Turtle species often kept as pets are omnivorous; however, human foods may be toxic and should only be given as treats; specifically fried foods with added salts and refined sugars should not be fed to your turtle as they could potentially poison him or her.
Leafy greens are excellent examples of healthy foods to offer to pets. Other vegetables suitable include broccoli, bok choy and mustard greens.
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Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Many turtles delight in devouring fresh vegetables and leafy greens, such as kale, collard greens and mustard greens. These nutritious foods provide important sources of vitamins and minerals and should form part of their regular diet.
Most aquatic turtles are omnivorous; however, red-eared sliders require high protein foods for growth and development. Young turtles should receive two small meals daily while adults only require feeding once or twice each week.
Avoid giving turtles dairy, as they lack the enzymes to process it and it contains oxalates which prevent calcium absorption.
Avoid feeding turtles processed foods such as fried chicken or breakfast sausage as these items often contain high amounts of salt and preservatives that could potentially harm their health.
Fresh Fish
Turtles should be fed a diet rich in vegetables and fruit to remain healthy. Avoid giving your turtle processed meat such as breakfast sausage as these contain too much sodium and preservatives.
Leafy greens should make up an essential component of your turtle’s diet, including collard greens, kale, mustard greens, dandelion greens and bok choy. Iceberg lettuce and light-leafed greens contain little nutritional value and should be avoided as much as possible.
Other acceptable vegetables for dog nutrition include carrots, squash, bell peppers, parsley and broccoli. Be wary of vegetables containing oxalates which bind calcium and other trace minerals in the digestive tract to lead to nutritional deficiencies in dogs. Also avoid feeding it food that is soft or has too much moisture; this could result in soft shell formation.
Meat
Turtles should ideally eat a diet composed primarily of fresh vegetables and fruits with small amounts of animal-based foods like Mazuri, Omega One or Reptomin as their main pellet food and supplements such as red-leaf lettuce, water plants like Anacharis as well as various species of fish, feeder shrimp or worms as snacks.
As your turtle ages, its nutritional needs will change to become less protein-dependent and more herbivorous. A vegetarian turtle diet should contain high calcium levels while being low in phosphorus, carbohydrates and fats.
Foods safe for your turtle are romaine lettuce, mustard greens, collard greens, Swiss chard and kale – avoid iceberg lettuce, parsley and chives as these contain high levels of oxalates. On rare occasions you can also offer cooked chicken to your turtle if necessary, just ensure it has been fully cooked beforehand.
Insects
Finding an adequate balance of proteins, vitamins and minerals for an omnivorous reptile can be tricky. Reptile-specific pellets provide one way of meeting this goal while live crickets and insects raised at home or bought from pet stores can also work effectively; once every two weeks for added health benefits it should also be lightly dusted with calcium/vitamin supplements tailored specifically for reptiles.
Young turtles need more meat as they mature, but as they transition they should consume a diet consisting of fruits, vegetables and flowers instead. Food such as dried sardines and cooked chicken may be included along with dandelions, mustard greens, apples, cantaloupe and bananas; other options might include non-toxic aquatic plants like water hyacinth and duckweed.
Canned Fruits and Vegetables
Aquatic turtles typically enjoy eating a wide range of fruits and vegetables. Most should be treated as treats rather than part of their regular diet; particularly foods high in refined sugars that could potentially harm their health.
Make sure the food you feed your turtle contains adequate levels of nutrition. There are a variety of commercial turtle pellet foods available which can provide your reptile with a balanced diet.
As your turtle gets older, his protein needs will decrease while vegetables increase. Provide your young turtle with whole fish or leafy greens to provide necessary proteins as well as essential vitamins. Once mature enough to eat meat again gradually reduce his amount and increase his vegetable consumption.
