Maintaining your river turtle’s health is easy: feed them a varied diet of plants, fruits, vegetables and fish.
Red meats such as beef and sausages should never be included in a turtle’s diet. They lack essential vitamins and nutrients, potentially leading to serious health issues.
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Fish
Turtles feed on a variety of items while submerged, such as fish, prawns, eggs and insects. They may also consume small plants and vegetables.
They possess an acute sense of sight, smell and hearing which enable them to locate food, avoid predators and find suitable partners during breeding season. Furthermore, they use echolocation – a specialised head-bobbing technique useful in murky waters – as part of their vision system.
Turtles’ carapace colour plays an important role in thermoregulation. On warm or hot days, turtles may leave the water and bask.
Turtles often enter a state of hibernation (brumation) when food supplies are limited or temperatures drop. This period is known as hibernation for turtles.
Turtles during brumation will reduce their activity and lose interest in eating, though they still remain active during the daytime by swimming around or sunning themselves. Turtles are highly sensitive to temperature changes; if temperatures drop below 16degC they will cease feeding.
Meat
River turtles are omnivorous, meaning they will consume fish, prawns, insects and water plants. Some species also feed on algae, fungi and soft-bodied invertebrates.
Maintaining your pet turtle’s health by feeding them an appropriate mix of animal and plant matter is paramount. We recommend giving your turtle around 60% animal food and 40% plant food.
Your turtle’s size determines what kind of food they will accept: earthworms, snails, slugs, beetles, grasshoppers, moths, crickets, mealworms and wax worms can all be offered as treats. Feeding live prey encourages your pet to hunt and helps them remain active throughout the day.
You can provide your turtle with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Leafy greens such as collards, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, endive, and romaine lettuce are ideal foods to offer them.
Vegetables
River turtles are herbivores, eating vegetables, fruit and occasionally meat. A balanced diet is essential for their wellbeing so make sure to offer a wide variety of foods.
Vegetables should make up the bulk of a turtle’s diet, but fruits should also be included. Select vegetables with high levels of Vitamin A such as carrots, squash, bell peppers and other red, orange and yellow vegetables for maximum nutrition benefits.
If you’re uncertain which veggies are safe for your pet turtle, consult with a veterinarian. Vegetables with low calcium-to-phosphorus ratios, like lettuce and spinach, should be avoided.
Corn is also high in oxalates, which bind to calcium and magnesium and make it unsuitable for your turtle. Peas and beans should also be avoided due to this issue.
Fruits
Turtles eat a wide range of plant matter, such as fruits and vegetables. Additionally, they consume meats, fish and insects.
Turtles in the wild often feed by taking advantage of any tasty or available food sources. This behavior helps them avoid starvation when water levels drop or drought conditions prevail.
Turtle diets vary according to species. Some consume only worms or snails, while others can be found grazing on algae, fallen fruit, flowers and other plants.
Most turtles feed by using their jaws to tear and chew their food into small pieces. Some, like alligator snapping turtles, possess powerful jaws that can easily consume whole prey as well as other items.
Turtles can safely eat some fruits, such as strawberries. They provide them with Vitamin C which is beneficial for their bone health and growth.
