What do red sliders turtles eat

Living in the wild, red eared slider turtles feed on aquatic vegetation, little fish, and material that is decaying such as frogs and dead fish. The young turtles are mainly carnivorous and become more omnivorous as they grow into adults. As pets, red eared sliders and other aquatic turtles can be fed daily as hatchlings and juveniles, reducing the feedings to every other day as adult turtles.

Red eared slider turtles eat a variety of items in the wild and while we can't exactly mimic these foods exactly for our pets, we can provide them with some options. Aquatic turtle pellets are a staple for your pet turtle but they shouldn't make up the bulk of their diet. Some people choose to feed adult turtles once only every three days while others prefer to stick to smaller meals and continue feeding them daily.

No matter which feeding schedule you choose, the important thing is not to overfeed your turtle, especially with items high in protein and fat since red eared sliders and other aquatic turtles often have voracious appetites and will beg for food. Some owners describe their pet turtles doing a frantic swim as if trying to fly straight out of the water or staring at them like a dog begs for food.

However often you feed your turtle, be sure to monitor their body condition. If folds of skin are developing around a turtle's legs, especially when they pull their legs into their shell, they are getting too fat and need to be fed smaller amounts, eat less often, or offer food with a lower fat content. Remember that adult red eared sliders are quite herbivorous so if your turtle seems overly hungry, try feeding more leafy greens and plant material rather than aquatic turtle pellets or prey food items.

The amount of food you feed depends a bit on your individual turtle. A good rule of thumb is to feed as much as your turtle will consume in 15 minutes. If you feed your turtle in a separate container, it is easier to monitor how much and how fast your turtle eats.

Feeding Aquatic Turtles. I have been keeping turtles as a pet for many years now. Aquatic turtles are fun to watch, and I totally agree with you.

However, species like Mississippi map turtles can be hard to pet due to their neat lifestyle. But if you love challenges, then this What can be more heart-warming than getting a baby Sulcata tortoise? But wait. Owning a tortoise is not everything. You have to ensure top-notch care for the pet. Most beginners struggle to find Skip to content. General Guidelines When Feeding Turtles: The first thing you need to do is choose a food that has both protein and vegetable base in it.

Keep in mind that, initially baby turtles need more protein in their food. As they grow up, they need more vegetables eventually. Turtles love dark green leafy vegetables. You can also feed them carrots every day. However, baby turtles should only eat vegetables once or twice a week. Like humans, turtles need calcium in their diet too. Actually, it is quite straightforward. You can easily buy a turtle calcium bone from any local pet store.

These bones work as a great calcium source for turtles. Take some eggshells, bake them 30 minutes in the oven at degrees Fahrenheit and grind them in a blender. Next time when you are feeding your turtle, sprinkle some of these in the water. If you have an adult turtle, then a feeder fish will be a great addition to your turtle tank. Feeder fish entices the hunting instinct of turtles. They help to keep your turtle entertained too! Adding 1 fish per day is enough for an adult turtle.

To save money and time, whenever you are buying food for your turtle, remember to buy in bulk amounts. Keep the food in a dry, cold area to preserve it longer. Some safe vegetables for red-eared sliders are dandelions, mustard greens, tops of carrots, bell pepper, squash, Romanian lettuce etc.

If you decide to feed feeder fish then buy them from a local pet store. You should never feed wild-caught prey. A powdered calcium supplement that also contains vitamin D3 is the best. This calcium supplement will help prevent diseases and shell deformities. Another option is to throw in a cuttlebone once or twice a week.

Baby red-eared sliders need a diet that is higher in meat and protein. Babies should be offered some vegetables, but the majority of their diet should be carnivorous. As your red-eared slider ages you can begin offering less feeder fish or insects and replace it with a variety of vegetables or aquatic plants. Baby red-ears need to be fed much more frequently than adults. They also need a diet high in protein. Babies should be fed every day as they need a tremendous amount of energy to grow at the proper rate.

An equal mix of protein-rich food items, dark leafy greens, and vegetables is ideal for a baby red-eared slider. Let your turtle have a 15 minute feeding session. Use a feeding schedule to track what you are feeding in the event that your turtle becomes sick. You can find a good feeding schedule below:. A big handful of leafy greens, a pinch of turtle pellets, and a couple worms or insects should be plenty.

Adults eat a lot less meat, so make sure you offer plenty of dark leafy greens, vegetables, and aquatic plants. To prepare vegetables for feeding, you should first boil them until they are soft enough to be easily pierced by a fork. This will help remove any bacteria or bugs and will also soften it to make it easier for your turtle to eat.

Their food can be shredded and offered all at once. You should be sure to remove any food that does not get eaten after 15 minutes to ensure that your water stays clean. Most keepers choose staple foods that they rotate every week. For example, you can choose kale as a staple green for one week, and then swap between supplementing with bell pepper, carrots, earthworms, a couple of minnows and turtle pellets.

This makes feeding red-eared sliders a varied, enriching diet simple. For any age slider, it is a good idea to stock their tank with aquatic plants that they can munch on if they are hungry after feeding, maybe even add a few freshwater fish or shrimp too. The animal portion of the diet should be invertebrates, worms, or commercial fish food.

Feeder fish are good for making your turtle exercise, but they are often high in fat and can carry bacteria or parasites. As adults they eat a lot of plants so they get bored of a repetitive diet. Offering a variety of vegetables keeps your turtle interested in eating. Here is our favorite list of vegetables you can safely feed red-eared sliders:. There are some vegetables you should avoid such as broccoli, peas, cabbage, and brussels sprouts as they can all cause gout.

Red-eared or yellow-bellied sliders should not be fed fruit as a major part of their diet, but it is fine to feed fruit occasionally as a treat. Wild sliders do not normally eat fruit, so their bodies are not capable of digesting the high amount of sugar it contains.

They should be offered just one or two pieces a week. Here is a list of fruits that can be fed as a treat:. Turtles and many other animals tend to move slower after eating , so regurgitating food in order to escape more quickly is a common tactic.

Red-eared sliders may regurgitate their food if they are handled too soon after eating.