Wild turtle diets often consist of animal prey such as insects, fish, worms and amphibians; as well as plant prey such as water plants, algae and fallen fruit. Pet stores sell pelleted food specifically designed to meet their dietary needs for captive turtles.
Apples make a nutritious treat for both wild and pet turtles alike; however, too many apples may cause vitamin A deficiency.
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Meat
Most turtles are omnivorous, though young turtles require additional protein as babies or young adults. Feeder fish such as goldfish or tadpoles provide enough of this important amino acid source to meet growing turtle needs; their rich source of nutrient livers makes this choice preferable to beef liver that may prove toxic for turtles.
Processed pet foods like drained sardines and turtle pellets should make up about 25% of a pet’s diet, while live prey such as frogs, tadpoles or small freshwater fish should constitute another 25%. Other sources of protein can include dragonfly larvae, beetle larvae, crickets mealworms waxworms or earthworms.
A balanced turtle diet should include calcium-rich fruits and vegetables such as berries, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, kale, collard greens and beet greens. It is important to limit certain vegetables like spinach, chard and beets which contain high levels of Oxalic Acid which prevents reptiles from absorbing necessary calcium levels. In addition, rhubarb should never be offered since its oxalates cause Metabolic Bone Disease in turtles.
Vegetables
Reptiles feed on both animal and plant foods. Their diet varies between soil-dwelling reptiles that consume their diet through subterranean burrowing, aquatic plant nibbling and fruit and vegetable consumption. As pets you can feed your turtle grubs, fish, crickets, cockroaches, superworms mealworms dubia roaches as well as lean meats like hamburger or cooked lean beef as well as adding mushrooms carrot tops green beans dandelions collard greens cabbage endive Swiss chard for variety in their daily meal plans.
Your fish should also eat fruit in moderation as too much can be high in sugar and lack essential nutrient balance, such as pears, apples, bananas (with skin), mango, star fruit and kiwis. They can enjoy eating fish occasionally but avoid those high in thiaminase production; fresh water plants such as hyacinths, lettuces, hornworts anachris or duckweed should also be provided as treats.
Fish
Many turtles in the wild are adept opportunistic feeders and will accept any available food when hungry – such as fish, worms and fruits – but they also relish nibbling on leafy greens like spinach and collard greens.
Turtles eat algae to filter pollutants and provide essential nutrition, making this an important food source during winter when your turtle might try to brumate itself.
Your turtle may enjoy eating freshwater fish such as prawns, guppies, goldfish, minnows and mussels from pet stores or store-formulated freshwater pellets that contain them. It is best to feed them at their most active times of day (early morning or late afternoon) to stimulate their appetite, activity and territorial/mating behavior – this may increase appetite stimulation as well. It is not advised to feed live amphibians or reptiles as these may contain bacteria and parasites which could cause disease issues in their systems.
Algae eaters
Turtles eat different things depending on the species; some feed on fish while others prefer eating plants and algae. Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) use their scissor-like jaws to eat jellyfish, sponges and algae while green sea turtles (Chelonia myadis) tend to prefer herbivorous diets including seagrasses as food sources.
Pet turtles need fresh fruits and vegetables, including aquatic plants like water hyacinth, pondweed or duckweed that contain essential vitamins and minerals. A diet rich in green leaves also helps filter pollutants out of pond ecosystems.
Freshwater turtles should be fed small amounts of fish as a supplement to a vegetarian diet, including processed pet food like drained sardines, turtle pellets and trout chow. As an alternative, live prey like worms, freshwater snails or crickets may provide more nutrition than their processed counterparts; avoid feeding fatty meats which provide minimal nutrition while may contain chemicals or preservatives harmful to their wellbeing.
