Snapping turtles may appear to have powerful jaws and tubercles covering their necks and legs, with algae sprouting from their backs – seemingly an invitation for anything they encounter to enter their stomachs! Indeed, these voracious omnivores have been known to consume plants, invertebrates and fish alike.
While many people enjoy snapping turtle meat, turtles used for this purpose must come from clean ponds and rivers as their flesh contains environmental contaminants.
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Fresh Water
As with other reptiles, snapping turtles require clean and fresh water for sustenance. To provide adequate temperature regulation in their tank environment, aquarium sand or river rocks with smooth surfaces as well as commercial or homemade underwater hides can help.
Snapping turtles (Chrysemys picta) in their natural environments consume fish, aquatic plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and invertebrates like crayfish or worms for sustenance. Such diversity helps ensure these omnivorous reptiles can remain sustainable species.
Crayfish
Snapping turtles are omnivorous animals that feed on both animals and plants, including fish, frogs, birds, insects, aquatic plants, carrion and carrion. Plant matter accounts for roughly one-third of their diets in nature.
Captive snapping turtles should be fed as much of their natural diet as possible to prevent obesity and water fouling from decaying food sources. This helps avoid obesity as well as fouling of water supplies from decayed food particles.
To create an easily and nutritious snapping turtle diet, combine ground trout chow with cod liver oil, calcium powder and unflavored gelatin. Store this mixture in either a pie tin or plastic ice cube tray in your refrigerator.
Earthworms
Earthworms are invertebrate soil-dwellers belonging to the taxonomic phylum Annelida. Their permeable skin enables easy movement through soil while their fluid-filled chamber (coelom) provides structural support.
Earthworms provide essential amino acids and vitamins necessary for healthy turtle diets, in addition to being an excellent source of protein.
Recommended to comprise no more than 25% of your turtle’s diet, overfeeding on worms can cause pyramiding which will limit overall growth in your turtle.
Pellets
Reptomin turtle pellets are available at most pond stores and make an excellent starting diet for carnivorous turtles. Low in protein to avoid pyramiding but high enough in carotenes for carnivorous reptiles.
Like any animal, turtles need a varied diet. If they’re eating only pellets, consider supplementing with some crayfish, earthworms, aquarium plants like duckweed or water hyacinth and even nibbling leaves of lettuce to give their diet some additional substance.
Zoo Med feeders provide another effective option, making your turtle work for its food while encouraging activity and foraging behaviors. Plus, it gives him/her the chance for sun exposure and vitamin D!
Floating Duck Weed
Floating duck weed is a highly sought-after aquarium plant. Not only does it add greenery to an otherwise monotone aquarium environment, it helps control algae growth. Furthermore, it’s highly durable and hardy.
Duckweed plants help prevent harmful levels of ammonia and nitrates from building up in water supplies, while providing food sources for fish and turtles.
Alligator snapping turtles typically hunt by lying still on the bottom of their aquatic environment and nibbling at unsuspecting prey that comes near. After nibbling, their prey will then be pulled into their mouth and swallowed whole.
Water Lettuce
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is an aquatic plant similar to Peace Lilies found in tropical and high humidity environments, growing quickly to quickly block waterways in its path. Florida, California and other states consider Water lettuce an invasive species due to this fast growth rate and can consider it an invasive species as well.
Pet owners can offer this easy-care plant as additional nourishment for their turtles alongside other sources like crayfish, earthworms and pelleted diets.
Hatchlings should be fed daily and juveniles every other day. It is best to give only as much food as they will consume within 15 minutes.
Frozen Fish
Frozen fish is a wonderful addition to any turtle’s diet. The quick freezing process preserves all the vitamins, minerals and proteins while sealing in all fats that could otherwise go rancid and prevents pathogen growth. Additionally, this process prevents any possible rancidity issues caused by fat thawout.
Frozen seafood provides essential Omega-3 fatty acids to support heart health, along with other important nutrients like iodine, selenium and vitamins D and B2. Furthermore, frozen seafood supplies high-quality protein which plays an essential role in building and repairing body tissues, enzymes and hormones, cell growth support and blood clotting support.
