What Vegetables Can My Turtle Eat?

Turtles need a diet full of nutrient-rich vegetables to ensure good health, especially as they age. Vegetables and leafy greens provide turtles with fiber and important vitamins and minerals, so 50 to 70 percent of their diet should consist of vegetables. However, an adult turtle's diet should also be made up of 25 percent formulated turtle food, 25 to 35 percent protein and 10 percent fruit. Baby turtles need a higher percentage of protein and a lower percentage of vegetation.

  1. Dark, Leafy Greens

    • Dark, leafy greens should make up 10 percent of a young turtle's diet and up to 50 percent as it ages and begins to eat less meat and more vegetation. No matter how old your turtle is, always include dark, leafy greens at feeding time, as they are a main source of fiber for intestinal cleaning and of other important vitamins and minerals. Regularly feed your turtle collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, romaine lettuce, wheat grass and turnip greens while occasionally feeding red leaf lettuce, endive, parsley, kale, Swiss chard and spinach.

    Other Vegetables

    • Vegetables other than dark, leafy greens should make up about 30 percent of a turtle's diet to ensure a good balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from overall vegetation. Regularly feed turtles summer and winter squashes, peas in the pod, sweet potatoes, okra, grated carrots and green beans while occasionally feeding them corn on the cob, tomatoes and mushrooms. Turtles can also eat bean sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, beets and cauliflower but less frequently than other, more nutrient-rich vegetables.

    Vegetables to Avoid

    • While turtles can eat bright, watery greens and vegetables, such as iceberg lettuce and celery, you should avoid feeding them to your turtle because of their low nutritional value. Other vegetables and leafy greens that you should never feed to your turtle include avocado peel, rhubarb, potatoes other than sweet potatoes, and tobacco leaves.

    Vegetable Preparation

    • Always feed your turtle fresh, washed vegetables and use the most colorful, or most nutrient-rich, parts of vegetables. To wash vegetables properly, dip them in boiling water for 10 to 30 seconds, then rinse with clean, cool water. You should also steam and grate or shred vegetables before feeding them to your turtle, especially if you are using hard vegetables or vegetables that are larger than your turtle's head. Steaming and grating or shredding vegetables makes them easier for your turtle to eat and digest.