since red eared slider turtles are omnivorous they can eat a huge variety of ailments. So to make things simpler I will divide them in 5 categories:

How to Properly Feed Your Red Eared Slider Turtle

Over the years I’ve read about countless methods of feeding turtles. But out of all of them two stood out the most, as being the most used and the most efficient. And they are the 15 minutes method and the size of the head method.

Red Eared Slider Turtle Feeding Schedule

The first thing that you have to take into consideration when thinking how often you have to feed your turtle, or when making a feeding schedule, is the age of the turtle. Baby red eared slider turtles need a different amount of food than juveniles, and juveniles need a different amount of food than adult red eared slider turtles.

Occasional Treats

Another thing that I want to address is that you can occasionally give your red eared slider turtle treats. As long as they are not too consistent, you can give your turtle a few live fish, fruits, vegetables or dried insects, without worrying that you disturb their feeding schedule.

Final Thoughts

While red eared slider turtles can eat a lot of things, not all of them can be good for them.

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Where Do Red-Eared Sliders Live?

These turtles originate in the southeastern United States, with a heavy distribution around the Mississippi River Delta and the Gulf of Mexico.

What Do Red-Eared Sliders Eat?

Red-eared sliders are omnivores, but in the wild, they tend to feed primarily on plants. They tend to eat more meat when they’re juveniles, but as they grow older, they transition to a plant-heavy diet.

Why Are Red-Eared Sliders Considered Such a Dangerous Invasive Species?

While red-eared sliders are undoubtedly cute, in many parts of the world, they’re seen as a complete menace rather than as an adorable pet.

A Dangerous Animal in a Cute Little Shell

Red-eared sliders are wonderful little companions — they don’t eat much, never need walks, and won’t judge you when you talk out loud to yourself. However, it’s important that these pets stay pets, because if they get loose in new environments, they can cause ecological havoc.

What Do Baby Red-Eared Slider Turtles Eat?

Baby red-eared sliders eat insects, snails, and vegetables like carrots.

What Do Pet Red-Eared Sliders Eat?

Pet red-eared sliders eat insects like crickets, worms, shrimp, greens, lettuce, and vegetables.

What else?

Alongside fresh fruits, veggies, and bugs, Your turtle will likely need to be supplemented with turtle pellets.

About

Owner of AquariumGravel.com and also owner of actual Aquarium Gravel believe it or not! ;). Setting up beautiful aquarium sceneries and habitats since I was very young. Enjoy!

How Often To Feed A Red Eared Slider

Red eared sliders have a particularly big appetite, and will act as if they are starving all the time! It is important not to give in and overfeed your turtle, as they will take as much as they can get without refusing any food.

How To Tell How Old Your Red Eared Slider Is

If you did not have your red eared slider from when it was born, or very young, then you will need to determine its age in order to feed it the proper diet that it requires. Some argue that you can find how old a turtle is by looking at its scutes, but this method is unreliable, and the scutes are hard to find on a red eared slider!

What To Feed A Red Eared Slider

Red eared sliders are actually omnivores, and in the wild, they will eat a mixture of both animal and plant sources. This includes worms, aquatic plants, fish and many other sources of food.

Why Is My Turtle Eating So Much?

You may notice that your red ear slider is eating very frequently, and begging for lots of food. This does not necessarily mean that it is hungry or starving, as turtles are naturally opportunistic eaters in the wild.

Why You Should Not Overfeed A Turtle

Turtles are actually very opportunistic, and will eat whatever is put in front of them. This can cause a problem, and make overfeeding them very easy. However, overfeeding a turtle is not advised as it can cause a few health problems for the reptile.

Conclusion

If you have a red eared slider, then it is important that you have a good feeding routine. Most red eared sliders can be fed once daily, or every other day if much older.