Some experts advise feeding pond turtles commercial pellets designed specifically to provide them with vitamins and minerals they require, while others believe offering a variety of foods is the optimal approach.
Ideal diets should include both vegetables and animal prey such as earthworms, crickets and wax worms. Incorporating both vegan and meat meals on alternate days is suggested for optimal nutrition.
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Leafy Vegetables
Maintaining the health and wellbeing of turtles requires providing them with a balanced diet. Omnivorous in nature, they require a varied selection of proteins, greens, fruits and vegetables in their meals to thrive and absorb calcium properly. Care must be taken when selecting foods as some can block its absorption.
Turtles need a diet rich in greens like dandelion greens, collard greens, kale and mustard greens as part of a balanced diet. Turtles also require fruit such as strawberries and bananas as well as cantaloupe tomatoes and apples which should be cut up into bite-size pieces so it is easier for turtles to digest them.
However, turtles should never consume foods high in fat and salt like bread and processed meats, candy or any sugary treats as these could harm their teeth. Furthermore, any uneaten food must be removed from their habitat to prevent bacteria growth and unwanted algae blooms.
Fruits
Turtles tend to enjoy eating fruits and vegetables, particularly berries and watermelons that have reached full ripeness, as well as flowers such as geraniums, carnations and hibiscus. Cutting these foods into small pieces will allow your turtle to digest them more easily; keep in mind that certain seeds and peels of fruits may contain poisonous substances which should be removed prior to feeding them to your turtle.
Most vegetables and fruits that are safe for pond turtles can be found right in your own home or garden, with careful washing being required before giving any produce directly to a turtle as dirt may cause digestive upset in certain cases.
Fluker’s and ReptoMin turtle pellets provide the majority of animal protein required by pond turtles; however, for optimal health it’s recommended that their diet includes other sources. Earthworms, feeder fish (goldfish or guppies) and crickets make great options; in addition they will eat algae, duckweed and aquatic plants such as water lily fronds. Where possible it would be preferable to provide fresh food from local suppliers rather than store-bought pet food products.
Meat
Some turtle owners argue that raw vegetables like lettuce, kale and collard greens provide important sources of nutrition. According to these owners, such foods should be included in your turtle’s diet in moderation; however, others consider these low-nutrient foods dangerous because too much may lead to health concerns for your turtle.
Wild pond turtles are carnivorous and will consume animal matter such as fish, frogs, amphibians and insects for sustenance. A well balanced turtle diet should include both plant matter and animal foods for sustenance.
Fry foods like French Fries or Fried Chicken should not be given to your turtle, as these contain lots of fat and sugar that is harmful for their health. Furthermore, fried foods pose a choking hazard and dairy contains lactose which their enzymes cannot break down; additionally spinach, chard and beets contain Oxalic Acid which blocks them from absorbing calcium which is an essential mineral essential to their wellbeing.
Fish
Some pet turtle owners opt to provide their turtle with a vegetarian diet, while others find that including animal proteins provides additional vitamins and fuels their appetite. It is generally advised to focus on providing your reptile with vegetables and fruits as the majority of its diet; however, maintaining a balance between plant-based foods and animal proteins will benefit all reptiles.
Wild turtles consume aquatic prey such as fish. Captive owners can replicate this natural diet with feeder guppies and goldfish as sources of protein; others may raise feeder tilapia or freshwater species for feeding purposes.
Some pond turtles enjoy snacking on leafy green vegetables such as collard, turnip, mustard, bok choy, dandelion greens and water lettuce. Other suitable options for turtle diets are anacharis, hibiscus flowers/leaves and water hyacinth. It is wise to avoid feeding your pond turtle spinach or foods high in Oxalic Acid since these could prevent its body from absorbing calcium from food sources.
