When a baby turtle is not fed, or its unable to find a food source in the wild, it will actually start losing weight and shrink in size. Fruit is a good source of vitamins for your turtle; they be fresh, frozen, or canned. Vegetables dont provide enough protein to keep a turtle healthy and active. WebWhat Vegetables Can Box Turtles Eat? You can also feed them cooked chicken, beef, and turkey. But, green Tomato or its plant matter is toxic for turtles. Some of the best vegetables to include are kale, parsley, green beans, and spinach. But theyre not eating soil either. They just sidle up to slow animals. Many turtle owners also choose to chop a mix of vegetables to feed them, so the turtle isn't just eating one type and avoiding other nutritious plants they might not like as much. While those vegetables dont actually harm box turtles, they only manage to fill their stomachs, but dont provide too much nutritional value. Turtles seem so sedate and move so slowly that it doesnt seem complicated to feed them. But no matter how much food you feed your turtle you should always feed it at least once a day. The only exception to this is the food that they are not able to take a bite out of, even if they have strong bites they are not able to compete with the size of a dogs mouth. All types of turtles love dark leafy green vegetables. If the turtles are avoiding it, remove it from the tank or water, and try another method. link to Do Ducks Eat Turtles? Turtles can eat lettuce and they should occasionally do so, turtles are able to enjoy the full benefits of the nutrients of the lettuce thus making lettuce a great food for turtles. But, you shouldnt feed only vegetables continuously. What do you know about tortoises and turtles? In the ocean, turtles will usually eat a lot of vegetation they find in the water, like algae, fish, and a lot of jellyfishes. Nuts also contain too much protein per gram. Vegetables Can What Can Turtles Eat from Human Food? Including Food List Red-eared slider turtles are considered omnivores and may eat aquatic plants, small fish, and rotting dead fish in the wild. We believe thatll be enough for any kind of turtle species. The preferences in food of a turtle greatly differ from species to species and the habitat that they live in. But fortunately, this is a common problem that has a simple situation. Can turtles eat cat food? In general, you should give your turtle a combination of pellets, dried insects, animal meat, fruits, and vegetables. But this question got me thinking about what turtles eat in general. Calcium Powder. Baby turtles usually eat the same thing as adult turtles, there are a few exceptions to this but they will usually eat the same thing. Offer your turtle a mix of decadent treats and nutritious options. Been trying for many months to get her to eat veggies, but I just tried Repashy Veggie Burger with her and she actually ate it! At least 80% of this is leafy greens and other vegetables and the rest can be fruit, and commercial foods or protein sources to round out the diet. Your email address will not be published. But even the carnivorous turtles will sometimes on very rare occasions resort to eating plants when there is no meat available. And since the shell of a turtle is made out of bones, calcium is even more important for turtles than for any other animal. But there are still some species that have a more different way of doing things. Most ponds will also attract birds that will occasionally be prey for the turtles. I mean, its preferable to have her eat actual veggies rather than I presented him with 7 different types of food simultaneously, the foods were pellets, insects, different types of meats, fruit, and vegetables. Moreover, dont be shy to add a new vegetable to the list. If you are happy with replacing the shrimp regularly, then go for it. Hence, they give a scanty health benefit. Overall you should not feed ants to your turtle, its not worth the trouble, but turtles are able to eat them even if they dont provide too many nutrients for them. Big turtles eat the same things as small and medium-sized turtles. Some turtle farms breed them for research and export. One of them is that grass, like most plants, contains vitamins that benefit the turtles health, but probably the most important reason why a lot of turtles eat grass is the fact that grass can be found everywhere and it keeps them from starving when they are unable to find other food sources. Jellyfishes are probably the main source of meat ( some species actually contain some meat, not only jelly ) because they are easy to catch compared to other animals in the ocean. Therefore, steamed or boiled is the preferable way to offer them to a turtle. Tortoise Safe Plants So eating vegetables or anything else wont do them any good. So, theyll eat almost anything you offer if it fits in their mouth. (Can They Live Together? Turtles like tortoises are cold-blooded reptiles. Yes, turtles can eat broccoli leaves. Now, other than those, the remaining vegetables a turtle can eat are: Well, other than the mentioned ones here, you can try other available vegetables. What Is The Lifespan Of A Chinese Alligator? For carnivorous turtles, go for. These can include: grated raw carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, corn on the As a general rule, especially for pellets and other non-living foods, only let your turtle eat as much as they can within about 20 minutes and then remove any leftovers. WebWhat Vegetables Are Safe For Turtles? WebGreens and vegetables: Vegetables should be about 10-15% of the diet. Spinach. But theres much more to consider whether youre keeping turtles for science or companionship. There are other vegetables that do little to no good for the health of the turtle, but I only listed a few of them because this way it will be easy to remember, and they are also some of the vegetables that you are very likely to encounter at most stores. But too much phosphorus can also make the shell a lot softer, and as a result much weaker when it comes to defending the turtle from predators. Turtles are slimmer and lighter than tortoises, with flattened shells and flipper-like legs. I mean, its preferable to have her eat actual veggies rather than a gel, but its better than her not eating them at all. You should never feed the pods or beans themselves, as they are too high in protein and they also contain the toxic compound lectin phytohaemagglutinin, which is only destroyed at very high temperatures. However, vegetables are the main source of calcium for turtles, and this species loves them. Excessive or regular consumption of Broccoli, Cabbage, and Bok Choy can cause kidney disease and goiter problems. (Safe & Effective Solutions), What Does Chipmunks Poop Look Like? Which means a tortoise is a type of turtle. there you will find a few methods that will help you approximate the age of your turtle. If fed in high amounts, potatoes can cause some issues, though. [30], [1]https://pets.webmd.com/what-do-pet-turtles-eat[2]https://www.boxturtles.com/what-do-box-turtles-eat/[3]https://petspre.com/can-tortoises-eat-bean-sprouts-answered%25EF%25BF%25BC/[4]https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/%3Fplant%3D812%26c%3D8[5]https://www.safarivet.com/care-topics/reptiles-and-amphibians/turtle-and-tortoise/nutrition/[6]https://www.tortoise.com/blog/just-get-a-sulcata-tortoise-heres-how-to-care-for_it[7]https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/%3Fplant%3D494%26c%3D8[8]https://turtleowner.com/what-vegetables-can-red-eared-sliders-eat/[9]https://www.turtleholic.com/how-often-feed-red-eared-slider/[10]https://www.livescience.com/45539-what-do-turtles-eat.html[11]https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-should-i-feed-my-red-eared-slider-1238363[12]https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-do-red-eared-sliders-eat-1238367[13]https://petkeen.com/how-long-can-turtles-go-without-eating/[14]https://www.turtleholic.com/how-long-can-turtles-live-without-food/[15]https://small-pets.lovetoknow.com/reptiles-amphibians/reasons-why-my-turtle-isnt-eating[16]https://www.petmd.com/reptile/nutrition/what-do-turtles-eat[17]https://www.petsgal.com/how-long-red-eared-sliders-go-without-food/[18]https://urbanfishkeeping.com/can-turtles-eat-potatoes/[19]https://petkeen.com/can-turtles-eat-potatoes/%23:~:text%3DPotatoes%2520arent%2520the%2520healthiest,only%2520recommend%2520feeding%2520them%2520occasionally.[20]https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/plants-toxic-to-turtles.htm[21]https://cedarcrestvets.com/guide/turtles-diet/%23:~:text%3DThe%2520better%2520vegetables%2520for%2520their,berries%2520can%2520be%2520added%2520periodically.[22]https://www.medvetforpets.com/sulcata-tortoise-background-care-recommendations/%23:~:text%3DGreens%2520and%2520vegetables%253A%26text%3DVegetables%2520should%2520be%2520about%252010,%252C%2520escarole%252C%2520romaine%252C%2520kale.[23]https://www.thesprucepets.com/painted-turtles-1238355[24]https://www.hartz.com/the-benefits-of-treats-for-your-turtle/%23:~:text%3DShrimp%2520are%2520a%2520common%2520food,Fruits%2520and%2520Vegetables.[25]https://www.petsgal.com/can-turtles-eat-shrimp/%23:~:text%3DTurtles%2520can%2520eat%2520shrimp%2520in,available%2520to%2520feed%2520your%2520turtle.[26]https://reptilesmagazine.com/painted-turtle-care-sheet/%23:~:text%3DPainted%2520Turtle%2520Food,lettuce%252C%2520water%2520hyacinth%2520and%2520duckweed.[27]https://sealifeplanet.com/can-i-put-shrimp-in-my-turtle-tank/%23:~:text%3DEven%2520the%2520most%2520well%252Dfed,regularly%252C%2520then%2520go%2520for%2520it. Bread for similar reasons. So, avoid the green tomatoes, or its plant matters. Top selections include leafy greens from the kale and cabbage family (collard, watercress, broccoli, etc.). But, the preferences may vary from one species to another, even within the same species. Insects. Dandelion Greens. If you think that I forgot to mention something let me know, or if you have any questions about what turtles eat, leave them in the comment section and I will answer it as soon as possible. One of the recent Texas rescues was 150 years old. A turtle can also eat multiple times a day if they only eat small portions. The diet should be as close as what your turtle would get in the wild. You might struggle telling the difference between a turtle and a tortoise. Keep an eye on the fish and remove its skeleton and entrails after it gets eaten. So, now the question appears- What Vegetables Can Turtles Eat, or What Vegetables Do Turtles Eat? 0 comments Best Add a Comment More posts you may like Turtle shells are made of keratin. Box turtles can eat almost every type of vegetable, the only ones that should be avoided are those with a high volume of phosphorus and those with little nutritional value. And theyre rarely on land so its only hatchlings that are exposed. https://pets.webmd.com/what-do-pet-turtles-eat, https://www.boxturtles.com/what-do-box-turtles-eat/, https://petspre.com/can-tortoises-eat-bean-sprouts-answered%25EF%25BF%25BC/, https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/%3Fplant%3D812%26c%3D8, https://www.safarivet.com/care-topics/reptiles-and-amphibians/turtle-and-tortoise/nutrition/, https://www.tortoise.com/blog/just-get-a-sulcata-tortoise-heres-how-to-care-for_it, https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/%3Fplant%3D494%26c%3D8, https://turtleowner.com/what-vegetables-can-red-eared-sliders-eat/, https://www.turtleholic.com/how-often-feed-red-eared-slider/, https://www.livescience.com/45539-what-do-turtles-eat.html, https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-should-i-feed-my-red-eared-slider-1238363, https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-do-red-eared-sliders-eat-1238367, https://petkeen.com/how-long-can-turtles-go-without-eating/, https://www.turtleholic.com/how-long-can-turtles-live-without-food/, https://small-pets.lovetoknow.com/reptiles-amphibians/reasons-why-my-turtle-isnt-eating, https://www.petmd.com/reptile/nutrition/what-do-turtles-eat, https://www.petsgal.com/how-long-red-eared-sliders-go-without-food/, https://urbanfishkeeping.com/can-turtles-eat-potatoes/. In the ocean, turtles can live hundreds of years and grow hundreds of pounds. Turtles do not have teeth and they are unable to chew food in a conventional manner. Turtles Eat Spinach inhibits calcium absorption which is very important for turtles, especially when they are young. Their taste and preference level are nearly the same. The tiny dried shrimp available to be fed to fish will often not work for most turtle species. In the wild, turtles only come up for air, sunshine, or to lay eggs so you dont need to feed them. Therefore, they need more meat-based food than vegetables. Research the nutritional needs of your turtles species, and contact your veterinarian with any questions or concerns. Fruits and Vegetables. Commercially available reptile pellets provide an excellent protein source. They include: Dont rush for the easiest or most convenient food. [21], Vegetables should be about 10-15% of the diet. Therefore, a single vegetable isnt good for health for either you or your turtle. by leaving a tip. What Veggies Can You Feed A Red-Eared Slider? Make sure the pieces are Also, you can offer other leafy vegetables too. However, the cooked ones arent likely to interest this reptile species. Instead, the best thing that you can feed your turtle is a balanced diet, that contains pellets, fruits, vegetables, and meat. Turtle Most wild turtles will never come into contact with a tomato, but they will most probably eat it. The first possibility is that your turtle is too young. Also, we mentioned before that raw carrots and broccoli contain a high amount of sugar, which can be hard for the turtle to process. Turtles WebTurtles also prefer leafy green vegetables, such as kale, mustard greens, and collard greens. Can turtles eat fruits? Can turtles eat grapes ? It can block their breathing passages or clog their digestive system. What Vegetables Can WebBe sure to discuss a specific diet for your turtle with your veterinarian.