What Do Red-Eared Slider Turtles Eat?

what do red eared slider turtles eat

Red-eared sliders typically inhabit bodies of still, warm water in their native environment. Although they occasionally emerge for sunbathing excursions, they always return quickly to their habitats.

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Cooked proteins such as beef or chicken do not provide a balanced nutritional profile for turtles and should only be given occasionally as treats and variations to their diet.

Contents

Vegetables

Red eared slider turtles in the wild tend to be herbivorous creatures, feeding on foods such as fish, crustaceans, insects and aquatic algae.

Greens are essential to your pet’s diet. Choose leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, dandelion greens, turnip greens, and Swiss chard as healthy options; avoid iceberg lettuce which offers very limited nutritional value.

Squash, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini and green beans are safe foods to feed to turtles as a supplement to their daily diets. Try adding fresh, steamed veggies like these every day to give them additional vitamins and nutrients. Avoid cucumbers which are mostly water and provide little nutrition; additionally they may contain high concentrations of oxalic acid which may cause gout in reptiles. Lastly avoid feeding goldfish (guppies or minnows) from aquarium feeders because these may contain parasites.

Water Plants

Red-eared slider turtles are highly adaptable creatures in the wild, eating anything they find to eat – from meat and insects, plants and fruit to fresh vegetables like lettuce, collard greens, green beans and carrots. Avoid cucumbers, cabbage and brussels sprouts as these contain high levels of oxalic acid which could harm them.

As your turtle matures, gradually decrease animal matter while increasing plant content. Some safe vegetable choices include mustard greens, dandelion greens, kale, squash and zucchini as well as apples, berries and strawberries as a weekly treat. Store-bought cuttlebones should be avoided as they contain hard plastic backing which could pose health hazards to your turtle.

Fruits

Red eared slider turtles are predominantly herbivorous creatures and will consume the leaves, stems, fruits, roots and roots of aquatic and terrestrial plants; as well as algae.

Red Ear Slider Turtles should consume 75% plant food and 25% protein for optimal growth. Hatchlings require higher protein intake in order to rapidly develop into adulthood.

Offer a range of vegetables, such as dark leafy greens, carrots, squash and bell peppers. However, avoid spinach and chard as these contain oxalic acid which prevents calcium absorption.

Bananas make an enjoyable and nutritious treat, though their high level of sugar should be limited to occasional consumption. Other sweet options such as melons, apples and strawberries should also be eaten sparingly; feeder fish such as crickets, hornworms and earthworms offer excellent sources of protein.

Commercial Foods

Many pet owners provide their turtles with a varied diet to ensure they receive enough essential vitamins and nutrients, but be careful not to overfeed as this could lead to weight gain, dehydration and other health complications. While carrots (including their tops), squash, kale, chard, romaine lettuce and spinach should be fed regularly (5 percent or less of total diet), other safe choices include peas.

Fruits should only be fed occasionally as their high sugar content can lead to diarrhea. For protein sources, feeder fish, earthworms and hornworms make good choices; commercial turtle pellets may also supplement a turtle’s diet but should never become the main source of nourishment. When signs of obesity emerge in a turtle it’s wise to reduce feeding frequency or provide lower fat foods as possible.

Pellets

Red eared sliders hunt fish by sitting still and waiting for them to pass by, or eating aquatic plants and algae at the bottom of ponds and lakes. While red eared sliders also enjoy eating insects, worms, and invertebrates as treats, too much protein could overload their diet and lead to health complications.

Baby turtles need a high-protein diet to fuel their rapid development. A range of vegetables and fruit should be provided along with protein sources like fish or chicken for proper nourishment.

If you want to give your pet turtle more variety in his or her diet than just leaves and berries, Fluker’s Buffet Blend aquatic turtle food sticks provide the perfect supplement. Packed full of freeze-dried shrimps for extra variety in its diet as well as vitamin-fortified pellets that promote good health – they will love these treats!