Pet turtles are omnivorous, and should receive a diet consisting of animal products, fruit and vegetables in an appropriate ratio depending upon age and species of turtle.
Vegetables include leafy greens such as kale, collards and parsley as well as non-sugary fruit. Aquatic turtles should also be given small amounts of fish (typically feeder fish) that will provide essential protein sources.
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Meat
Turtle meat has seen an increased demand from those following Paleo and Carnivore diets, as its unique flavors and textures make for delicious meals. If you wish to prepare turtle meat yourself, however, it is vital that you know how best to do so.
Pet owners can feed their turtles with commercial turtle pellets designed for easy digestion, or provide cooked meat or feeder fish as alternatives.
Feeding turtles food that triggers their natural hunting instincts and offers balanced amounts of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and other essential nutrients can provide them with an enjoyable eating experience and ensure optimal health. Unfortunately, raw meat contains the potential risk of salmonella infection, potentially making your turtle sick; feeder fish is therefore the better alternative and can be found at most pet shops.
Vegetables
Turtle diets should generally consist of an abundance of vegetables and fruits. Kale, collard greens and mustard greens are excellent, while other lettuce varieties such as Romaine, bibb and escarole can also provide vital nutrition. Carrots, squash and peas make for good choices as well.
Fruit is essential to turtle health and should be offered both fresh and frozen, such as strawberries, raspberries and cranberries, in addition to apples, bananas and pears for sweet fruits like apples.
Before feeding any vegetable to your turtle, be sure to thoroughly wash it first and prepare either raw or cooked vegetables – though the latter are more likely to pique its interest. Certain vegetables, like iceberg lettuce and mushrooms, don’t provide much nutritional value and should be avoided as such.
Fruits
Fruit is an important source of vitamins and minerals for turtles, though should not serve as their sole food source. Fruit can also contain high concentrations of sugar which could contribute to obesity or cause other health issues in your turtle.
Grapes are full of antioxidants and contain calcium, phosphorus and iron – three key nutrients your pet may be lacking in. Give these as treats every now and then for maximum effectiveness.
Peaches are low-calorie fruits that provide ample sources of fiber, calcium and vitamins and minerals – perfect for adding variety to a turtle diet! Both fresh and frozen varieties make excellent choices.
Berries can provide your turtle with essential nutrition. However, be careful if feeding berries to an infant turtle as some contain oxalates which bind calcium ion causing metabolic bone disease.
Live Food
As turtles age, their diet should include less meat and more leafy greens and vegetables. Pond fish should still be provided, but should not serve as their main source of protein.
Freeze-dried insects and crustaceans provide a good alternative to live feeder fish as they contain numerous vital vitamins and nutrients that birds require for healthy development. You’ll find these treats available at pet mega stores in their bird section.
Some experts suggest giving turtles only as much food as they could consume within 15 minutes to prevent overfeeding, while others provide specific recommendations depending on species and age of turtles. Turtles require variety in their diet to prevent boredom and nutritional deficiencies – this can be achieved by offering different foods on different days, or adding treats like cuttlebones into their water.
Supplements
Though captive turtles do not enjoy the same level of protein-rich wild food sources (i.e. meat buffet), it remains important to provide high-quality foods with essential proteins and nutrients they require – for instance Hikari Tropical Algae Wafers contain high levels of spirulina and chlorella algae which are rich sources of protein but low in fat content. Although not accepted by all species, Hikari Tropical Algae Wafers offer one such product.
Omega One adult turtle sticks are another good choice, made from premium ingredients (with proper calcium:phosphorus ratios) that will attract all species. In addition, these sticks provide excellent levels of Vitamin D and E – though if your turtle already enjoys eating a varied diet rich in greens and orange, yellow, or red vegetables then extra supplements may not be needed.
