Box turtles require a high-protein diet containing vegetables. Additionally, they need ample calcium and beta-carotene.
Wild box turtles often consume about half their diet in plant material; to mimic this in captivity, offering various varieties of vegetables – from prickly pear leaves and hibiscus flowers to other forms – is highly recommended.
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Vegetables
Box turtles should consume an abundance of vegetables, with dark leafy greens accounting for the bulk of their diet; fruits can contribute between 10-22%.
Avoid offering lightweight leafy greens such as iceberg lettuce and celery, which contain high amounts of water and fiber without much nutritional value. In addition to offering your turtle a variety of vegetables, it is also important to give it access to protein-rich sources like mealworms or crushed cuttlebone for nourishment.
As much as it would be ideal, box turtles’ natural diet consists of insects and worms; forcing them to consume more vegetables could prove counterproductive.
Fruit
Box turtles often enjoy fruits in their diets; however, it should not constitute more than half of their overall food source.
Box turtles should only consume fruits that are safe for consumption by their species, such as apples, pears, pineapple, mangoes, blueberries, blackberries, cantaloupe strawberries raspberries honeydew melons kiwi fruit and oranges. Avoid feeding your turtle bananas or any high sugar fruits which could lead to obesity in these chelonians.
Vegetables should also be provided on a regular basis to your pet turtle, such as kale, turnips, collard greens, okra, squash varieties and broccoli rabe (rapini). These nutritious vegetables provide valuable vitamins that will promote optimal health in their turtle as well as provide fiber.
Flowers
Box turtles require protein as well as leafy vegetables and fruit in their diet, along with ample calcium intake.
Wild box turtles typically consume animal matter such as insects and worms for sustenance; other sources of nutrition may include leaves, fruits and flowers. While this diet can be replicated with proper husbandry and food selection in captivity, success will depend on having sufficient resources available.
Dark green vegetables should form an integral part of a box turtle’s diet and should account for at least 80-90%. Romaine lettuce is ideal, while Bibb or Escarole make great alternatives. Iceberg lettuce should be avoided however as it provides water but lacks essential nutrition.
Meat
Box turtles should be fed a variety of vegetables to provide all of their necessary nutrition. Dark greens are especially rich in Vitamin A, folate and potassium while bright red/orange vegetables provide Vitamin C and manganese. A proper ratio between calcium and phosphorus intake should also be maintained; foods like kale (3:1) collard greens (4:1) or tender greens provide such balances.
Box turtles are omnivorous animals, eating both animal- and plant-based food sources. When feeding uncooked meat to your pet, make sure it has been fully cooked as uncooked meat can contain bacteria or germs and be less nutritious due to lacking certain vitamins and minerals.
Eggs
Box turtles are opportunistic feeders; when food of any sort becomes available to them, they will eat it! Their diet may include mollusks, fish, birds, amphibians, snakes, salamanders, insects or even carrion.
Captive turtles should consume approximately 50% plant material and 40% animal protein in their diet, with most coming from dark leafy vegetables and fruit. When giving these to their turtles it is best to steam or shred before giving to the animal.
Feeding your box turtle with a variety of foods will ensure they get all of the essential vitamins and nutrients they require for good health, as well as providing them with a balanced diet and safe environment. Doing this will increase their lifespan while prolonging happiness in their life.
