Turtles may not be as adorable as cats and dogs, but they do have one big benefit compared to them: they won’t pester you every time you eat! Still, it is important to understand which foods are suitable for reptiles before offering any meals to your reptile companion.
Turtles love eating leafy green vegetables such as kale and collards, squash, carrots and green beans. Be wary of any foods containing dairy – turtles cannot digest it – as well as anything with salt content such as snacks with high sodium levels or dairy content.
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Salmon
Turtles that live in water will often enjoy feeding on a mix of blanched vegetables (never iceberg lettuce or spinach), fruits (except citrus fruits ) and mealworms. Turtles also find great pleasure chasing live fish around, which not only provides exercise for them, but will help keep their eyesight sharp!
A diet suitable for turtles should consist of 80-90% vegetables and flowers, with the remaining 10-20% coming from fruit. Green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard greens and mustard greens are excellent choices, along with carrots, squash and green beans – and vegetables which contain calcium such as azolla duckweed or hornwort can all make great additions.
Fruits that can be fed to turtles include apples, pears, bananas (with skin), mango and certain berries such as figs, raspberries and strawberries. Flowering plants like geraniums carnations and hibiscus should also be offered for consumption by your turtle. All produce must be thoroughly washed prior to feeding it to them to avoid contamination with pesticides or bacteria; this step is especially essential if growing it yourself!
Chicken
Turtles in the wild primarily feed on amphibians and fish for protein consumption, though they will occasionally consume insects, earthworms, snails or slugs that contain parasites or diseases which could compromise their health. These should only be offered sparingly as these could contain parasites that threaten their well-being.
Meat should form part of a turtle’s diet, but no more than two thirds or half for juveniles and half for adults. Too much meat consumption may upset calcium and phosphorus balance within their bodies and lead to metabolic bone disease.
Vegetables and fruit should only make up 10-20% of a turtle’s diet, as citrus fruit can be harmful. Ripe bananas and strawberries make great snacks. Before feeding produce to your turtle, be sure to thoroughly wash it as this will remove any pesticide residues present on its exterior surface.
Beef
A turtle should consume around 70 to 80% plant-based foods. Herbivorous turtles will typically enjoy eating green leafy vegetables like kale, collard greens and mustard greens as well as beans, squash carrots and corn. Low sugar fruits such as berries melons apples can also be offered from time to time; just ensure they have been thoroughly washed prior to offering to your turtle. Flowers can also be offered, just be sure you give yours the once over first!
If you want to introduce some meat into your turtle’s diet, offering small portions will do. Cooked beef, chicken or fish is all fine as long as they do not become raw because turtles have been known to carry salmonella.
Making turtle meat stew or gumbo at home is possible using canned turtle, venison, wild turkey or rabbit meat. When using rabbit or venison as ingredients for this dish, parboil it first to ensure there are no parasites like worms and maggots present on it.
Human Food
Turtles enjoy eating foods similar to what humans eat, such as meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and flowers. However, it’s important that turtles don’t receive foods not naturally suitable for them as this could cause digestive issues as well as be harmful over time.
Your turtle should receive a variety of leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, chard, Swiss chard and Swiss chard for optimal health. Dandelion leaves and clover are also recommended; just avoid giving light greens like iceberg lettuce as they contain high amounts of oxalate.
As well as these foods, it is wise to provide your turtle with fresh or canned whole fish, sardines and anchovies. Also add calcium and vitamin D3 supplements twice weekly; use eggshell powder made by baking to grind into powder for this purpose or buy multivitamin supplements designed specifically for reptiles.
