What does a water turtle eat?

Humans must eat to live. The same goes for animals and all living beings in this galaxy. Food is a priority. More than a necessity, it has become an obligation. That's why it's your duty to feed your children, including your pet, well. Animals have diverse diets. Therefore, it's normal for a water turtle to eat differently than other turtles.

Since you have taken responsibility for a turtle, then this article will enlighten you on how to feed your water turtle.

A water turtle's diet depends on its category. This means that herbivorous and carnivorous turtles do not share the same nutritional requirements. However, regardless of nutrition, it is imperative to consider dietary exceptions.

In this section, you will better understand various concepts such as:
• The diet of herbivores
• Dietary components of carnivores
• The right location for good feeding of water turtles
• Problems with freezing a turtle's food
• The risks of refreezing
• The dietary proportions of water turtles…

If you are interested in learning new things, then start reading this interesting section.

What is the diet for a herbivorous water turtle?

Herbivores are animals that eat a plant-based diet. But that doesn't mean they don't eat protein .

What foods can be included in the diet of a herbivorous water turtle?

Water turtles are generally omnivores . However, some are more herbivorous than carnivorous. Others are the opposite. This is to help you understand that each species of turtle has its own unique diet. By living in pet stores, all turtles end up adapting to a particular feeding method.

These nutritional and well-balanced foods are enough to satisfy these animals. Herbivorous aquatic turtles have a greater preference for fresh vegetables and seafood . You can provide them with vegetables such as dandelion, clover, plantain, alfalfa, bindweed, lamb's quarters, sow thistle, evening primrose, peeled oranges, spinach, radish leaves, green cabbage leaves, water hyacinths, fresh figs, etc. The list of vegetables is not exhaustive.

What is the rate of nutrients needed for a herbivorous water turtle's diet?

All that matters is that this species is fed plant foods . Be careful not to feed them plants that will endanger their life or health. The nutrition of herbivorous turtles is more focused on carbohydrates. This does not mean that they do not consume protein.

In the diet of herbivorous turtles, there is a rate of 50 to 75% carbohydrates and 15 to 35% protein. Therefore, it is normal to favor terrestrial plants, crustaceans, insects, semi-aquatic plants and vegetables.

What is the right diet for a carnivorous water turtle?

It is common knowledge that carnivores are more interested in meat. Their diet is based on protein. However, it should be noted that there are exceptions to their diet .

What foods do carnivorous turtles eat?

Feeding an aquatic turtle has never been an easy task. But it doesn't seem so impossible. When the turtle species is carnivorous, you must give it protein-rich foods like meat or fish. When you decide to feed your turtle fish, make sure to give it whole, fresh fish. These are foods rich in protein and amino acids.

You can treat your best friend by serving frozen recipes. Specifically, make sure your turtle's diet contains 30 to 60% protein and 40 to 70% fat. Give more priority to fish, crustaceans, insects , and pieces of raw liver. When it comes to crustaceans, avoid mussels and shrimp.

What are the exceptions related to the nutrition of carnivorous water turtles?

There are exceptions in the nutrition of aquatic turtles. In fact, you should not serve your turtle smelt , herring, catfish, red fish, dried shrimp, fatty fish, tuna, sardines, salmon. Goldfish are prohibited because they contain a high amount of thiaminase.

However, this substance is very harmful to vitamin B1. Even though sardines and anchovies are very rich in purines, their consumption, if excessive by your turtle, can cause damage to the latter. Indeed, excess purine is often the cause of visceral or joint gout . Although the fish are caught in the wild, this does not imply that they are free of parasites. Therefore, be careful with these fish to avoid being responsible for the death of your companion. You can also use vitamin C to delay food loss.

What is the right location for a good turtle diet?

Water turtles are more comfortable eating in the water. Therefore, to feed a water turtle, use a water tank. However, this tank should be different from the one that constitutes its habitat. This initiative allows you to maintain a clean and healthy living environment. It also prevents the proliferation of microorganisms linked to the putrefaction of uneaten food.

If you want to vary your turtle's diet, you can offer it invertebrates such as earthworms, mealworms, bristleworms, crickets, or other insects. It can also manage snails , slugs, or even mice. If possible, offer it aquatic plants. Why not algae, cresses, water hyacinths, or spirogyra?

What are the problems with freezing a water turtle's menu?

Freezing has always been an ideal way to reduce the number of batteries. However, it should be noted that this method has a drawback. In reality, freezing means accepting a reduction in vitamin C content. This reduction only ends when thawing is complete.

As we all know, vitamin C has a special antioxidant power. It is precisely thanks to this power that the fight against pathogenic germs seems effective. The thawing stage also presents a concern. Indeed, during this phase, there is often a risk of multiplication of pathogenic bacteria . To avoid such complications, it is important that thawing goes through a stage in a refrigerated chamber with a temperature below 10°.

What are the risks associated with refreezing?

Refreezing is a very dangerous practice. We do not recommend this practice. There is a gray area in this practice that is not well understood. It's a small detail. It's obvious that you're aware of the various prohibitions regarding refreezing. However, what you don't know about this is that you don't really understand the conditions for refreezing cooked food that's already frozen raw.
To refreeze cooked food that has already been frozen raw, you must ensure that the cooking temperature used by the housewife is above 70°. This can be achieved by industrial pasteurization . Thus, for bacteriological reasons, we advise you not to feed your turtle with mussels. It therefore seems preferable to never freeze the turtle's food.

What are the proportions of the turtle's food ration?

For a young aquatic turtle, a ratio of 2/3 animal and 1/3 plant is already acceptable. But as it ages, you should expect your turtle to opt for a vegetarian diet. This means that the older it gets, the better it would be to enrich its diet with many more plants.

For example, you can include foods like watercress, water hyacinth , and others. Ground plants like dandelion, clover, romaine lettuce, turnip greens, endive, or chard. Don't give her too much fruit, as she risks excess stomach acid and calcium deficiency.

Water turtle nutrition may seem simple, but it can be complicated if the instructions are not followed exactly . Keep in mind that a turtle's lifespan also depends on its nutrition.