How to Feed Freshwater Turtles

A balanced diet is key to your pet turtle's health and happiness. When shopping for food for your turtle, consider its activity level, habitat and species. Pets that live indoors require less food than outdoor turtles, as they tend to move less and experience fewer temperature fluctuations. Herbivorous turtles need to eat more than carnivorous turtles of the same size, as plant material contains many fewer calories than meat.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

How to Feed Freshwater Turtles

1. For a young turtle, measure a quantity of food about the size of its head and feed it to the turtle twice daily. For an omnivorous turtle, try shopping for a menu of live plants, small feeder fish, chopped earthworms, small crickets and commercial turtle food.

2. For an older turtle, provide one small meal daily instead of two. A general rule of thumb is to watch your turtle eat and give it only as much as it consumes in about 5 minutes.

3. For a few months, keep a record of what you feed your turtle, how much it eats and its weight. Young turtles should gain weight gradually, but a healthy adult turtle should maintain about the same weight. If you see weight gain or loss, adjust your adult turtle's diet accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• It is safest and cleanest to provide separate living and feeding tanks for your freshwater turtle.
• Keeping a live plant or two in your turtle's tank will allow him to munch on a snack as needed.
• Many turtles will find one food they like and try to stick to it. Keep your pet's diet as varied as possible for proper development.
• Turtles tend to be food beggars. Do not feed them all the food they want, as they will become obese and endanger their health.