People often see turtles in parks, and many will treat them by giving them bread as they pass by – often unknowingly feeding these hungry feeders, which will gladly consume what’s offered them, yet this type of behavior is far from healthy for these turtles.
Non-nutritious treats prevent them from absorbing other essential vitamins, and contain many preservatives which aren’t great for their systems.
No
Turtles make cute pets, but it is essential that their food meets specific standards. Many owners will feed their turtles whatever is readily available; this is not recommended since some foods can actually cause long-term harm – particularly bread products.
Turtles in the wild generally only have access to foods found within their natural environment, including insects, arthropods, worms, fish, plants and vegetation – providing them with vital vitamins and nutrients for growth and survival. Red-eared sliders spend much of their lives in freshwater lakes, ponds and swamps where they will often encounter things like tadpoles or small fish for protein and carb-based nourishment.
People who feed their turtles bread may not only expose them to unhealthy ingredients, but may also deprive them of essential nutrition they require for survival. Bread contains dairy products, sugar and artificial additives which could have serious repercussions for your turtle’s wellbeing; therefore if you own one it would be wiser if any foods containing bread were avoided in order to shield their health and avoid further exposure.
Bread can be highly dangerous to turtles. Not only can it cause them to choke if consumed in large enough pieces, it may become stuck in their digestive systems leading to illness or infection. Furthermore, eating bread may deprive your turtle of essential vitamins like D, calcium, iron magnesium phosphorus potassium and sulphur needed for growth and survival.
One of the major drawbacks associated with giving turtles bread is that it will cause them to reject other nutritious and healthful foods that would better suit their diet, leading them to reject essential minerals like iron. This can result in various problems including anemia, metabolic bone disease and poor shell growth.
Instead of giving bread to your turtle, it is best to stick with basic nutrition such as fruits (in small quantities), vegetables and protein-rich snacks to ensure they receive all of the essential vitamins and minerals they require for growth and wellbeing. When giving treats such as snacks or treats to your turtle, select items which are easy for them to digest without artificial additives and preservatives; ensure it doesn’t contain excessive salt as too much can be harmful to their health.
