When feeding your painted turtles, provide them with a balanced diet consisting of both plant and animal matter.
Wild painted turtles feed on insects and aquatic plants. Additionally, they take in small fish that they encounter while foraging.
In captivity, vegetables such as water hyacinth, water lettuce and hornwort can be included in their diet.
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Live Crickets
Live crickets are the ideal food for painted turtles, providing them with a protein-rich meal and essential vitamins and minerals. Plus, they’re low in fat which may reduce the risk of heart disease.
They provide your turtle with essential calcium for healthy bones and teeth. Furthermore, the fruits are high in vitamin C which supports their immune system.
Baby turtles enjoy eating crickets, so feeding them live insects is a great way to ensure they receive all of the essential nutrients necessary for growth and development.
Another high-protein option is blood worms and meal worms, which you can find at most pet stores. These wrigglers are common in nature and can easily be grown in an aquarium with minimal effort.
You can feed your painted turtle a few small fish, but goldfish and other fatty fish should be avoided as they won’t provide as much exercise for your turtle as other species do.
Dried Crickets
Painted turtles are omnivores and must eat both plant and animal matter to thrive. This means feeding them pellets, vegetables, and fruits.
Crickets are an excellent source of protein and provide your turtle with essential vitamins and minerals. Not only are they cost-effective to purchase, but you can easily find them at pet stores that specialize in reptiles.
Another advantage of crickets is that they provide a good source of iron, copper, magnesium and zinc. Furthermore, they’re high in calcium and riboflavin.
Freeze dried crickets offer an easy, no-mess solution to providing your turtle with essential proteins for growth. The freeze drying process eliminates the need to care for live insects while retaining 97% of their essential nutrients.
No matter if you feed your turtle live or frozen, make sure it’s healthy and free from parasites and other diseases. Consult a reptile vet for the best approach when feeding your turtle.
Live Mealworms
One of the best foods for painted turtles is live mealworms. These worms provide high amounts of protein, calcium and other essential nutrients.
However, they should only be fed moderately and in small amounts. Overfeeding can lead to obesity and may invite parasite infestation.
You can also feed your turtle earthworms or crickets occasionally to provide them with essential proteins. Plus, these insects are an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D as well.
Painted turtles consume a variety of foods in nature, such as fish and tadpoles, worms, fruit and vegetables. Additionally, they scavenge for carrion.
If you want your turtle’s diet to be more varied, feed it fruits and vegetables like carrots, apples, berries and melons. Be mindful of citrus as this fruit contains citric acid which should not be fed.
Freeze Dried Mealworms
In the wild, painted turtles feed on aquatic invertebrates such as snails and worms. They also consume fish, frogs, and small reptiles. When kept in captivity it is important to replicate their diet closely.
One of the best foods for painted turtles is freeze dried mealworms. This food provides them with essential nutrients so that they can live a long and healthy life.
Freeze dried mealworms provide a high source of protein and essential amino acids that aquatic amphibians and reptiles need for health. They make an ideal substitute to live mealworms and can be offered alongside other items that provide your pet with enough nutritional variety to avoid nutritional diseases.
Painted turtles need to be fed daily, though the amount of food depends on their age and size. Younger turtles should be fed several times a day while adults only require feeding once every two to three days.
