Turtles appear calm, making feeding them seem simple; however, they can carry Salmonella bacteria that can make people ill. Bread should never form part of any turtle’s diet as it contains high levels of sugar and flour that they cannot break down effectively and it lacks essential vitamins and nutrients that these creatures require for health.
Give baby turtles a protein-rich diet; adults should receive both plant-based foods and commercial turtle pellets. Avoid offering light leaves that contain high levels of oxalates which prevent absorption of calcium by the turtle.
Contents
Meat
Your turtle can get its protein needs met through many sources, from processed pet foods such as drained sardines and turtle pellets, to live prey such as moth larvae, crickets, earthworms or feeder fish from areas without pollution issues.
As far as plant-based foods go, your turtle can enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables; just be sure to rinse them well to rid any potential traces of pesticides or chemicals; particularly leafy veggies like spinach and chives contain high concentrations of oxalates that are toxic for them. Also try not to give them anything with lactose since turtles cannot digest lactose efficiently. This is particularly important if feeding young or baby turtles.
Vegetables
Wild box turtles are predominantly carnivorous. More than half their diet should consist of animal matter such as insects, worms, crayfish, frogs and even dead animals such as snails. Vegetables and fruit should make up the remainder.
Leafy green veggies such as kale, collards and mustard greens are extremely nutritious for turtles, as are cooked sweet potatoes, carrots, squash and green beans. Iceberg lettuce should be avoided due to its very limited nutritional value.
Apples, cantaloupe, bananas, strawberries and melons can also be good foods to give turtles. Just remember to limit how much fruit is fed since its nutrients may not compare as highly to those provided by vegetables such as dandelion greens, turnip greens and spinach.
Fruit
Turtles are omnivorous animals that feed on both plant material and fruits; however, fruits should comprise only a minor part of their diet. Ideal options for turtles would include bananas, apples, strawberries and pears with their skins removed and pieces chopped up into bite-size pieces for consumption.
Turtle diets should largely consist of vegetables and flowers; approximately 80-90% should come from these sources. Good examples are kale, collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage as well as carrots squash and peas.
Canned fish such as sardines and tuna is also acceptable, provided it has been rinsed first. Furthermore, provide your turtle with calcium and vitamin supplements every two or three days such as crushed cuttlebone or reptile powder for optimal health.
Flowers
Some turtles are vegetarian, while others eat both meat and vegetables. Wild turtles feed on various snails, worms and slugs as well as leafy greens, berries and fruit while in captivity it should be free from bread products (which may cause metabolic bone disease), providing them with an omnivorous diet full of proteins and minerals for proper health.
As part of its plant matter intake, turtles require foods like kale, mustard greens and dandelion greens as sources of nutrition. Lighter green vegetables like iceberg lettuce tend to contain mostly water without providing much nutritional benefit; other healthy options for turtles are steamed carrots, sweet potatoes and boiled or steamed squash; melons, apples and berries can also provide good sources.
Fish
Turtle diets should focus primarily on plant-based food sources. However, turtles also need an ample supply of protein for active living – most pet store dried flakes and pellets can provide enough protein, as can raw chicken or beef liver (but no cooked meat!). Other food sources may include feeder fish, moths, crickets and waxworms (live food); mussels and clams from aquatic environments are another good choice, while terrestrial insects such as flies and earthworms make ideal options.
Breeders often advise giving turtles only as much food they can consume within 15 to 20 minutes, since any extra will sink to the bottom and begin decomposing, potentially polluting water and encouraging bacteria that could harm a turtle’s health. Many also advise against giving bread due to its high sugar content and chemical preservatives.
