Box turtles are omnivorous animals that should be fed a range of plant-based foods. Any high in salt or preservatives (particularly canned goods), should be avoided as much as possible.
Your turtle should primarily consume leafy greens. Snacking on fruits should also be allowed, although only in small amounts due to their high sugar content.
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Vegetables
Turtles are generally classified as omnivores, but as they mature their diet should become increasingly vegetable-focused. To achieve this goal, reduce processed food and increase consumption of fresh veggies, dried fruit and leafy greens.
Fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries make delicious additions to a diet and help prevent the build-up of algae in a tank.
Always give treats in small doses; excess sugar can harm any animal, especially reptiles.
Vegetables to feed to turtles include collard greens, beet greens, Swiss chard, kale, mustard greens, watercress escarole and parsley – these should all be fed sparingly due to high levels of oxalates which bind calcium and other essential nutrients that cannot be absorbed by the body and cause serious health problems in turtles.
Fruits
Although turtles are opportunistic feeders and will take what food is available, ensuring proper nutrition requires variety in their diet. A diet rich in fish (fresh, frozen or canned), mealworms, waxworms and earthworms along with some leafy green vegetables is sure to provide everything they require.
Fruit can also play an integral part of your turtle’s diet, though not as a major component. Safe fruits for turtles include figs, bananas and strawberries; bananas in particular contain vitamin A which helps prevent excessive skin shedding and boosts immune systems.
Other fruits suitable for turtles include apricots, apples, pears and cantaloupe; citrus fruits can be too acidic for them. Watermelons provide lots of essential vitamins A, C and B-complex; just be sure to remove the rind and seeds before feeding it to your turtle!
Insects
Insects make up an integral part of turtle diets in nature. These animals feed on crickets, earthworms, mealworms and wax worms as well as beetles, flies, grasshoppers mosquitos and caterpillars which provide protein for their diets. Insects provide important sources of nutrition.
Young or growing box turtles may require additional protein and calcium. For optimal nutrition, these turtles should be fed live insects like pinkie mice, crickets and mealworms that have been “gut loaded” or dusted with powdered calcium for added nutritional value.
Avoid giving your turtles human-processed foods like fried items and sweets that contain high levels of salt; these could lead to obesity and health issues in turtles. Furthermore, regular cleanup of any uneaten food from their tank will help prevent bacteria and algae buildup from building up over time.
Fish
Turtles in the wild are generally omnivorous; their diet varies by species. Some, like loggerheads and hawksbills, consume crabs, shrimp, jellies, algae and other plant materials while other turtles such as red-eared sliders and mudpuppies prefer vegetarianism.
Pet turtles need a diet composed of vegetables and floating fruits to thrive. Leafy greens that contain dark pigmentation such as romaine lettuce, endive, mustard or collard greens as well as Swiss chard are highly recommended as part of this plan. Kale, parsley and carrot tops may also make excellent selections; iceberg lettuce, spinach or chives contain high levels of oxalates which could potentially harm them, according to Fetch by WebMD.
Goldfish and rosy red minnows that are commonly used as feeder fish should not be fed to turtles as these may lead to vitamin B1 deficiency – known as thiamine deficiency in reptiles – as well as having spiny bones which could obstruct their throat or digestive tracts.
