Can Turtles Eat Wheat Grass?

Like any other animal, turtles need specific nutrients in their diet to survive. Wheat grass is a good source of dietary fiber for turtles. Feed captive-bred turtles food that approximates their nutrition in their natural habitat. Turtles can eat wheat grass, and it will provide at least some of their fiber needs. However, a turtle also needs other food sources to have a balanced and healthy diet.

  1. Wheat Grass and Dark Leafy Greens

    • Turtles need fiber in their diet to ensure a healthy and regulated digestive system. Dark leafy greens, including wheat grass, provide fiber and are also rich sources of minerals and vitamins, including essential fatty acids essential for proper metabolism. There are some leafy greens you should give more frequently than others. These include collard, dandelion, mustard and turnip greens, romaine lettuce and wheat grass. Iceberg and red leaf lettuce, spinach and parsley should be given less frequently. Never feed turtles potato, rhubarb or tobacco leaves.

    Proteins

    • Half of the dietary intake for turtles should be rich sources of protein. For the turtle to develop physically, an ample amount of muscle meat should be present in its regular diet. Whatever meat morsels are given should be phosphorus free and cut up into small serving portions. Excellent protein sources are earthworms and wax worms, beetles and bugs, slugs, boiled chicken, fish and beef heart. You can also provide your turtle with a smaller amount of eggs, cat kibble and tofu. Processed, raw or fatty meats should never be part of a turtle's diet.

    Vegetables

    • Feed only a relatively small amount of vegetables to turtles. Grate or steam fresh vegetables such as carrots, squash, okra, green and wax beans. Mushrooms, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, beets, cabbage, bean sprouts and cauliflower can be given to the turtle in moderation.

    Fruit

    • About ten percent of a turtle's diet should be fruit. Combining pieces of fruit with wheat grass and other dark leafy greens can be done as well. Turtles can eat almost any type of fruit. Bananas, apples, grapes, cantaloupes, peaches, strawberries and cherries are just a few of the possible options.