Turtle Food Facts

Different types of turtles have different diets, but most are herbivores. There are many greens that are high in vitamins and calcium. There are also a number of commercial turtle foods that are healthy alternative meals for most types of pet turtles. These may consist of a blend of vegetables and insect protein, or they may contain a blend of vitamins, greens and fruit.

  1. Significance

    • A turtle's diet in captivity is important to ensure the health of the pet. Turtles need specific vitamins from their diet in order to maintain the hardness of their shells and to keep their eyes clear and healthy. A vitamin deficiency can cause a host of health problems. The right foods will have either natural vitamins or they should be supplemented with prepared foods that are vitamin enriched.

    Types

    • Natural foods include spinach and kale for their high vitamin and calcium content. Carrots, lettuce and cabbage can also be used to supplement the diet. For aquatic turtles, specially-made food pellets contain the types of plants and vitamins that this type of turtle needs. Some aquatic turtle types will also eat small fish, and some land turtles will eat insects as a diet supplement.

    Effects

    • When a turtle suffers from a lack of vitamin A, his eyes may get cloudy or swell shut. This can impede his ability to eat and may cause him to fall because of his blindness. When a turtle's diet has no protein or calcium, the turtle's shell can lose its hardness. A soft shell leaves him vulnerable to injury and broken bones in the spine. Eating the proper diet can keep these effects from occurring.

    Prevention/Solution

    • If you want to feed the turtle a natural diet, consider supplementing his diet with powdered vitamin A supplements. These are sold at pet stores. The powder is sprinkled on the turtle's food or mixed with the turtle's water. If the turtle's eyes still swell shut, it means the turtle needs more vitamin A. Consider taking the turtle to the vet for a vitamin A shot if you can't reverse the condition quickly at home.

    Considerations

    • While many turtles eat a plant-based diet, many land turtles also enjoy insects. Keeping a supply of crickets on hand will ensure that the turtle can get a quick snack when hungry. Land turtles also enjoy meal worms, snails, slugs and earthworms. When feeding an insect to a turtle, keep their relative sizes in mind. A small turtle may not be able to eat a large cricket and a small worm may not be noticed by a large turtle.