Turtles feed on various foods depending on their species; green sea turtles forage in seagrass beds and nearshore habitats while hawksbill and leatherback species target sponges and jellyfish as sustenance sources.
Pet turtles should be fed commercially available turtle pellets (which provide essential protein) along with non-toxic aquatic plants such as water hyacinth, duckweed and lettuce. Some owners also opt to chop up various veggies in order to prevent their turtle from becoming overly attached to one type of food and missing out on other nutritious plants.
Contents
Seaweed
Each species of sea turtle inhabiting our world oceans has its own individual diet: green turtle hatchlings begin as omnivores but eventually transition into herbivores; while hawksbill and leatherback turtles specialize in eating sponges and jellyfish for sustenance.
Olive ridley and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are both omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of foods such as fish, jellyfish, shrimp, crabs, sea urchins, seaweed, etc. Their jaws are specially designed to crush hard-shelled creatures with ease.
Green sea turtles enjoy munching on algae and seagrass found near coral reefs, using their serrated beaks like saws to tear apart seaweed that grows near rocks and scrape it off of rocks. Like land plants, some types of seaweed develop air bladders called pneumatocysts to float; photosynthesis transforms sunlight into sugar which provides energy needed for growth; this form of photosynthesis also converts sunlight into vitamins and minerals essential for good health – as well as being added into foods such as salads or soups and even weight loss supplements!
Seafood
Diets of sea turtles vary depending on their species. Green and hawksbill sea turtles, for instance, tend to be herbivorous when adults, spending most of their time scraping algae off coral reefs before switching over to eating seagrasses as hatchlings.
Kemp’s ridleys are carnivorous animals that feed primarily on crabs, mollusks and fishes; however they have also shown to consume other marine organisms including jellyfish.
Leatherback sea turtles are well known as gelatinivores, feeding on both jellyfish and soft-bodied invertebrates like tunicates or sea squirts for sustenance. This diet helps preserve ocean and coastal ecosystems.
Fruit
Sea turtles rely on diverse food sources for sustenance. These may include carnivorous, herbivorous or omnivorous diets (consuming both meat and plants). Their feeding habits depend on factors like species, habitat, jaw structure and age.
Green sea turtles, for instance, tend to switch their diet from hatching until juvenile size; after which their diet shifts to predominantly herbivorous with occasional omnivorous meals. Their finely serrated jaws make them well adapted for this diet of marine grasses and algae.
Pet turtles, however, can be fed a wide range of food including commercial turtle pellets, fish pellets, gut-loaded insects (bugs that feed off nutrients in their gut), earthworms and fresh fruits and vegetables. When offering these foods as snacks or supplements it’s important to provide small portions at once so they do not rot and spoil quickly; offering calcium supplements like crushed eggshells, cuttlebone or sand would also be beneficial.
Vegetables
Green sea turtles, like many other herbivorous turtles, play an integral part in maintaining healthy coral reef ecosystems by eating algae, seagrasses, and mosses as food sources. By acting as grazers they play an essential role in maintaining these fragile environments.
Aquatic turtles should consume a wide range of vegetables to achieve optimal nutrition. Leafy veggies such as kale, collard greens and mustard greens should be given alongside squash carrots peas and peas; non-sugary fruits like apples berries pears may also be added for variety but should make up no more than 10% of their diet overall. Bananas may be added but should never exceed this portion.
At home, they should also receive cooked chicken, beef, and fish as food sources. Vitamin and calcium supplements from pet stores or veterinarians should also be distributed periodically; you can sprinkle these over their food once every week for best results. Crushed eggshells, oyster shells and cuttlebone may also provide essential sources of calcium that will keep their beaks in good condition.
