An optimal turtle diet requires providing it with both plant- and animal-based foods, such as pet store turtle pellets and trout chow from pet stores, processed or canned items like drained sardines or chicken.
Live prey such as worms, earthworms, crickets and feeder fish provide another source of protein; however, this should only make up part of one’s daily diet.
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Vegetables
Turtles may be carnivores, but feeding them a diet rich in vegetables may extend their lives and enhance their overall wellbeing. A diet high in dark leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, mustard greens collard greens and turnip greens should be offered regularly; carrots celery kale parsley and green beans can also be provided in smaller quantities for optimal health.
Avoid heads of iceberg and bibb lettuce, which contain mostly water with little nutritional benefit for turtles to digest. Other varieties like green leaf and romaine offer better options.
Be wary when providing turtles with vegetables like broccoli, carrots and chard as these could contain too much sugar and oxalates that prevent calcium absorption – essential nutrients for maintaining strong shells.
Fruits
Turtles may enjoy enjoying fruits that contain vitamins and antioxidants in small quantities, like blueberries. Other fruits that provide such nutrition include the fruits from aquatic plants like pond weed, duckweed, water hyacinths and anacharis.
Peaches provide turtles with calcium, fiber, multiple vitamins and antioxidants; in addition, their low caloric count makes them an excellent snack choice.
However, fruit should not make up a major part of one’s diet as many varieties contain high levels of sugar. Therefore, fruit should only be enjoyed occasionally as snacks and special treats; most vegetables that contain phosphorus should also fall within this realm.
Meat
Your turtle should receive a diet composed of fresh fruits and vegetables to get all of the essential vitamins they require, while avoiding processed, high sodium food products with preservatives which could potentially harm its health.
Food that can provide your turtle with essential nutrition includes meat, which should be thoroughly cooked prior to being served to it. Meat contains high amounts of proteins and iron as well as other beneficial elements for their overall wellbeing.
Meat should never be fed raw as this contains bacteria that could make your turtle sick. Tetra ReptoMin food sticks provide a convenient and scientifically designed source of calcium, vitamins, and minerals for smaller aquatic pets such as turtles and newts.
Fish
Turtles require a diet consisting of animal and plant matter to remain healthy and strong. A mix of insects, fish, leafy greens, fruits and vegetables should be provided along with commercial pelleted foods that have been specifically tailored for turtles to ensure they get all of the essential vitamins and minerals.
Avoid feeding your turtles food that has been frozen as this could introduce harmful bacteria and contaminants, and stay away from feeding your turtles dog or cat food, which could result in nutritional deficiencies for them.
Eggs may be given as treats; however, they should only be offered after being hard-boiled (and only occasionally). Too frequent egg feeding may lead to vitamin E and thiamine deficiency in children; similar guidance applies when feeding high fat feeder fish like goldfish as treats.
Treats
Turtles love snacking on fruits and vegetables as healthy treats. Turtles will enjoy nibbling bits of apple, iceberg lettuce, corn or blueberries (removing all seeds first), while devouring pieces of watermelon too!
Dark leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, collard greens and kale are highly nutritious vegetables that should be included as part of any healthy diet. Other options may include dandelion greens, turnip greens, mustard greens and Swiss chard.
Aquatic turtles should also be fed small amounts of earthworms, aquatic snails and feeder fish like guppies or minnows to feed on. Please remember to freeze wild-caught fish for several days in the freezer in order to eliminate parasites). However, steer clear of feeding your reptile anything like dog or cat food which contain additives that are unsuitable for reptiles.
