Most pet turtles are omnivores; some start out as carnivores but gradually shift toward plant-based diets as they age. A well-balanced turtle diet should include commercially prepared pellets, insects, cooked meats, fruits and vegetables.
Removing uneaten food from a turtle’s environment is essential in avoiding toxic build-up and buildup of toxins.
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Meat
While young turtles are likely to take whatever food is available to them, including meat-rich sources like ornate box turtles (which require much higher meat intake as adults), adult turtles typically become more omnivorous over time and require less meat for optimal development.
Most aquatic turtles will enjoy eating leaf lettuces such as collard greens and butter lettuce (but never iceberg lettuce), along with various other vegetables including bok choy, peas, carrot tops, squash zucchini radish apples bananas berries cantaloupe. Before feeding any produce to your turtle be sure to wash all produce thoroughly to remove pesticides or chemicals that could be harmful.
Many turtles will also eat small fish such as comet goldfish, mosquito fish and aquatic snails; trout chow or other prepared dehydrated fish meals provide excellent sources of protein for their diets.
Vegetables
Most turtles in the wild are opportunistic eaters, meaning they will consume various sources of nutrition when hungry – typically including meat, fruits, greens and vegetables. While young turtles will likely begin as carnivorous eaters as they mature into adults.
Turtle diets should include fresh leafy greens and vegetables like collard, mustard, kale, bok choy, alfalfa hay, endive, dandelion and watercress; this food source may even serve as a protein source!
As a general guideline, feed your turtle enough food to fill its headspace. Although this is not an exact science and will depend on which species it comes from, this gives an estimate as to how much food to give out.
Fruits
Young turtles typically need carnivorous diets consisting of earthworms and crickets stuffed with greens and berries as well as calcium-rich vegetables and fruit for survival, while older turtles will generally take what’s available when it comes to food sources.
Breeders often recommend feeding turtles a diet rich in meat, leafy greens and fruits rather than exclusively pellets. As a guideline to determine how much your turtle should eat within 15 minutes, offer as much food that fits comfortably within its head and neck space – this will tell you exactly how much food needs to be given!
Pellets should account for no more than 25% of your turtle’s diet, with the remainder coming from leafy greens such as collard, mustard and dandelion greens (but not iceberg lettuce), bok choy, spinach and chard (including carrots squash and endive), as well as calcium-rich foods like Swiss Chard and Beet Greens; also including fruit such as apples pears berries cantaloupe etc.
Insects
Turtles seem to have an insatiable appetite. When feeding in their wild habitats, food may not always be available and so when living in your aquarium this same opportunistic behavior comes out – looking for any source of sustenance in order to satisfy their hunger.
Most turtle species begin their lives as carnivores, transitioning gradually towards an herbivorous diet as they mature. Pellets should comprise only a small part of your turtle’s overall diet; most fresh fruits and vegetables should provide enough nutrition.
Vegetables to incorporate include grated carrots (tops are acceptable), squash, and green leafy vegetables like dandelion and mustard greens. Iceberg lettuce does not provide sufficient nutrition and has high concentrations of oxalates that interfere with calcium production in the body.
Treats
Although turtles tend to eat fast when hungry, they should not be overfed. Turtle pellets should make up most of your turtle’s diet – specially-designed ones for babies, juveniles and adults can be purchased from pet stores; trout chow that has been rehydrated is another good option; aquatic turtle species often consume earthworms, crayfish or crickets as part of their food source as well.
Treat your turtle to live food like crickets, mealworms and waxworms at least once every week as a special treat. Iceberg lettuce contains no nutritional value and may lead to long-term health problems; all fresh fruits and vegetables must first be washed thoroughly before being fed to your turtle.
