River turtles eat a mix of animal and plant foods, including aquatic insects, snails, crayfish, small fish, algae and water plants. Exactly what they favor depends on the species and age, and pet river turtles do best on pellets, greens and occasional live or frozen protein.
Wild Diet
Many river turtles are omnivores, such as sliders, cooters and map turtles. Some, like many map turtles, specialize more in snails and mussels and have broad jaws for crushing shells. Others eat mainly plants as they age. Wild turtles take fallen fruit, algae, duckweed and other aquatic plants, along with insects and carrion.
What to Feed a Pet River Turtle
- Pellets: a quality aquatic turtle pellet as the foundation.
- Greens: dandelion, collard and mustard greens, romaine, plus floating plants such as duckweed or water lettuce.
- Protein: earthworms, bloodworms, crickets, snails and cooked or thawed whole small fish in moderation.
- Treats: small pieces of berries or melon, only occasionally.
Map turtles and other mollusk-eaters benefit from snails offered whole, which also helps wear their beaks.
Feeding Schedule
Hatchlings eat daily; adults eat every two to three days. Remove leftovers after about 30 minutes. A turtle fed outside the water may refuse food, since most river turtles swallow underwater.
Foods to Avoid
- Bread, crackers and other human snacks.
- Rhubarb leaves and other toxic plants.
- Lots of spinach, which binds calcium.
- Wild-caught insects exposed to pesticides.
Bottom Line
Match the diet to your species, keep a basking spot with UVB, and keep the water clean. For similar guides see what creek turtles eat and what plants turtles eat.
General information, not veterinary advice. Ask a reptile vet if your turtle stops eating.
