Content
- What do water turtles eat in the wild?
- What should a domestic water turtle eat?
- How often should a water turtle eat?
The water turtle started to be a popular pet due to its very simple care, something that can help instill some responsibility in the little ones. But with regard to food, there are some doubts and sometimes we make mistakes due to lack of knowledge. How much food the water turtle should eat is often one of the most common questions. Here, at Animal Expert, we clarify some doubts so that you can give your water turtle a better quality of life.
Keep reading and find out which is the best feeding water turtles.
What do water turtles eat in the wild?
For fans of this species, it will not be a surprise to know that they are omnivorous reptiles, which means that feed on meat, fish and vegetables. In the wild, depending on the species, we have some more carnivorous and others more vegetarian. We must be aware of this information and consult the veterinarian whenever we are in doubt to give them the most appropriate food according to the species to which our turtle belongs.
Another very important data is that usually they are animals with a lot of appetite, on some occasions they eat very voraciously. On the other hand, if the turtle does not show an appetite and/or rejects the food, this will be reason enough to worry and seek an expert. Sometimes it happens because the temperature is not the right one or the aquarium has not been cleaned. Be very aware of these factors.
What should a domestic water turtle eat?
The adequate amount of daily food for water turtles is often a very important issue, as we said, they are animals that always have an appetite, so we can make the mistake of believing they are hungry. The staple food is usually the special food for turtles, that is, because it is something commercial, it makes our life much easier to follow the rationing of the indications on the package. As a general rule, we should give once a day.
THE food or live food it is usually a problem, since there are owners who refuse this type of food. We must remember the species we have as a pet and what are their needs to live happy and healthy. If we are not willing to make these commitments, we should not have a water turtle, as being in captivity will depend exclusively on us for food. Live food sharpens the turtle's senses and nourishes it, as happens, for example, in the case of crickets (the most common) or beetles (be careful that the latter are aggressive). We can also manage land worms and/or snails. The proper amount will be once a week.
We must not forget the fruits, vegetables and aquatic plants. This goes into live food, so once a week will be okay. Among the good fruits for water turtles we have:
- Soft apple pulp
- Pear
- Melon
- watermelon
- figs
- bananas
Citrus fruits should be excluded from your diet. On the other hand, among the vegetables suitable for turtles are aquatic plants such as lettuce and duckweed. Among the most popular vegetables are the following:
- Lettuce
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Radish
- Beet
We should always avoid spinach and sprouts in large quantities. These foods should only be consumed sporadically. When only eaten occasionally, both spinach and sprouts are very beneficial nutritionally for the turtle. The problem happens when turtles are subjected to a little varied diet in which an excess of certain food can cause some problems. In the case of kale, the excess can cause kidney problems and goiter. As for spinach, the abuse of this food can lead to problems in calcium absorption.
How often should a water turtle eat?
As mentioned before, the amount of daily food for water turtles should be stipulated depending on the species of turtle to which they belong. However, this is not the only question that haunts our minds when we decide to share our life with a turtle. Another of the most recurrent questions is the frequency, that is, how often we should feed it. So here's a turtle age list:
- Young people: once a day
- Sub-adults: every 2 days
- Adults: 2 times a week
Also read our article with complete information on caring for an aquarium turtle.
