What to Feed Newly Hatched Baby Turtles

Like any other species, newly hatched baby turtles require special care and feeding in order to ensure continuous good health during the growing process. The first week after hatching the baby turtles will live primarily on their yolks, after this period of time your turtle's food will have to come from you. There are a number of food products which are available, specifically marketed to baby turtles. While many of these products will serve as all around foodstuffs for your baby turtle, you should create a diet that's suited to the type of turtle you have.

  1. Food Types and Frequency

    • Feed your newly hatched baby water turtles and spotted turtles outside their normal habitat containers. Place them in a container filled with enough water taken from the water in which they live to cover the turtles. Make sure the feeding water is the same temperature as their usual water to prevent shocking the turtles with a temperature change. Start newly hatched baby water turtles with flaked food created specifically for baby turtles. The flakes contain all the nutrients and vitamins necessary for keeping your turtle healthy, although flaked fish food can be substituted if turtle flakes are unavailable.

      Feed your baby water turtles daily, allowing them up to several hours to completely feed. There's no reason to fear overfeeding them, just give them food until they no longer eat any, disposing of any leftovers and the water they fed in. Move the babies back to their main habitat container, being sure to pat them dry to remove any food that may have gotten attached to their bodies.

      Provide newly hatched baby land turtles with food and water on a daily basis. Feed them a combination of fish pellets and small turtle food sticks placed in a bowl and moistened with water. You will probably not see them actually eat the food you provide for them, as the newly hatched land turtles tend to hide from view, taking their food with them, but as long as the food continues to disappear the turtles are likely eating. Just replace the food on a continuous basis.

      Once a week, remove the baby land turtles from their habitat and place them in a container containing a shallow layer of water, enough to lie in but not enough to swim in. You can place bugs or worms in the water with the turtles to eat, and check on turtle mobility during the feeding process.

    Foods to Avoid

    • While you can feed your newly hatched baby turtles as much nutritious foods as they wish to eat without worries, feeding them foods which are high in fats and low in vitamins and minerals like mealworms will lead to unhealthy growth. Stay away from most dried whole shrimp and dried bugs, as the processing may have taken out some needed nutrients, and avoid raw meats which are high in fat content. Feed your young turtles fruits and vegetables on occasion, but the baby turtles will eat a more varied diet as they grow.