There are certain foods you can provide your turtle that are completely safe for their wellbeing, while others should only be given occasionally or sparingly – these include fish (no surprise that turtles love it as it comes naturally in their environment) and cooked ground beef.
Contents
Meat
Turtles are carnivorous animals that need to consume plenty of protein in their diet. While most types of meat such as chicken, beef, pork and fish can be fed to them – including raw ones – as long as it’s cooked to ensure optimal phosphorous and calcium balance in their bodies. A diet predominantly composed of seafood should be avoided since this may alter how phosphorous and calcium are distributed across their system.
Some owners feed their turtles raw meat, which can lead to illness. It is essential that all meat be boiled prior to being given to your turtle in order to kill bacteria and make it easier for them to digest. Furthermore, never give iceberg lettuce to your turtle as this has no nutritional value whatsoever.
Fruits
Turtles enjoy eating nearly any vegetable, from leafy greens like kale and collard greens to grated carrots, zucchini squash and fruits such as strawberries melons and bananas.
Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt should be avoided when providing turtles with food because turtles lack the enzymes to break down nutrition properly. Bakery products should also be given in moderation because they do not provide any nutritional value and may cause digestion issues; small quantities should only ever be fed each time food is offered to your turtle. For optimal results, two varieties of leafy greens, thawed frozen mixed vegetables and fruit should also be fed regularly as part of its meal.
Vegetables
Some fresh fruits and vegetables may be beneficial for turtles, while others should be avoided. Iceberg lettuce lacks essential nutrition while onion, garlic, shallots, spicy peppers citrus as well as cruciferous veggies (chard spinach broccoli etc) can contain high levels of oxalates which impede calcium absorption.
Bakery products lack nutritional value and may lead to digestive issues for turtles, while feeding solely fish can result in vitamin E deficiency. Fruit can be an occasional treat but no more than 10% of your turtle’s daily food should come from fruits like apples, strawberries, melons or bananas.
Bread
Turtles, like other omnivores, can metabolize most foods. However, bread and dairy products should never be given to your turtle as these cannot be digested efficiently by them, leading them not to get enough calcium in their diet and potentially leading to metabolic bone disease or other serious health conditions.
Bread and bakery products do not provide any nutritional benefit for turtles. Furthermore, feeding them may lead to digestive issues; furthermore if not cut into small pieces it could even suffocate or choke your turtle!
Nuts
Turtle diets must contain a moderate amount of protein from meat or fish sources; vegetables and fruit should also be included to boost health and stamina. Excess protein consumption could cause pyramiding of their scutes.
Dairy products should also be avoided since turtles cannot digest them well and may even cause health issues. Other foods to steer clear of are fried food, nuts, sugary snacks, pasta and bread.
Turtles can eat dried fruit cocktail and other unsweetened, unprocessed dried fruits, provided they have been soaked in water prior to giving it to them.
Dairy Products
Turtles should avoid feeding dairy products due to lacking the enzymes necessary to break down lactose, and may experience digestive distress as a result. Furthermore, dairy products contain oxalates which interfere with calcium absorption. Finally, nuts are also not advised due to high levels of oxalates which do not provide necessary nutrition.
Turtles can consume eggs as food sources; however, it is best to boil them beforehand to increase protein consumption and provide energy sources for them. Too much protein consumption could result in pyramiding of the scutes.
