Diet for a Slider Turtle

Turtles such as the red-eared, yellow-eared, and yellow-bellied slider are popular pets. These aquatic turtles are omnivorous in the wild, eating more protein when juveniles, then more plant foods in adulthood. Pellets sold in pet stores specifically for aquatic turtles make a fine base to the turtle's diet, but it is best to supplement their diet with a variety of fresh foods.

  1. What to Feed for Animal Matter

    • A good commercial pellet should make up about 25 percent of the turtle's diet. Recommended brands include Mazuri Fresh Water Turtle Diet and Tetra ReptoMin. Sliders will enjoy occasional live insects such as crickets, bloodworms, and mealworms, which are often available in pet stores or online. They can also be offered aquatic snails, tadpoles or feeder guppies (goldfish are not recommended.) For an excellent, protein-filled food, take a lean beef heart, put it into a blender with gelatin, then freeze overnight in ice trays to make meat bites for your turtles.

    What to Feed for Plant Matter

    • Offer a variety of vegetables such as romaine lettuce, redleaf lettuce, kale, collard and mustard greens, carrot, squash, and zucchini. Vegetables will need to be well-shredded for the turtles' comfort, preferably via food processor. Aquatic plants are a great natural food of the slider, so if possible, add edible plants such as anacharis, duckweed, water hyacinth, water lily to the turtle's enclosure. Pesticide-free Bermuda grass or timothy hay may be taken by sliders. Cleaned, skinned and seeded fruits, such as melon, apple, grapes, or berries, should be given as treats only.

    How Much to Feed

    • Juvenile turtles should be fed daily, while adults can feed every other day. Feed only as much as will be consumed in 15 minutes. One rule of thumb is to feed meals no larger than the turtle's head and neck combined. Turtles need to bring their food into the water to eat, so keep in mind that whatever you put out for food will eventually wind up in the turtle's water.

    Vitamins

    • Add vitamins to a slider's diet, especially if the turtle does not get U.V. light or natural sunlight. Added calcium is often a good idea as well. There are plenty of vitamins made for captive reptiles on the market, such as RepCal or Herptavite. Do your research as to which best meets your turtle's needs.