If you own a musk turtle, they require a diet rich in various nutrients for proper development of their shells and growth. Without adequate nourishment, their shells could become soft or fail to develop normally.
Musk turtles are carnivorous animals, devouring insects such as crickets, earthworms, redworms, dubia cockroaches and damselfly nymphs for sustenance. Additionally, musk turtles enjoy feeding on aquatic prey such as crabs, shrimps, minnows and guppies.
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Prey
Musk turtle diets typically consist of aquatic insects, mussels, snails, crayfish, fish and tadpoles; as well as occasionally foraging for carrion or debris from other creatures.
Musk turtles are predominantly nocturnal, foraging for food in the evening hours. Although musk turtles climb well and rest in trees protruding from water bodies, they do not bask in direct sunlight.
Female cicada nesting habits depend on where they reside geographically, but typically two clutches per season of 1-9 eggs under loose debris in loamy soil are laid by females, with clutch size depending on carapace length, age and other environmental factors.
Musk turtle diet includes freshwater mussels, snails, crayfish, aquatic insects, worms and small fish species like tadpoles. Commercial reptile pellets may also provide good sources of protein.
Vegetables
Musk turtles in the wild thrive by eating an assortment of aquatic organisms, fish, insects, and seaweed; while in captivity musk turtles should receive a balanced diet to remain happy and healthy. Providing these turtles with varied meals helps ensure they remain happy and healthy!
Vegetables are an important component of the musk turtle diet and should be offered along with other forms of food as a supplement or alone as food source.
Swiss chard and spinach should only be consumed in moderation to avoid nutritional deficiencies; their high levels of oxalates may impede calcium and other essential trace mineral absorption.
Apart from fresh vegetables, commercial foods fortified with vitamins and minerals may also provide an effective option in areas where fresh produce may be hard to access.
Pellets
Musk turtles should be fed high-quality pellets to provide essential nutrition, but beware not to overfeed your turtle, as overeating could lead to obesity and related health issues.
Common Musk Turtles (Stendotherus oderatus) feed on an array of food sources, from small fish, plants, mollusks, insects and algae to carrion. This species is found throughout North America primarily in permanent shallow streams, ponds and slow moving bodies of water.
A common habitat of this fish species is under trees with waterlogged branches and it feeds predominantly by foraging on the bottoms of streams and ponds for sustenance.
Hatchling musk turtles need more animal protein in their diet for proper development and health. While greens should not be forced down their throats, commercial pellets containing chopped meat or insects as treats should occasionally be given as rewards.
Fruits
Fruits provide turtles with essential vitamins and minerals, yet it’s essential to understand which fruits are suitable for them. It’s vitally important that owners understand which varieties are safe.
Some fruits contain high concentrations of phosphorus and citric acid, both harmful substances for turtles. Such foods can irritate their stomach while hindering their body from absorbing essential calcium for healthy bones and shells.
As such, it is advised that musk turtles do not receive regular meals of fruit; rather they should receive small servings once or twice per week.
Dried fruits offer another way of adding fruit to the diet of musk turtles. These delectable treats can give your pet an occasional treat without all of the work that goes into chopping fresh veggies, while providing an easy alternative to pellets which simply need to be soaked before serving.
