Turtles are omnivorous animals and require both animal protein and vegetables as part of their diet. Animal sources include processed pet foods like drained sardines or turtle pellets as well as cooked poultry, fish or meat dishes.
As part of their diet, turtles should include collard greens, alfalfa hay, kale, parsley Swiss chard and mustard greens as staple vegetables. Iceberg lettuce provides few nutrients.
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Leafy Greens
Most turtles are omnivorous; the exact ratio of vegetables, fruit and protein consumption depends on both species and age of turtle. As a general guideline however, most of a turtle’s diet should consist of leafy greens and other veggies.
Acceptable vegetable choices for turtles include collard greens, mustard greens, kale, turnip greens, bok choy, alfalfa hay, dandelion greens and watercress. Other vegetables that may form part of their diet are Swiss chard, escarole and parsley (though be mindful as parsley is high in oxalates).
Leafy greens should account for approximately 80-90% of a turtle’s diet. Iceberg lettuce and other light greens, however, contain little more than fiber and water content and should therefore not be fed to your turtle.
Carrots
Carrots may be fed to turtles safely, though it should not be their main food source. Carrots contain high concentrations of naturally occurring sugars that could potentially pose problems in some species of turtles and are low in the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio necessary for optimal shell health.
However, they can provide an excellent source of vitamin A, an essential nutrient for turtles. Vitamin A helps prevent eye problems while supporting an effective immune system.
As with other leafy greens, carrots are an excellent source of dietary fiber to maintain digestive health and prevent issues like constipation or diarrhea. Furthermore, carrots contain beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A within our bodies, helping promote eye health while improving skin condition overall. Furthermore, carrots provide ample folic acid; however it should be consumed in moderation to avoid vitamin A overdose.
Squash
Most turtles enjoy eating a combination of fruits, vegetables and commercial turtle pellets for a balanced diet, especially young turtles (up to three years) who require more protein-rich live food than dry food pellets.
Turtle diets should contain an abundance of leafy greens, grasses and vegetables such as collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, bok choy, alfalfa hay, watercress, chard, kale and parsley – including collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, watercress bok choy alfalfa hay watercress watercress chard kale parsley. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage contain oxalates which prevent calcium absorption – including collard greens for turtles!
Other foods suitable for feeding turtles are berries, squash (such as zucchini and pumpkin), peas and cooked carrots. Chanterelles, Morels and Puffball mushrooms make delicious treats; however fruit should only make up a small part of their diet (and bananas should only be fed occasionally as treats) to prevent pesticide exposure and preservative build-up. Fruit should always be rinsed off to remove pesticides or preservatives before being added into their food supply.
Fruit
Most turtles are omnivores, so their diet should include a wide variety of healthy vegetables and foods. Fruit should only make up a small part of their daily meal – to provide variety to their nutrition intake; citrus fruit in particular should be avoided due to high levels of citric acid that could lead to stomach issues in your pet.
Include in your turtle’s diet other fruits and vegetables such as berries, melons, apricots, green beans, pumpkin, collards, turnip greens and kale for maximum nutritional benefit. Cooking will destroy some essential vitamins but feeding raw or cooked is best due to cooking destroying certain vital components; provide in moderation as some contain goitrogens which could harm its thyroid. You could also provide small protein sources by giving boiled fish, chicken, turkey or hard-boiled egg as treats for added protein boost!
