Box turtles in the wild typically consume approximately 50-60% animal-based foods and 40% vegetables, fruits, and leaves as part of their diet. Berries with no toxic substances present are highly recommended; flowers should also have low toxic load ratings as these provide excellent calcium/phosphorus ratios for proper growth.
Animal-derived proteins include commercial reptile pellets or live prey such as grasshoppers, crickets, wax worms or earthworms. When feeding these insects to your reptile, be sure to wash them well prior to consumption to prevent inducing harmful bacteria or pesticides into its diet.
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Meat
Box turtles require an animal-rich diet in order to thrive. As they are omnivores, box turtles will eat anything from earthworms and earthworm eggs through snails, snail eggs, snail eggs, snail shells, carrion, grasses mushrooms and fallen fruit in the wild – so these should all be offered sparingly as food sources.
Diets focusing on dark green vegetables and flowers should comprise between 80%-90% of meal components, with light leafy vegetables such as head lettuce or iceberg lettuce being avoided as they primarily provide water and fiber while providing no real nourishment.
These foods should be changed periodically to prevent your turtle from becoming bored with their regular meal and experiencing stomach upset. Avoid feeding your turtle dog food, hot dogs or hamburgers since this food would not naturally occur in its environment.
Vegetables
Young turtles require a diet rich in meat, fruits, greens and vegetables for proper development. Young turtles require more protein and calcium than adult turtles in the wild – this makes mealworms and crickets filled with greens ideal sources of protein as they will devour any available source. In addition, earthworms, crickets stuffed with greens or mealworms for protein should also be fed regularly along with berries, mushrooms, leafy dark greens and vegetable foods to support overall wellbeing.
Ornate box turtles in the wild feed on grasses, roots, leaves, shoots and flowers as well as an assortment of insects, snails, worms, grubs, beetles caterpillars carrion berries flowers mushrooms; similarly in captivity. All food should also be sprinkled with reptile calcium powder twice weekly or dusted with whole cuttlebone for best results.
Fruit
Box turtles are foraging animals that scour their environment for food such as mushrooms, insects, earthworms, crayfish and gastropods in the wild. When kept as pets in captivity they should receive a balanced diet consisting of these items along with fruits and leafy greens for optimal growth and wellbeing.
Leafy dark greens should form the basis of every diet. Not only are they high in calcium content, but also contain numerous essential vitamins and minerals which should be included with every meal.
Staple greens include collards, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens and alfalfa hay; occasional additions may include bok choy or Swiss chard. When selecting greens to feed to children it is important that no greens contain high levels of oxalates or goitrogens as these substances could increase thyroid inflammation.
Fruit should make up approximately 10% of a turtle’s diet. Most turtles have their own favorite fruit that you should try to find for them; such as berries, apples or bananas. Flowers such as dandelions, hibiscus or geraniums may also be offered as treats.
Flowers
Box turtles in the wild are known to be opportunistic feeders, eating whatever food sources are readily available in their environment – beetles, earthworms, grubs, seeds, mosses or flowers are often consumed. Captive box turtles should take an opportunistic approach by providing a range of foods as a variety may stimulate them into eating more efficiently.
Variety in a turtle’s diet is of utmost importance; to do so effectively it must not account for more than 10% of total food consumed. As staple greens include collards, kale, mustard and dandelion leaves as well as romaine lettuce; however iceberg lettuce is low in minerals but high in phosphorus and oxalates content and should therefore be avoided as much as possible.
Other plant-based items to include are cacti pads with spines removed, tomatoes, carrots and grated zucchini. It is wise to offer these foods both raw and cooked so as to maximize their nutritional value.
Insects
Box turtles are omnivorous animals in the wild and will feed on insects, berries, flowers and grass as food sources. Carrion may also be available. To ensure maximum diet variation for your turtle’s welfare it is important to vary their food sources regularly or they could become disinclined towards certain items over time.
Your pet should receive a diet rich in insect protein such as flies, crickets and mealworms gut-loaded with calcium for proper diet. Also offer dark leafy greens (collard greens, mustard greens, kale, alfalfa hay and turnip greens) as well as fruit to ensure a complete and balanced diet. Keep their habitat clean and mist it often to maintain a clean water source – healthy adult turtles typically only need food twice weekly while younger box turtles or gravid females developing eggs may need additional feeds.
