What do Turtles Eat?

Turtles are one type of reptiles having a  shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield. Most turtles spend large amount of their time underwater. But all turtles breathe air and come to surface to at regular intervals to refill their lungs. Foraging, swimming and digging are the daily routine activities of turtles. To treat and keep turtles as your pet, you need to keep good care about their healthy diet.

Turtle’s diet is depends on its type. Generally turtles are carnivorous (which means they depends on small creature), but when they get older they change into omnivores (which means they depends on plants and small creature also) or even herbivores (which means they depends on only plant matter), depending on the turtle species.

What do sea turtles eat?

Sea turtles are of different species so their diet is different from other sea turtles.

Hawksbill sea turtle get food out of crevices in reefs with the help of jaws. They mostly eat sponges, squid, shrimp, tunicates, etc.

Green sea turtles eat algae and sea grass. They are mainly carnivorous as babies (they will eat fish) and as age grows they adapt a more herbivorous diet.

Loggerhead sea turtles and the riddley sea turtles crush the food with the help of more powerful jaws. They eat mollusks, crabs, jellyfish, vegetation and shrimp.

Soft bodied animals such as tunicates, jellyfish, etc. eaten by Leatherback sea turtles.

What do baby turtles eat?

Baby turtle eats small quantities of food. They mostly eat fish, earthworms, flakes and small granules, etc.

What do water turtles eat?

Freshwater turtles eat plants, fish, leeches, minnows and many other foods. On turtle care, Pet owners should feed them vegetables, with tips from a reptile specialist.

What do snapping turtles eat?

Snapping turtles eat anything which they can easily catch. Mostly they eat fish. A worm like appendage has on their tongues, for attracting their prey they wiggle it, when prey come in their reach they attack, catch the prey and eat it. They are extremely powerful and fast.

What do box turtles eat?

Box turtles eating like pet turtles; they eat small bits of fruit like strawberries. Also eat crickets loved them.

Pet turtles are An Omnivores turtle, they eats the following:

Protein

To feed turtles there are many sources of protein that are safe for it. Like cooked fish in small amount, cooked turkey or chicken and boiled eggs. Turtle also eats mealworms, slugs, waxworms, snails, shrimp, earthworms, silkworms and crickets. Occasionally, Lean beef, dog food or cat food can be given. Due to the danger of contamination avoid using raw meats and fatty meats like hamburger.

Flowers

Flowers are loved by some turtles, flowers like, pansies, Roses, petunias, Carnations, lilies, hibiscus, borage; hyssop, chives, geraniums and nasturtium are all good as turtle food.

Vegetables

Regular vegetables like corn, green beans, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, okra, green peas and some squash varieties are good for turtle’s health.

Leafy Vegetables

Leafy vegetables like grape leaves, fig leaves, carrot tops, red clover, lettuce, both green and red, dandelions, duckweed, turnip greens, water lettuce, collards, endive and plantain weed are best for turtle.

Fruits

Fruits are liked by some turtles, strawberry, kiwi, blackberries, apple, blueberries, mango, cantaloupe, grapes, bananas, tomatoes, and some citrus fruits are all a fine to feed a turtle.

For turtles, supplements commercially made food is also available.

Turtles Should Not Eat those Foods are:

• High preservatives and salty food like, canned foods and processed foods are avoided to feed turtle because its effects are fully unknown. Avoid these foods, or use limited amounts, if you must.
• Reptiles means turtles cannot digest Milky products because absence of that enzymes which are required for breaking down lactose in their body, hence do not fed turtles, dairy products like yogurt and cheese.
• Certain poisonous plants may be eaten by turtles in their natural habitat, not well known about the specifics of this feeding habit, hence, to be on the safe side, such as avocado plants, rhubarb plants, and poison ivy, poisonous plants not to have where you keep them.

Find out the type of turtle carefully before feeding it anything. Because Wrong kind of foods can disturb the health of your turtle.

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