Brazilian turtles, including the Brazilian slider (Trachemys dorbigni), eat a mix of quality commercial turtle pellets, leafy greens and aquatic plants, plus the occasional protein treat such as insects or feeder fish. Young turtles need more protein; adults do best on mostly plants and pellets.
The Brazilian slider is closely related to the red-eared slider, and keepers who have raised both describe very similar care and feeding. If you keep a different turtle from Brazil or South America, check its species first, because diets differ between sliders, side-necks and tortoises.
The Core Diet: Pellets
A good floating turtle pellet should be the base of the diet. Look for a formula made for aquatic turtles that lists a named protein first and added calcium and vitamin D3, and skip foods heavy in corn, wheat or artificial dyes. Keepers who have raised Brazilian sliders report that hatchlings and juveniles readily take floating pellets, so pellets are an easy way to cover vitamins and minerals.
- Hatchlings and juveniles: offer a small pinch of pellets once a day.
- Adults: feed every other day or a few times a week, and only what they finish in about 15 minutes.
Feeding in the water is normal for sliders, so remove leftovers and change filter media often to keep the tank clean. See our guide to Mazuri turtle pellets for one widely used brand.
Vegetables and Plants
As Brazilian sliders grow, they eat more and more plant matter. Offer dark leafy greens several times a week.
- Good choices: dandelion greens, collards, mustard greens, romaine, turnip greens and bok choy.
- Aquatic plants such as anacharis, water lettuce and duckweed work well and give the turtle cover, too.
- Use spinach and kale only sparingly because they are high in oxalates, which can bind calcium.
More ideas are in our posts on which vegetables turtles can eat and which plants turtles eat.
Protein Treats
Young turtles need more animal protein for growth. Good treats include earthworms, crickets, mealworms, bloodworms, small guppies or feeder fish from a clean source, and cooked shrimp. Treats should be a small part of the diet, not the main course.
Avoid raw chicken and other raw meat from the grocery store, and avoid wild-caught frogs or tadpoles, because they can carry bacteria and parasites. A diet made mostly of fatty fish or meat can also lead to vitamin deficiencies and shell and growth problems.
Fruit
Fruit is a rare treat, such as a small piece of melon or berry once in a while. It is high in sugar and not part of a turtle’s natural diet.
Calcium, Vitamin A and UVB
Diet alone cannot keep a turtle’s shell and bones healthy. Turtles also need a UVB lamp and a basking spot so they can make vitamin D3 and use calcium. A cuttlebone floating in the tank gives extra calcium. Vitamin A deficiency is common in turtles fed only on a single food; our guide to vitamin A-rich foods for turtles lists safe options. Swollen eyes or puffy eyelids are a common warning sign, so see a reptile vet if you notice them.
A Simple Weekly Plan
- Most days: quality pellets plus a handful of leafy greens or aquatic plants.
- Once or twice a week: a protein treat such as earthworms or crickets.
- Rarely: a small piece of fruit.
A Note on Wild Turtles
Turtle populations in the wild have declined because of hunting and habitat loss, and many countries, including Brazil, restrict hunting and trade. If you keep a pet turtle, buy from a reputable breeder rather than taking one from the wild.
Bottom Line
Feed a Brazilian slider mostly quality turtle pellets and leafy greens, add protein treats a couple of times a week, and give UVB light and calcium. Vary the diet and don’t overfeed. This article is general information, not veterinary advice; if your turtle stops eating or looks unwell, call a reptile vet.
