In comparison to adult turtles, baby turtles are adorable little creatures that require a little different care. To keep them alive and healthy, baby turtles will need higher amounts of protein in their diet. Not only are they prone to many illnesses that may need prevention or treatment, but they also carry germs that can affect people. You can feed baby turtles food available at pet stores while supplementing their diet with vegetables, meats, and fruits. Tortoises on land tend to eat more vegetables than those that live in water.
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| Food Ideas & Nutrition Guide: What Do Baby Turtles Eat? |
Although they are cute and make great pets, what can young turtles eat? These pet store pellets might be handy, but what's in them? Now is your chance to find out what little baby turtles eat and how to supplement traditional turtle meals for optimal health.
Baby turtles in the wild
A tortoise may encounter many food sources when wandering in the wild, from deep swimming holes to shady lands, and it often does. Tortoises can swim in ponds or bogs where they will find completely different types of food than when spending a day on the ground. Since turtles are omnivores, the best bred turtle diet consists of lean raw meat, grasses and green vegetables, and occasional fruits.
What do wild turtles eat?
Turtles are found on every continent of the world except Antarctica. You will likely spot a turtle along the shore of a small pond, stream, or lake. They like moist areas with lots of rocks or gaps they can hide. This means they like to eat things you can find in those areas.
In the wild, turtles consume a wide range of foods. Since they need protein to continue growing, babies typically eat meat. They enjoy eating fish, worms, snails, and small insects as sources of protein. They might start to eat more and more plant matter as they grow larger.
What do baby turtles eat as pet?
The cornerstone of your baby turtle's diet is supplement pellets or capsules, which are a breeze to find at any pet store that sells turtle supplies. There are two caveats, however: you should review each label to ensure your hatchling turtle is getting the best nutrition possible, and you should select a formula that has been approved for your particular hard-shelled pet. For example, what a baby box turtle eats is more of a true omnivorous diet than a water turtle, which includes more raw meat as a baby but a more omnivorous diet as an adult.
Nutrient balance for feeding baby turtles
Here is a rough analysis of Tetra ReptoMin that will give you an idea of the right balance to look for:
- Crude protein not less than 40 percent.
- Crude fat not less than 10%.
- Crude fiber no more than 5 percent.
- No more than 9% ash.
- Not less than 160 IU (international units) of vitamin E per pound.
When you look at the actual ingredients of a turtle pellet food, you will find the following types of ingredients:
- Fishmeal.
- Corn.
- Poultry.
- Fish oil.
- Meat meal.
- Pork meal.
- Beer yeast.
- Vitamin C.
- Vitamin A.
- Vitamin E.
- Salt.
- Zinc oxide.
- zinc sulphate.
Healthy supplements to a baby turtle's diet
You can feed your small pet pellets, but a varied diet is ideal and will help any turtle live a longer, happier life. Consider these inclusions in a growing turtle's diet and you will find that your turtle grows faster, seems more alert, and has fewer issues with mood regulation. Maybe your baby turtle will even perk up when he sees you enter the room!
Suggested live foods for baby turtles
Suggested live foods include:
- Earthworms.
- Slugs.
- Snails.
- Beetles.
- Grasshoppers.
- Crayfish.
If you're wondering how to get one of these insects for your turtle, just ask pet stores for live reptile food. They should have a selection of mealworms, crickets, and beetles that you can buy for your pet, then all you have to do is bring them home and ration them for your pet turtle.
You might also hear of the practice of giving a "baby" to a young turtle. A tiny mouse is a baby mouse that has not yet grown hair or opened its eyes. Feeding pinky mice is extremely controversial and your tortoise may feast on non-mammalian prey as discussed above.
Care tips for baby turtles
Keep your main habitat clean by feeding them in a different aquarium. Alternatively, you can sprinkle pelleted food on their water. Whatever you give them, make sure it's shredded into small pieces to make it the easiest to eat.
In their early years, young turtles eat every day. You can feed them once every two days once they reach the age of about seven. They can be fed 1 cup of turtle food per day, or any amount they can eat in about 20 minutes.
Never feed your tortoise cat or dog food because the protein content is too high and could harm your tortoise.
Feeding baby turtles FAQ
What can a baby turtle eat?
You can feed baby tortoises fresh leafy vegetables like romaine lettuce and cabbage, as well as food you can buy for them at the pet store.
How to feed a baby turtle?
When feeding your baby turtle pellets, you should plan to feed him once a day. Sprinkle pellet food on top of the water and feed only the amount your turtle will eat in 15-20 minutes. Any extra foods can be served in a small dish or on a rock, and they should be shredded into small pieces to make them easier to eat. This not only allows them to consume the food later, but keeps their living space clean.
What do you call a baby turtle?
Baby turtles are called hatchlings.
Is my baby turtle a boy or a girl?
The turtle's cloaca can provide a clue to its sex. Females tend to have a vent located closer to their body which is shaped like a star, while males have a more straight line for a vent, which is near the tip of the tail.
Do baby turtles bite?
Yes, they can bite for various reasons.
Is it illegal to have a baby turtle?
Selling small turtles in the United States has been illegal since 1975, and some states won't allow you to have a turtle. The Humane Society advises calling your local animal shelter or animal control to learn more about turtle ownership laws.
In Conclusion: Good nutrition makes a difference for your baby turtles
Just like in the wild, baby turtles have slightly different dietary requirements than adult turtles. The only real difference between them and fully grown adults is that they need a little bit more protein and depend more on essential nutrients. You have a choice between feeding a baby turtle a pellet diet or live food.
It's important to make sure you meet your pet's dietary needs as part of your overall care regimen. A baby turtle can survive on simple food like dried pellets, but if you really want it to thrive you should always aim for a healthy mix that also allows for seasonal availability.
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