What Red-Ear Turtles Eat

The red-eared slider turtle is the most popular pet turtle in the United States. In the wild, these omnivorous reptiles hunt for prey and enjoy a diet of invertebrates, such as worms, as well as aquatic and land plants. In captivity, you need to ensure that your red-eared slider gets the varied diet and vitamin supplements it needs to live a long, healthy life.

  1. Animal Foods

    • Red-ear turtles hunt for food in the wild. Offering them live food in captivity will help them exercise their natural instincts.

      In their natural habitat, red-ear slider turtles thrive on a variety of invertebrates and insects, including fish, crayfish, tadpoles, snails, crickets and worms, all of which provide the turtles with needed protein. Earthworms, mealworms or blood worms make great meals for pet turtles -- cut the worms up if your turtles are young; adult turtles can handle live worms. Larger turtles may also enjoy an occasional tadpole or feeder fish or even cooked shrimp and chicken as a treat.

    Plant Foods

    • Dark leafy greens are an essential part of your turtle's diet.

      In addition to animal foods, red-ear turtles need nutritious plant food for a balanced diet. Wild turtles thrive on a variety of aquatic plants, like water hyacinth and water lettuce. At home, you can offer your turtle leafy greens like kale, bok choy, mustard greens and dark green lettuce. Fruits like apples, bananas and melons are not part of a turtle's natural diet and should only be fed sparingly or avoided altogether if stomach troubles occur.

      You may notice that younger turtles seem to reject their vegetables. Red-ear turtles do tend to prefer meat when they're younger before gradually acquiring a taste for plant foods as they age.

    Commercial Pellets

    • Commercially available turtle pellets are a convenient, nutritious option for feeding pet turtles and contain a good balance of vitamins and minerals. Use turtle pellets to form the basis of your pet's diet, but don't limit your turtle to pellets only. Red-ear turtles need animal and plant foods to round out their diet and provide the variety of nutrients they need to stay healthy.

      For very young turtles, it's acceptable to offer pellets daily, but space out pellet feedings to every other day after the turtle reaches one year of age.

    Supplements

    • Just like humans, turtles may not get all of the vitamins and minerals they need from food alone. That is why many turtle owners turn to vitamin supplements to bolster their pet's dietary needs. Look for reptile multivitamins that contain vitamin D3 for turtles with little to no sun exposure and calcium to support shell development. Supplements come in powder or gel form and can be added directly to the turtle's food. Follow the manufacturer's directions carefully to ensure proper dosage.