Box turtles are opportunistic omnivorous animals and in the wild they feed on a wide range of foods including minnows, worms, earthworms, snails, insects, carrion, frogs and grasses. When kept as pets in captivity however they should be fed on leafy greens, fruits and vegetables for best results.
Make sure that the majority of your turtle’s diet consists of dark-leafed vegetables (excluding iceberg lettuce) and vibrant fruits, like cherries or nectarines.
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Leafy Vegetables
Box turtles in captivity need a varied diet to survive successfully, including leafy vegetables, fruits and flowers in small amounts. Darker green vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals should comprise most of their diet; include collard greens, turnip greens, kale mustard or dandelion greens collard greens turnip greens kale endive watercress parsley Swiss chard and bok choy while light green varieties such as iceberg or head lettuce which provide only water and fiber and little nutrients should also be avoided. Brightly colored red yellow or orange vegetables can also be offered.
Box turtles also enjoy eating fruit and berries in moderation; bananas should only be given occasionally as they contain large quantities of oxalates that could potentially lead to kidney problems. Safe fruits to feed include figs, blueberries (blue, rasp, blackberrys), mango and apples – they even love flowers like dandelions, hibiscus and nasturtiums!
Fruits
Box turtles should be given an assortment of fruits and vegetables in their diet to provide all of the essential vitamins and minerals for optimal health. Some fruits that should be included are apples, pears, kiwis, figs (which contain calcium), mango, papaya, pineapple oranges berries and tomatoes – it is best to chop these foods up into manageable pieces prior to feeding them to your pet in order to prevent boredom with one food item or potential choking hazards.
Box turtles in captivity should consume about 50 percent of their diet as plant material; to replicate this in captivity it’s crucial to feed them plenty of vegetables containing dark leafy greens such as dandelion greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, kale parsley and chard are ideal choices; light leafy greens such as iceberg lettuce contain mostly water without much nutritional value.
Flowers
Box turtles are vulnerable creatures, often falling prey to predation from cars, mowers and other sources that pose grave danger. When injured turtles arrive at Murfreesboro-based Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation for treatment, Rachel Singer can repair broken shells, limbs or heads as quickly as possible.
Fleshy fruits provide reptiles with energy as well as essential vitamins and minerals, and among the best fruits to feed are apples, bananas (with skin), berries and mango.
These fruits are full of vitamin C and K, potassium and niacin; additionally they make for a great source of dietary fiber. As with all fruit sources however, only consume small portions at one time.
Insects
Box turtles are omnivorous animals and require a diet consisting of approximately 50% animal-based foods, 30% leafy vegetables, and 10% fruit. Box turtles may also consume insects such as snails and slugs (Platt et al. 2009); insects should be introduced slowly while dusted with reptile-safe calcium supplements before feeding.
Box turtles should consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as pellets or canned food containing fish, meat, or other sources of protein like chicken, beef, lamb or turkey. Pellets should first be soaked before being given as this helps them digest more easily.
Feed your turtles low-fat or high-fat foods as this could lead to serious health issues, including obesity and diabetes. In nature, box turtles feed on various prey items including mollusks, snakes, birds, frogs and salamanders; additionally they serve an invaluable purpose as seed dispersal agents by eating plant flesh such as huckleberries, blackberrys, pokeweed and frost grapes and passing the seeds along via digestion and regurgitation.
