Painted Turtle Diet

Painted turtles are aquatic turtles that are popular in the pet trade. They are a simple animal to care for, and at their full adult size, they are between 6 and 8 inches. If you are considering a painted turtle for your household, it is important to make yourself aware of this reptile's straightforward dietary requirements.

  1. Features

    • Painted turtles are omnivorous and in the wild will eat vegetables, insects, worms and small fish. In captivity, they thrive on a diet of greens, carrots and zucchini. To supplement their protein requirements, they can be offered crickets, mealworms and bloodworms.

    Time Frame

    • Turtles are voracious eaters, and they can eat so much that they harm themselves. When feeding a painted turtle, only allow it to eat as much as it can in 30 minutes. After that point, the rest of the food should be removed from the enclosure. Adults may be fed every other day, while juveniles that have not yet reached their full length of 6 inches may be fed daily.

    Calcium

    • To ensure that the painted turtle's shell forms properly, calcium supplementation is essential. Painted turtles get calcium from the insects that they eat in the wild, but as they are typically not fed insects in captivity, this can lead to a deficiency. Powdered calcium for turtles can be acquired from a pet store and sprinkled into their food, or they can be offered a cuttlefish bone, which is rich in calcium.

    Alternatives

    • If you are not interested in feeding your painted turtle a regular diet of chopped greens, worms and crickets, there are also pellet diets available. Choose a pellet diet that is appropriate for the painted turtle. Supplement the turtle's food with treats like lettuce or crickets from time to time.

    Signs of Overfeeding

    • If your turtle suddenly becomes more sluggish than usual, it may have eaten too much. Consult a vet as soon as possible to avoid more serious health problems.