A first time owner will often wonder what do turtles eat exactly. The answer lies in a great variety of options.

Some sea turtles eat marine vegetation, corals, sponges and crabs. They are also fond of shellfish, feeder fish, and small invertebrates that live in the bottom of the ocean. Leatherbacks are another larger sea-going species that mainly eat jellyfish. By doing so, they play the role of maintaining the ecological balance since jellyfish eat the eggs sardines and of other similar fish. A large population of jellyfish negatively affect the population of sardines.

A large number of species of turtles are omnivorous. They consume plants as much as animal food and will adjust their diet depending on the time of the year. When aquatic plants grow during the summer, they eat more vegetation. They can also eat insects, bugs, worms and other animals when plants become less easy to find. Baby turtles often need to eat more meat.

In captivity, shrimp can be a good source of calcium although care will need to be taken to remove all the sharper bits of the shrimp. Some owners feed beef, liver or even chicken to their turtles. The chicken, however, should not be raw as this might make your turtle prone to an attack of salmonella.

You can also set up a worm farm with earthworms and mealworms. Many websites offer information on how to do it. In short, you can feed earthworms on vegetable scraps and peels while giving bran and grain to mealworms. A good number of turtles really love them.

Duckweed and water hyacinth are other staples that turtles are fond of eating. They can be grown within the turtle’s tank or pond. Duckweed is relatively straightforward to maintain. It grows more efficiently when the container is open and sunlight is available. Change the water periodically, as the saline elements might grow more concentrated as of it evaporates. Being a weed, water hyacinth can grow very rapidly to form a dense mat of vegetation. It can quickly dominate and usurp the space of other plants, although your turtle’s feeding might help to contain this. In a similar vein, water lettuce grows so quickly that it is actually illegal in some American States, but fortunately it too makes a great snack for turtles.

The food purchased in pet stores usually contains the necessary minerals and vitamins, based on a scientific formula. Calcium is an important element in a turtle’s diet. Hatchlings need to eat every day, while adults can eat only a few times a week. Do not let any food that is left over in the aquarium as it could rot. In the end, you will gradually understand what your turtle prefers to eat.

To avoid long-term health issues, you should refrain from feeding your turtle processed foods. Turtles do not have the system to digest food such as dairy products.

Feed the turtle within its tank. Many turtles cannot swallow unless they are submerged. Do not forget to make fresh spring water available. With your turtle’s preferences as guide, you may soon be able to advise others on the subject of what do turtles eat.

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