Feeding turtles can be an exciting and fulfilling activity, but it is vitally important that their nutritional requirements are understood. A poor diet could result in long-term health issues for their captive turtles.
Water-dwelling turtles enjoy eating live food in small portions, such as feeder fish (goldfish, guppies and minnows) or insects like earthworms and grasshoppers. Additionally, these aquatic reptiles enjoy feeding on chopped apples, carrots, tomatoes, romaine lettuce or leafy greens for breakfast and lunch.
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Earthworms
Earthworms make an excellent food choice for turtles and can be found at many pet stores. Earthworms offer essential protein, minerals and vitamins while providing mental stimulation as the turtle chases them around its tank. Feeder fish such as guppies or minnows should make up only a small part of your turtle’s diet since they may cause thiamine deficiency in some instances.
Leafy greens should also form part of your turtle’s diet, providing essential calcium, iron and potassium supplements. Some recommended greens include kale, spinach, collard greens and dandelions; just ensure any potential toxins have been eliminated before feeding to your turtle – once every other day should do it! Alternatively canned fruit and vegetables may be an acceptable substitute.
Mealworms
Turtles require a balanced diet of food from various sources; mealworms should not be considered an optimal food choice as they contain high amounts of fat and may harbor parasites and bacteria which could make your turtle sick.
Mealworms should only be fed occasionally to your turtle to avoid obesity and an accumulation of fat deposits in its body. A veterinarian experienced with reptiles should be able to recommend which commercial turtle pellets provide optimal nutrition.
Leafy greens are essential components of a turtle’s diet and should be provided at least every two days. Such veggies include kale, collard greens, turnip greens, dandelion leaves and romaine lettuce – each providing vital calcium, iron and other vital nutrients to their respective hosts.
Fruits
As turtles age, their diet should become increasingly varied to provide all of the essential vitamins and nutrients they require to live long and healthy lives. A variety of fruits and vegetables will ensure they receive all they require for good health and longevity.
Avoid feeding turtles processed food such as lunch meat and sausages as these contain high levels of salt and preservatives that could harm them. Furthermore, any fried foods may contain fats which could prove fatal for their wellbeing.
Fruits to offer your turtle may include melons like honeydew, watermelons and ogen melon; strawberries; kiwis (with their seeds removed); bananas; fresh dandelion leaves, romaine lettuce and other leafy greens such as aquatic plants such as hyacinths duckweeds hornwort; as well as small quantities of fish or guppies once every week (removing their bones as this may rot and poison your turtle), live crickets mealworms waxworms or earthworms.
Vegetables
A turtle should consume a diet comprised of both plant- and animal-derived food items to provide optimal nutrition, and ensure their pet receives adequate amounts of proteins and calcium. To do this, make sure they get regular check-ups with their vet to make sure that everything is going according to plan.
Leafy greens make an excellent part of a turtle’s diet, as they contain essential calcium and vitamin sources such as kale, spinach, collard greens and dandelion leaves.
Fruit can also be offered to turtles as part of their natural diet, although this shouldn’t be its mainstay. Apples, bananas, strawberries, watermelons with honeydew melon seeds inside and kiwis make excellent offerings; citrus fruits such as oranges should be avoided due to being overly sugary and unhealthy for turtles.
Pellets
Turtle pellets can provide your pet turtle with an additional source of protein and should comprise no more than 25% of their diet.
If you can’t find high-quality commercial turtle pellets, an alternative would be feeding your turtle algae and plant matter as food sources. Algae is especially good for younger turtles but don’t expect much nutrition from it so should only make up part of their daily diet.
Foods to give turtles include clams (which provide calcium), kale, turnip greens, mustard greens or dandelion greens; however fish should only make up 25 percent of their diet.
