How to Determine the Type of Food for Turtles

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Turtles are fascinating and unique creatures that require specific care and attention, including providing them with the right type of food. Proper nutrition is crucial for their growth, overall health, and longevity. However, with numerous food options available, it can be overwhelming to determine the best diet for your turtle. This guide will delve into the various factors you should consider when choosing the type of food for turtles, including their species, age, size, and natural habits. By understanding these key factors, you will be equipped with the knowledge to provide your turtle with a balanced and nutritious diet, ultimately ensuring their well-being and happiness.

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This article was co-written by Audra Barrios. Audra Barrios is a marine biologist and owner of Lick Your Eyeballs, a business that supplies reptiles, supplies and plants. With over 15 years of experience, Audra specializes in reptiles and rare animals, environmental education, marine biology, conservation issues and animal husbandry. Audra holds a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and studied natural sciences at the University of Marin. She is the founder and CEO of Things That Creep, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving reptiles and amphibians through education. For the past 6 years she has worked as a biologist at the California Academy of Sciences.

There are 9 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 131,826 times.

Turtles are wonderful pets, but caring for them requires a lot of time and effort. Turtles have a varied diet that includes fruits and vegetables as well as insects, worms, and fish. To take care of turtles you need to know what kind of food they need and how often to feed them. The exact amount of food depends on the species of turtle, but you can follow some general guidelines below. You should also talk to your veterinarian if you are unsure about how to feed your turtle. You can see a list of safe food for tortoises at RuaViet.com ^{[1] X Research Source}

Table of Contents

Steps

Determine the type of food for turtles

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Feed the turtle fruit and vegetables. Turtles have a varied diet that includes fruits and vegetables as well as meat. A general rule is that baby turtles will eat a lot of meat, as they grow older they switch to eating fruits and vegetables. ^{[2] X Research Source} Of the fruits and vegetables you offer, 80-90% of the total should consist of vegetables and flowers, and fruit should only make up 10-20%. In general, green vegetables make up the bulk of your diet, and you need to avoid those high in fiber such as lettuce and celery. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

• You should feed your turtle kale, parsley, green beans, bell peppers, and cabbage.
• Turtles can eat small amounts of spinach and broccoli.
• Flowers such as carnations, roses and hibiscus can be added to the meal in large quantities.
• For fruit you can choose from apples, bananas, pears, grapes, kiwis and melons. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Provide live food. Unlike tortoise, turtles also eat meat. This is an important part of their diet, so you need to provide your tortoise with animal-based foods, including live food. Some of the animals that you should feed your turtles are crickets, caterpillars, wax moth larvae, small larvae and insects. ^{[5] X Research Source} Aquatic turtles need to eat small fish such as goldfish, mosquito-eating fish or even sea slugs. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

• You can buy live worms and crickets from your local pet store, as well as pre-packaged dead insects.
• Feeding live crickets to turtles may seem complicated, but it helps to recreate the way they eat in the wild. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Use high quality pellets. An easy way to provide turtle food is to use special turtle pellets that you can buy at your local pet store. This type of food provides minerals and vitamins to meet the needs of turtles. ^{[8] X Source of Research} However, if you are simulating how turtles eat food in the wild, pellets are not as effective as green vegetables and insects. If using pellets, you should balance this with fresh vegetables. The pellets should only serve as the foundation for the meal. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Balance between food and vitamins. For creatures with a varied diet like turtles, a balance of different nutritional factors is important to maintain their health and well-being. Each turtle will have a separate diet of plants and animals, but you need to provide the following main foods. ^{[10] X Research Source}

• Using a supplement can ensure that the turtle gets the vitamins and minerals it needs. You should weigh the powdered food fortified with calcium and vitamins before giving it to your tortoise. ^{[11] X Research Source}
• Add calcium to your turtle’s food twice a week. ^{[12] X Research Source} If you are unsure of the right balance for your pet, talk to your veterinarian.

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Continuous water supply. Just like feeding turtles, you need to make sure they have access to water. Fill the bowl with clean water to make it easier for the turtle to drink and not to choke. The water should always be clean and replace it with fresh water if it becomes dirty. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Feed the Tortoise

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Feed baby turtles regularly. Baby turtles need a lot of food, and need to eat more often than adult turtles. You should feed baby turtles every day. Baby turtles will develop into adults when they are seven years old. Then their eating habits will change before reaching this age, and will eat less. In this case, you can feed your tortoise at a lower frequency, but it’s also a good idea to take them to your veterinarian to see if they’re changing their eating habits for other reasons. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Do not feed adult turtles every day. As turtles grow older they will change their eating habits and you should not feed them every day. Every turtle has different eating habits, but a general rule of thumb is to feed adult turtles every two days, or four to five times a week. ^{[15] X Research Source} You may have noticed that turtles often ask for food. They will do this whether you feed them or not, so you should follow a proper feeding program. ^{[16] X Research Source}

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Provide enough food. Each tortoise has different food needs, so food intake recommendations are generalized. However, there are some helpful guidelines that you need to keep in mind. Baby turtles will eat more than adult turtles, so you should feed tortoises in a quantity that fits their head and neck. ^{[17] X Research Sources} This principle is not always accurate, but can serve as a useful reference.

• Another way to determine the right amount of food is to feed the turtle as much as possible for the allotted time. The recommended interval is between 5 and 15 minutes.
• Feed the turtles until they stop and then brush off any non-live food. ^{[18] X Research Sources}
• Removing excess food will help prevent overeating, as well as prevent decaying leftovers that can contaminate the water and affect aquatic turtles. ^{[19] X Research Source}

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Feed aquatic turtles in the water. This turtle is different from the common tortoise because they feed in the water. Therefore, it is essential to feed aquatic turtles in the water. However, this can lead to food breakdown in the water. Therefore, you should build a separate feeding tank that is easy to clean after feeding. ^{[20] X Research Source} If not, you should remove any leftovers and keep the water source clean.

• Feeding aquatic turtles live fish of small size helps stimulate them to be more active. ^{[21] X Research Source}
• You should feed aquatic turtles with vegetables that float on the water instead of sinking.
• If you sprinkle vitamin supplements on your food, be aware that the powder will dissolve in water. To solve this problem you should use pellets. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Advice

• If you’re conducting research online or in a library or bookstore, keep in mind that in the UK the term “Terrapin” is used for freshwater turtles.

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This article was co-written by Audra Barrios. Audra Barrios is a marine biologist and owner of Lick Your Eyeballs, a business that supplies reptiles, supplies and plants. With over 15 years of experience, Audra specializes in reptiles and rare animals, environmental education, marine biology, conservation issues and animal husbandry. Audra holds a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and studied natural sciences at the University of Marin. She is the founder and CEO of Things That Creep, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving reptiles and amphibians through education. For the past 6 years she has worked as a biologist at the California Academy of Sciences.

There are 9 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 131,826 times.

Turtles are wonderful pets, but caring for them requires a lot of time and effort. Turtles have a varied diet that includes fruits and vegetables as well as insects, worms, and fish. To take care of turtles you need to know what kind of food they need and how often to feed them. The exact amount of food depends on the species of turtle, but you can follow some general guidelines below. You should also talk to your veterinarian if you are unsure about how to feed your turtle. You can see a list of safe food for tortoises at RuaViet.com ^{[1] X Research Source}

In conclusion, determining the type of food for turtles is crucial in ensuring their overall health and well-being. By understanding a turtle’s natural diet, consulting with a veterinarian, and considering the specific needs of the species, turtle owners can provide a balanced and nutritious meal plan. It is important to incorporate a variety of protein, vegetables, fruits, and supplements into their diet, while avoiding harmful and processed foods. Furthermore, a clean and sanitized environment, along with regular vet check-ups, will help to prevent any potential health issues. By following these guidelines, turtle owners can provide their pets with a diet that mimics their natural habitat, promoting longevity and a happy, thriving life.

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