
What Do Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtles Eat?
- Carrot Tops
- Parsley
- Kale
- Turnip Greens
- Collard Greens
- Apples (As A Treat)
- Green Beans
- Water Lilies
- Red Bell Pepper
- Duckweed
- Waterweed ( Elodea)
How much food you feed a yellow bellied slider?
You can either feed your yellow-bellied slider turtle once every two days, the amount of food that it will take to fill their head. Or you can feed them half of that amount every day. There is no difference for them if you feed them every day, or if you feed them every two days, as long as the amount of food is right.
What should I Feed my yellow belly slider?
- Makes feeding your pet quite easy
- It is a balanced diet
- Prompts the turtle to feed as it would in the wild
- Comes with added nutrients such as vitamins
- Can be fed to both turtles and tortoises
What kind of vegetables can yellow belly sliders eat?
Yellow-Bellied Slider: Species Profile
- Yellow-Bellied Slider Behavior and Temperament. The slider is a diurnal turtle, meaning it is most active during the day. ...
- Housing the Yellow-Bellied Slider. ...
- Light. ...
- Heat. ...
- Food and Water. ...
- Common Health Problems. ...
- Choosing Your Yellow-Bellied Slider. ...
- Different Species of Aquatic Turtles. ...
How much do you feed an adlut yellow belly slider?
Yellow-bellied sliders are omnivorous creatures. Turtles of all ages should get a wide variety of both animal and plant-based items. Juveniles and hatchlings should eat twice a day. Once a turtle reaches adulthood (age 2 to 5), feed once a day. Can you overfeed a yellow belly slider? Try to vary his diet as much as possible – but do not over feed!

What do you feed a yellow bellied slider turtle?
The yellow-bellied slider 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 human food can yellow belly turtles eat?
Lettuce in particular is a common food item for yellow-bellied sliders. Cut-up bits of meat, including seafood like shrimp, are also usually beneficial for these turtles. You can also offer your yellow-bellied pet "once in a while" snacks -- think waxworms and mealworms.
What is a yellow bellied sliders favorite food?
Food and Water: yellow bellied slider turtles enjoy commercial turtle food, feeder fish, meal worms, wax worms, crickets and chopped vegetables.
What fruits can yellow belly sliders eat?
Yellow-Bellied Slider Foods In captivity, young sliders need to be fed daily, whereas adult sliders can be fed every two to three days. Crickets can be a source of protein, greens can provide nutrients, and fruits like peeled and cored apples, blueberries and strawberries make good treats.
How often should I feed my yellow belly slider?
Food and Water Juveniles and hatchlings should eat twice a day, and their diet should lean towards carnivorous. Once a turtle reaches adulthood (age 2 to 5), its diet should consist of mostly vegetables.
Do yellow belly sliders get lonely?
Do yellow bellied sliders get lonely? No. Turtles can actually get territorial especially when kept together in small tanks. It's usually best to keep one turtle to a tank or have at least a 120-150 gallon tank if you opt to keep several.
Can you overfeed a yellow belly slider?
It's essentially a form of Metabolic Bone Disease and occurs when your turtle is overfed. It's not good for the turtle and could lead to their organs being squeezed or being damaged. The biggest culprit of shell pyramiding is usually from feeding your turtle too many pellets.
How long can a yellow belly slider stay in water?
30 to 40 minutesYellow-bellies are strong and agile swimmers. They feed while submerged and find their food by sight, scent and perhaps, by touch. They can stay underwater for seemingly extended periods and will sleep underwater for 30 to 40 minutes at a time, longer if the water is cool and their metabolism has slowed.
What foods are poisonous to turtles?
Food Avoid to Feed Box turtlesBread, bakery products, and pasta.Candies, chocolate, and other products containing sugars.Processed meat and canned food.Avocado skin and pits.Tobacco leaves and products.Rhubarb.Tomato and potato leaves.Dairy products.More items...
Can yellow belly turtles eat lettuce?
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Will yellow belly turtles eat fish?
Diet of the Yellow-Bellied Slider Hatchlings and young turtles chiefly eat worms, insects and small fish. As they mature, their diets shift and they become primarily plant-eaters, though they will still consume insects, fish and carrion.
Can yellow belly turtles eat cabbage?
High consumption of cabbage, broccoli, kale, collards and the like can lead to thyroid problems (this will not always be a problem for turtles, but can be). This post How can one care for a small snapping turtle? also gives good feeding tips for turtles, that would be helpful for your yellow-bellied slider.
Can yellow belly slider turtles eat celery?
Diet: The hatchlings are more carnivorous than the adults, they prefer more meats, like shrimp that you can get at the pet store rather then the pellets. The adults eat a verity of veggies like carrots, and celery etc.
Can yellow-bellied sliders eat tomatoes?
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 ...
What do baby turtles eat?
Your turtle would be eating a lot of these in the wild, and that’s no different in captivity. Aquatic greens are an amazing natural source for all sorts of vitamins and minerals in your baby turtle’s diet. Just like adults, baby turtles will love aquatic greens. Here is a list:
What are some good vegetables to eat?
Some good veggies are spinach, kale, collard greens (although you may want to boil them first), broccoli stems and tops, etc. Here is a list:
Is it hard to feed baby turtles?
In conclusion, feeding baby turtles is not too difficult, and it can be a lot of fun!
Can turtles eat pellets?
And of course, Commercial pellets should make for a filler in your turtle’s diet (made specifically for turtles to meet mineral requirements)
What is the behavior of a yellowbellied slider?
Yellow-Bellied Slider Behavior and Temperament. The slider is a diurnal turtle, meaning it is most active during the day. They tend to eat first thing in the morning, and in the wild will spend most of the rest of the day basking in the sun. Captive yellow-bellied sliders also are most active during the day.
How long do yellowbellied sliders live?
One of the most popular pet turtles, yellow-bellied sliders, are long-lived aquatic turtles —some live up to 40 years in captivity. These turtles spend most of their time in the water, but unlike amphibians, they need to be able to get out of the water to dry off and rest. As far as turtles go, this species is moderately easy to care for.
How to regulate turtle temperature?
To control their temperature, turtles seek out basking spots to soak up the sun's warm rays. If you have an indoor tank, you will need to replicate a sunny basking spot that can reach 80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Either a 60-watt or 100-watt basking bulb should be sufficient. As turtles also need the UV rays from the sun for proper development, you can get a combination mercury vapor bulb, which provides both heat and UV.
What do aquatic turtles eat?
Most aquatic turtles eat the occasional insect or fish, but avoid giving them fatty fish, and never give them high-protein meats. An aquatic turtle's diet should be mainly plant-based.
What to do if your turtle is dirty?
If the water remains dirty, your turtle can develop various health issues.
How to treat water for dogs?
Treat water with a water conditioner before using it. The water conditioner will remove chlorine and other harsh water additives that can disturb your biological filter and your pet's quality of life.
Can yellowbellied sliders be pets?
These curious, amiable reptiles are entertaining pets if cared for properly. They will never be a cudd ly pet like a dog or cat, but yellow-bellied sliders tend to have unique personalities that endear them to their owners.
What Do Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtles Eat?
Yellow-bellied sliders are opportunistic feeders who eat whenever and whatever they can. This is not surprising given similar species, such as the snapping turtle, are also opportunistic feeders.
What do sliders eat?
Pet species should eat mostly leafy green vegetables, supplemented with protein from insects. Pelleted turtle food is also a good choice. Yellow-bellied sliders are a semi-aquatic turtle.
How much does a slider tank cost?
The most expensive part of owning a slider is the tank and its setup. A 100-gallon tank and accessories will cost over $300. When looking to purchase a yellow-bellied slider, make sure you are buying a captive-bred turtle from a good breeder. Healthy turtles should be alert and try to escape if approached by a person.
How big are slider turtles?
Sliders are large turtles with an average shell length of five to nine inches. However, they are a sexually dimorphic species, meaning there is a significant difference in size between males and females. Males average seven inches long and females are closer to ten inches.
How many gallons of water do sliders need?
But, this should be changed for a larger tank after four years. Adult sliders need at least a 100-gallon enclosure to be healthy. Some owners use a standard glass fish tank to house their slider, while others use plastic pond liners to create a more natural setup.
What do young turtles eat?
Young turtles are primarily carnivores that feed on aquatic insects, worms, and small fish. As they grow into adults, their diet shifts to one that is made up almost entirely of plants!
Why are turtles called "sliders"?
The name “slider” comes from their tendency to slide off logs and muddy banks into the water at the first sign of danger. These turtles are a vibrant yellow and black with striped legs, neck, and head. The bottom part of their shell ( i.e. plastron) is bright yellow with dark smudges or spots.
How many gallons of water do you need for a yellowbellied slider?
Yellow-bellied sliders are considered medium to large-sized turtles, so even the smallest adult will require a 55-gallon aquarium. When choosing an aquarium for pond turtles, the general rule of thumb is to get an aquarium with at least 10 gallons per inch of turtle.
Why is it important to keep a yellowbellied slider clean?
Your Yellow-Bellied Slider will spend the majority of its life in water, which is why it is SO critical to ensure the water in their enclosure is clean.
What is the difference between a yellowbellied slider and a spotted plastron?
The belly markings are black or dark green and help differentiate this species from the almost-identical eastern river cooters. Yellow-bellied sliders also have yellow stripes extending down their legs and neck.
What is the difference between a yellow-bellied slider turtle and a red-eared slider turtle?
A Yellow-Bellied Slider closely resembles the Red-Eared Slider turtle. However, the primary difference is in the pattern near the ear and under the shell.
How old is a yellowbellied slider?
The average Yellow-Bellied Slider will reach their full size by the age of 6 or 7 years, however, it isn’t uncommon for some to continue growing gradually until the ripe age of 9 years!
Where do yellowbellied sliders live?
Yellow-Bellied Sliders prefer to live in rivers, swamps, wetlands, and ponds that are slow-moving and deep. They show an affinity towards habitats with an abundance of algae and water surface plants, which offer them cover from predators.
Is a yellowbellied slider hardy?
While Yellow-Bellied Sliders are considered a very hardy species that are forgiving and tolerant of husbandry errors, they DO have requirements that should be met.
Minimum enclosure size for yellow-bellied sliders
The minimum size enclosure for housing one yellow-bellied slider requires at least 10 US gallons of water per inch of the turtle’s anticipated adult length. Since the maximum known length for a yellow-bellied slider is 11”, you will need at least 110 gallons of swimming space.
Do yellow-bellied sliders need UVB?
Yes! Yellow-bellied sliders require exposure to appropriate amounts of UVB in order to maintain good health and wellbeing. Providing UVB lighting to your turtle offers several benefits, including all of the vitamin D that their body needs, better appetite and activity, and a stronger immune system.
Best temperature for yellow-bellied sliders
Unlike mammals, which control their own body temperature internally, yellow-bellied sliders and other reptiles rely on external sources to regulate their body temperature and metabolism.
Water requirements for yellow-bellied sliders
Yellow-bellied sliders are semi-aquatic reptiles, and spend most of their time in the water. This means that most of the enclosure should be water — in other words, you’ll be essentially maintaining a pond or aquarium with an accessible land area. Your turtle’s water must be kept as clean as possible to maintain the turtle’s health.
Best substrate for yellow-bellied sliders
Yellow-bellied sliders spend a significant amount of time on land, so it’s important to have several inches of sandy soil within easy access at all times, especially for females. Zoo Med Reptisoil works well for this purpose, or you can create your own mix of approximately 80% clean topsoil and 20% play sand (measured by volume).
How to decorate a yellow-bellied slider enclosure
The first thing you’ll need to add to your aquarium/pond is NOT optional: because yellow-bellied sliders are only semi-aquatic rather than fully-aquatic, you need to provide a “land” area for the turtle to bask on. Ideally, this should be enough space for the turtle to bask and walk around a bit.
What to feed to a yellow-bellied slider
Yellow-bellied sliders are omnivorous, which means that they need both plant- and animal-based foods in their diet to get the nutrition that they need. Here is a general feeding schedule to follow:
What do slider turtles eat?
Once they hatch, their diet will be almost entirely carnivorous. Hatchlings will feed on insects, spiders, crustaceans, tadpoles and fish. As they age into adults, they begin to feed more on plants. In fact, 95% of an adult yellow-bellied slider turtle's nutritional intake comes from plants.
Where do yellowbellied sliders live?
They are found in a wide range of habitats, such as slow-moving rivers, swamps, seasonal wetlands and permanent ponds.
What is a yellow belly slider turtle?
The yellow-bellied slider turtle ( Trachemys scripta scripta ), also called yellow belly slider, is a land and water turtle from the Emydidae family. Although mostly found in the wild, in a variety of habitats, they are now also being welcomed into people's homes as house pets. To help them thrive in this new environment, we must know how to care for yellow-bellied slider turtles and how to set up their tank.
How many eggs do yellowbellied slider turtles lay?
The yellow-bellied slider turtle mate in the water. Then, females lay their eggs on land. They usually lay 6-10 eggs at a time. However, larger females are capable of bearing more. Yellow-bellied slider turtles generally mate in spring, summer and autumn.
Why are my yellowbellied slider turtles' eyes closed?
Some common health issues your yellow-bellied slider turtle may experience are the following: Puffy eyelids: or closed eyes may be due to insufficient vitamin A.
How many gallons of water do you need for a slider turtle?
For one or two adults you will need a tank of at least 75 gallons. The width should be at least 3x your turtle's length and the depth should be at least 2x your turtle's length. Lastly the length of the tank should be at least 5x the length of your turtle. However, if you can provide a bigger tank, that would be even better for your yellow-bellied slider turtle. The tank must be thoroughly cleaned every two or three weeks.
What to put in a basking area?
The most important decoration is the basking area we've previously mentioned. Other than that, you can add pond plants for their environmental enrichment and diet. You can also add smooth rocks, clean sand and other natural
What are the health issues of a yellow bellied slider?
The following illnesses are common health issues of yellow-bellied sliders. Shell Infections.
How long does it take for a yellowbellied slider to finish eating?
Generally, they are quick eaters and will finish their meal in about five minutes.
How long do yellowbellied sliders live?
Pet yellow-bellied sliders tend to live at least one decade longer than yellow-bellied sliders that live in the wild. There are a few things one can do to increase a yellow-bellied slider’s lifespan. Taking care of the yellow-bellied slider is a fairly easy task if they are pets.
Why do yellowbellied sliders have a shorter lifespan?
Yellow-bellied sliders in the wild may have a shortened lifespan for the following reasons: They have a higher probability of encountering predators. They may suffer an illness and lack access to care. They must hunt for their own food.
Why do yellowbellied sliders have respiratory problems?
Yellow-bellied sliders suffer respiratory infections when they are deficient in Vitamin A, when they are malnourished, or if they live in unsanitary conditions. One of the main respiratory infections that yellow-bellied sliders experience is Pneumonia.
What to do if yellowbellied slider doesn't improve?
If it does not improve after a few days, take the slider to the vet. To treat respiratory infections and metabolic bone disease, take the yellow-bellied slider to the veterinarian right away. The yellow-bellied slider could die if it does not promptly receive the proper treatment.
Why does my yellowbellied slider float?
The first of these being the yellow-bellied slider may float due to his body’s condition. Additionally, the yellow-bellied slider may show difficulty breathing, and he may have discharge in his eyes, or if it has dry, flaky skin. Metabolic Bone Disease.
