When you have a pet turtle, you may wonder what should you feed it. Thankfully, there are many options, including fish, vegetables, and commercial diets. Read on to learn more. And remember, they will need a varied diet to live a healthy and happy life. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common types of foods turtles love and why. You might also be interested in our article on commercial diets.
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Vegetables
When choosing what food to give your turtle, make sure to avoid processed meat, sugar, and chocolate. They have evolved to eat natural foods, so it is best to limit their diet to that. Fresh fruits and vegetables are an exception. For an adult turtle, give him 60% vegetables and 20-30% meat. Change its food every few days. Pellets are also okay to give to your turtle, but make sure to give it a little more variety each time.
Fish
While fish are not suitable for all turtles, they can be given as a treat once a week or every other week. However, you must remember to use a suitable size for your turtle and ensure that you don’t mess with its diet. Turtles are omnivores and thrive on a diet of both plant and meat-based foods. In captivity, turtles should be given some human foods to supplement their diet and get the proper vitamins.
Commercial diets
Most commercial diets for turtles are not healthy. They often lack the nutrients your turtle needs from organs and feeder fish. In addition, meat-based diets can be too high in protein, which can harm your pet in the long run. If you don’t want to feed your turtle meat, you can always mix it up with a variety of other foods to keep it healthy. Alternatively, you can add vitamins and minerals to commercial diets for turtles from time to time.
Lean meat
While it might be tempting to give your turtle crickets and cantaloupe as a treat, these foods are not ideal. Reptiles do not digest milk products, and they are often high in preservatives. Additionally, canned and processed foods contain a lot of sodium and sugar. While their effects are not fully understood, you should always avoid refined sugars and flours. Luckily, there are a few lean meat alternatives for turtles.
Live goldfish
While goldfish are considered fisher feed for turtles, they aren’t a good choice for your pet because they’re messy and can cause a lot of problems for your turtle. Adding a goldfish to your tank can cause your turtle to suffer from poor water quality and ammonia poisoning. You may also risk your turtle getting a liver disease. Additionally, goldfish produce a lot of waste, which can damage your turtle’s aquarium and its inhabitants.
Calcium
Although tortoises and turtles are native to soils rich in calcium, they may not meet their daily requirements while captive. Calcium supplements can help fill that void by providing a calcium supplement that can be sprinkled onto your pet’s food. Providing adequate amounts of calcium is essential for the health and well-being of your pet. Read on for more information. Here are some tips for giving your turtle the right amount of calcium.
