What to Feed Baby Wild Box Turtles

Box turtles are the most commonly kept reptile pet in the United States, but are also one of the most widely neglected because most people are unsure of how to care for them. A hatchling box turtle in the wild has the ability to find the nutrition it needs to survive and stay healthy. In captivity, the turtle's diet and nutritional needs must be met by its owner. A hatchling or adult box turtle's diet can easily be foods already in your kitchen as well as items you can find right in your backyard.

  1. Plant Matter

    • Fifty percent of your hatchling box turtle's diet should be plant matter. While hatchling box turtles are more carnivorous than adults, their diet must still contain plant matter to ensure that they receive the proper vitamins and minerals to grow at a healthy, normal rate. Be sure to offer both fruits and vegetables. Some fruit choices include strawberries, tomatoes, grapes, apples, oranges, bananas and peaches. Vegetable choices include dark leafy greens, squash, sweet potatoes, peas, corn, green beans, carrots, bean sprouts, mushrooms, broccoli and bell peppers.

    High-Protein Foods

    • The other 50 percent of your hatchling box turtle's diet should include animal matter, or high-protein foods. These foods will provide your hatchling with the nutrition he needs to build strong muscles and a strong shell. Adult maintenance dry dog food, pelleted parrot diets, trout chow and monkey chow biscuits are sources of protein. Protein can also be found in insects and small animals, such as earthworms, crickets, slugs, grasshoppers, mealworms, skinned and chopped whole mice, baby mice (pinkies), goldfish and sardines.

    Procedure

    • Hatchling box turtles need water daily. Feeding should occur each day or every other day. Chop all food into small, fine pieces before offering to a hatchling. Offer the foods in a 2:1:1 ratio of high-protein foods, fruits and vegetables. For example, offer 50 percent chopped earthworms along with 25 percent strawberries and 25 percent mushrooms, etc. Offer food in a dish and leave the turtle(s) alone to eat, as box turtles are naturally secretive animals that enjoy privacy. Never leave food in the turtle enclosure after an hour's time, however, or the turtle may walk through the food and make his tank dirty. Food left in the tank too long also runs the risk of rotting or attracting insects. At every feeding, dust food with a reptile calcium supplement (available in pet stores). Dust food with a reptile multivitamin (available in pet stores) every week or two.