Turtles are an excellent option when adopting or buying a pet, since said reptile does not require much effort in its care. But what do turtles eat? These have a very varied diet, however everything will depend on the type of turtle.
What do turtles eat?
Normally it is thought that their diet only requires a few leaves of lettuce and small tomatoes, but our dear friends must have a diet that is balanced and rich in nutrients to preserve their vitality. In addition to vegetables and specially prepared food, they can consume meat, fruit, worms, fish, among other foods.
Although they can consume almost anything, their diet will be guided according to the type of turtle and the reptile characteristics such as age and even the environment where they have been developed before acquiring it.
How do tortoises feed?
The diet of the terrestrial is known for its simplicity, since most people usually feed them with lettuce and small pieces of tomato, but thinking of only this as a daily diet is a mistake. They need variation in their meals like us human beings so as not to fall into imbalances.
Although it is more common for us to see herbivorous turtles, most of the terrestrial ones are omnivorous and in other cases carnivorous. Therefore, there are certain factors to take into account before feeding them:
- The foods to consume should be rich in calcium and phosphorus.
- If animal protein is provided, let it be occasionally.
- There must be variation between the vegetables to offer, as well as a distribution of food for the day.
- Wash the fruits and vegetables to be consumed very well to prevent chemical contaminants.
- If the turtle is an omnivorous species, it should consume 70% vegetables and the rest in animal protein (molluscs, insects, among others).
Among the vegetables and fruits
Kale and broccoli are one of the best vegetable options because of the large amount of calcium and phosphorus they contain, as well as papaya, figs, apples and pears.
Other recommended vegetables that turtles eat and can tolerate are green beans, celery, watercress. As tomato and cucumber are devoid of calcium, it is advisable to mix them with another food. We can also offer terrestrial turtles strawberries, watermelon, melon, some peaches but occasionally since it is low in calcium like tomatoes.
Regarding animal protein, especially for omnivorous turtles, we can offer fish depending on the size of the reptile, snails, mussels, pieces of meat without any type of dressing, insects such as cockroaches or worms.
For its part, meat is a good ally in feeding turtles, they are fond of lean red meat and beef liver, served raw and chopped into small bites.
Not recommended food for tortoises
There are some foods that tortoises cannot eat because they do not provide the necessary nutrients for their correct development, such as: raw carrots, grapes, bananas and spinach, it is important to try to consume them since they can cause problems in the liver.
Other foods that should be avoided are peppers, chili, beets, mushrooms, zucchini, sweet corn, kiwi, apricots can cause obesity and in the same way problems with the liver. Also no type of sugar, in the case of fruits it is important to distribute them efficiently.
What do sea turtles eat?
The aquatic type turtles are characteristic for their good appetite, it is possible that some water turtle is being fed with the same foods as the terrestrial ones, if so, it is not correct. Like those on land, their diet includes a nutritious diet that is appropriate to their environment, they mostly consume jellyfish because their scales save them from the poison that this creature generates.
An interesting fact is that since turtles do not have teeth, they use the edges of their mouths to chop their food, this would explain why their diet is based on plants and some invertebrate animals.
In any case, the sustenance they acquire will always depend on the species in question, thus being a very frequent question. what do sea turtles eat? according to its type.
if it is carnivorous
Usually their diet consists of crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, sponges, that is, marine invertebrates. In this group of carnivores we can find different species, among them:
- Leatherback sea turtles usually only eat sea squirts and jellyfish such as zooplankton. A relevant fact about this species is that it is the largest in the world with a back up to 220 cm long.
- Flatback turtles are exclusively carnivorous, although they may ingest seaweed in small pieces. Their diet includes crabs and shrimp.
- Snapping turtles typically eat crabs, small fish, and crickets. Also, you can add fruits and vegetables in moderate amounts.
if it is omnivorous
The characteristic of omnivorous turtles is that they eat everything such as plants, fish and invertebrates from the bottom of the sea. The species belonging to this group are:
- Loggerhead or loggerhead turtle: the young eat both animals and plants, while the adults mostly eat snails and crabs. Marine phanerogams (a type of plant) are added to this diet.
- Hawksbill turtle: in this case when the turtles are younger they are carnivorous but as they grow they begin to eat plants. These turtles are picky eaters since they mostly like to eat sea sponges.
- Olive ridley turtle: its diet varies depending on where it is found, they normally migrate to tropical and subtropical waters.
- Olive ridley turtle: this species feeds on sea cucumbers, jellyfish, various plants and fish.
if it is herbivorous
In this group there is only one species, the green turtles, said herbivore eats algae, specifically seagrass plants. The young are distinguished by having an omnivorous diet, for their part the adults swim frequently through the coral reefs to feed on algae and grass, so much so that they help maintain the reefs.
Food not recommended for sea turtles
Being aquatic beings, they consume everything that their habitat provides, however, when having it as a pet, it should be fed as similar as possible to its previous home. It can be varied with special feed for turtles, some insects such as crickets or larvae, it is advisable to buy it because if we take it directly from the garden we will be exposing them to a large number of bacteria.
Something that is definitely prohibited for our marine friends as well as the terrestrial ones are the commercial foods that we usually eat as well as the food for cats or dogs, and why is this? The answer is simple, they do not have the necessary nutrients, they require a special diet.
Do sea turtles eat plastic?
It is no secret that there is currently a wave of water contamination On a daily basis, much of this pollution is generated by human beings and directly affects the oceans, the habitat of many aquatic animals, including sea turtles.
Galapagos, like many aquatic species, live in constant threat within their own home, since it is not only due to the fact that they can become entangled with nets or plastic, but also because ingesting it causes a clear death sentence for the reptile. . Well, they are not able to differentiate between a plastic bag and a jellyfish, it is well known that this is part of their diet.
Both carnivores and herbivores can be confused and ingest the plastic, these bags cause intestinal obstruction and prevent them from feeding, thus causing extreme physical weakness due to lack of food. For their part, the sharp plastics cause the organs of these innocent creatures to break.
It is necessary to remember that the oceans are the lungs of the earth and home to many species, therefore taking care of them and preserving them must be our highest priority during our stay on earth, stop turning them into underwater dumps and instead, take advantage of the resources it provides us responsibly.
How to feed my turtle if it is sick?
When our turtle is in a weak state or going through a recovery process, we worry because we don't know what turtles eat in this situation.
There are foods that are abundant in vegetable protein, which can help us in your recovery process, an example is lentils, these can be boiled or germinated, beans and boiled beans, cherimoya, avocado and soybeans that are rich in fat.
Baths can be provided regularly to hydrate it and whet its appetite, it is vitally important to provide it with the best care.
How to distribute your food on a daily basis?
Once you determine what the tortoises eat, we are left with doubts about the amounts and the best time to feed these peaceful creatures, we must be careful not to let them starve or gain unnecessary weight.
As has been said, all the care of the Galapagos varies according to the species, however a general prognosis would be 1 or 2 times a day, more recommended once in the morning and once in the afternoon. When they are small they will require 3 times a day.
With regard to supplements, 1 or 2 times a week will suffice, this can help the turtle get used to a certain routine.
Importance of calcium in turtles
Turtles need calcium to develop in a healthy and energetic way, this phosphorus supplement is part of the shell of the reptile, which is why it is considered the perfect complement for its life progress. When they are in the growth stage, they require extra amounts to form and maintain the skeletal system.
In their natural habitat they get the necessary calcium through what nature can provide, that is, through vegetation and even through water. Certainly, when adopting a tortoise we cannot offer it the environment as it is, but we can adapt it as much as possible, which is why it is important to buy food supplements.
If it is not given at least a little, we will have a pet with weak bones, a soft shell and serious skin problems, in itself many problems with growth. Something very valuable in this whole process will be multivitamins.
Keep in mind in case you go on a trip
It is not always possible to take pets as traveling companions, which is very sad for turtle lovers. But there is no need to worry, if we take all aspects into account we will be able to leave our beloved quelonians very well equipped.
- You will need to leave it in a space where it receives good sunlight.
- If it is a land turtle, a flat and wide place is the best.
- If it is a sea turtle, it is recommended to change the water in its aquarium a day before, as well as a generous space to swim comfortably.
- Do not leave foods that expire very quickly such as fruits, vegetables or meat.
- In these cases, dry food and feed will be a very good option.
- Clean water for hydration.
Taking these aspects into account, our turtle will be able to last three days, it is possible that up to a minimum of a week with enough water and food to be self-sufficient. If your time of absence will be more than a week, you should entrust it to a trusted person, leave it at the home of a relative or close friend who will watch over it and provide good care.