Turtle feeding. What to feed tortoises What not to feed tortoises

The diet of very young red-eared turtles consists almost entirely of food of animal origin.For individuals that have reached a size of 10-12 cm, approximately 50% of the diet is left and 50% vegetable.

In adult red-eared turtles, the need for protein is much less - they switch to a predominantly vegetarian diet. In nature, as they grow older, red-eared move from deep-sea areas rich in animal feed closer to shallow water with aquatic vegetation. Here, adult reptiles can enjoy plenty of plant food and from time to time catch careless animals. Thus, in natural conditions, red-eared independently find the sources of vitamins and minerals they need at a given age. And when keeping this reptile at home, you should take care of its diet by organizing its nutrition so that it matches the natural one as much as possible.

Vegetable food, of course, is necessary for a turtle, especially an adult. But you need to know that not all vegetables, fruits and plants are suitable for feeding your pet. Some plant foods can be given as much as you like, while others can be given little by little. But there are also plants that are strictly forbidden to give. So what kind of plant foods will benefit your pet?

Foods of plant origin that can be given to red-eared turtles in unlimited quantities:

• dandelion
• clover
• watercress
• tops of carrots and beets
• lettuce
• plantain
• sleepy
• sedge
• thistle
• oats
• fescue
• couch grass
• wheat
• barley.

It is not forbidden to feed the red-eared and the following indoor and garden plants:

• aloe
• geranium
• hibiscus
• violet
• chlorophytum
• coleus
• calendula
• Snapdragon
• mallow
• medicinal sage.

Plant foods that can be given to the red-eared turtle in limited quantities:

• apricot
• watermelon
• banana
• cherry
• pear
• melon
• vegetable marrow
• kiwi
• strawberry
• raspberries
• mango
• carrot
• cucumber
• Bell pepper
• turnip
• asparagus
• pumpkin
• figs
• chicory lettuce.

Important: do not feed the red-eared constantly the same vegetables and fruits. In order for your pet to get all the vitamins he needs, diversify his diet as much as possible.

Plant foods that should not be fed to red-eared turtles

It is not recommended to feed your pet with plants that contain a lot of oxalants (spinach, cabbage, legumes, rhubarb). When feeding these plants in large quantities, the process of calcium absorption in the intestine is disrupted. Radishes, radishes, wild cruciferous plants are strumagenic. They can cause iodine deficiency and, as a result, the development of goiter. Tomatoes contain a lot of phosphorus, which interferes with the proper absorption of calcium. They are also best excluded from the diet of the red-eared turtle.

Plants that are strictly prohibited for red-eared turtles:

• oleander
• azalea
• monstera
• lily of the valley
• morning glory
• periwinkle
• crocus
• narcissus
• epipremnum
• spurge
• jasmine
• lobelia
• delphinium
• juniper
• ficus
• lupine
• mistletoe
• lily
• rhododendron
• cyclamen
• hydrangea
• nightshade
• chefler.

Some of the listed plants are so poisonous that just touching them can cause wounds and ulcers in the red-eared.

Also, turtles should not be given citrus peel, fruit and berry pits.

Aquaterrariums are often tried to be decorated with algae, which adult turtles eat with pleasure. Especially red-eared duckweed love. You can place such aquatic plants as hornwort, ludwigia, ceratopteris, anacharis, spirogyra in the turtle's dwelling. But in no case should you plant ambulia, lagenander and elodea. They are poisonous.

Therefore, if such a turtle is kept at home, then you need to be very careful about its diet. People who faced a debilitating problem began to keep special food journals for their pets:

• daily;
• weekly;
• monthly.

As a rule, the menu is prepared in advance, with planning for every day. This takes into account all the necessary vitamin supplements, in the form of calcium and various amino acids. If you purchased a turtle, and you don’t know how to feed it, then for a start you should at least make a preliminary planning of its diet. In the process of feeding, it will become clear how to adjust her nutrition. In order not to take risks, it is better to seek information from a specialist or “dig” on the Internet, where there is a lot of useful information.

It is very important that nutrition is optimal and balanced. The turtle should not be overfed, but it should not be allowed to starve. Her diet should include foods rich in essential vitamins and minerals in order to ensure normal development and growth for the pet.

If the turtle will eat a lot of different foods, then this can negatively affect the health and longevity of the pet. As a result of overeating, the turtle can develop diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract.

With insufficient amounts of food, the turtle will not receive the required amount of nutrients, which can lead to developmental defects.

Despite the fact that tortoises eat mostly plant foods, care should be taken to ensure that the tortoise also consumes animal foods. It can be no more than 5% of the total diet, but this is quite enough for its normal development.

Those who do not know how to feed this animal can purchase special artificial supplements with vitamins, proteins and other trace elements. How many such additives are required to the main diet is indicated on the package.

A complete list of permitted plants and vegetables can be found.

• Greens - 75%;
• Fruits, berries and vegetables - 15%;
• Complex dishes in the form of various cereals - 5%;
• Vitamin supplements - 5%.

In the process of formulating her diet, one must take into account the fact that certain substances, such as vitamin D 3, can adversely affect her health. You should carefully study the list of substances prohibited for land turtles.

It should be remembered that in animals that fall into captivity, there is a shift in her behavior. With a lack of nutrients, she will begin to eat everything, including the earth in the terrarium. To prevent this from happening, you should take great responsibility in organizing the nutrition of your pet. With proper and balanced nutrition, the turtle will delight others for many years.

Therefore, before you start feeding the animal, you should draw up an approximate diet:

1. As stated above, the basis of the diet is greens, in the form of lettuce leaves and dandelion, plantain and alfalfa, thistle and sorrel, lawn grass, as well as leaves and stems of legumes (peas or beans). In addition to this greenery, turtles are happy to eat inflorescences of various plants. The main component must always be in the feeder, and the reptile will decide how much to eat.
2. Vegetables come second.. Turtles love to feast on pumpkin, fresh carrots, ripe zucchini, young beets and radishes. Once a month, the turtle can be given a cucumber or horseradish.
3. The list of berries and fruits must include apples and pears. From time to time, apricots, plums, raspberries, strawberries, and watermelon can be included in the diet, but in small quantities.

Do turtles need to be watered?

As a rule, land turtles get the main dose of moisture from vegetables, fruits and greens. Most experts say that it is enough to provide the turtle with a bath of water once a week and it will not suffer from a lack of moisture. The fact is that turtles are able to replenish the lack of water through the skin. If a turtle swims in a bowl of water for 10 minutes, then this is quite enough for her.

There are times when, after acquiring a turtle, this small animal still suffers from a lack of moisture. In such cases, for some time you should provide the turtle with daily baths with water. Water should be poured up to half of the body so that the head peeks out of the water. To this end, at first, you can install a drinker with clean water so that the turtle can drink at any time.

The diet of land turtles consists of plant foods. Being in natural conditions, the turtle consumes all the necessary nutrients that ensure its normal development. At the same time, the turtle always feels which microelements it lacks at one stage or another of its life path, and it does an excellent job of this task, finding the food that it needs.

A turtle can be in a state of searching for scarce food for a long time without compromising its health. You can learn a lot of interesting things about these amazing animals by reading the relevant information on the Internet.

What should not be fed to tortoises?

Unfortunately, the list of prohibited products is very extensive and should be read. This list includes cockroaches, crickets, eggshells, potatoes, garlic or onions, various meat products (including sausage and minced meat), bread, milk, various cereals (except oatmeal), citrus peels, cherries, seeds from any berries . These foods can cause liver disease, which will significantly reduce its life expectancy. Therefore, when starting to draw up her diet, one should take into account the harmful effects of the above products on the turtle's liver and not include them in the diet.

The full list of prohibited products can be found here.

Turtle food in winter and summer

Despite the fact that the animal is in captivity, it can feel the approach of cold weather, which contributes to a change in taste preferences. In the summer, the turtle eats more juicy foods, then with the advent of a colder season, it prefers soaked hay and less juicy vegetables. In any case, you need to monitor the behavior of the turtle, as well as the fact that it consumes more from food.

In addition

Being in captivity, the turtle tries to follow natural instincts and may hibernate. Naturally, this can be facilitated by certain conditions of detention associated with a decrease in ambient temperature within the zone of keeping the animal. It can be not only winter, but also summer hibernation. In nature, turtles hibernate for two main reasons - this is a cold snap or lack of the required amount of food. To prevent this from happening, you should maintain the temperature at an appropriate level, as well as provide the pet with a variety of foods. It should always be remembered that even a turtle must sleep under certain conditions, which is extremely difficult to provide for her at home.

In order not to risk the health of a small pet, you need to provide it with an appropriate regime, located on the border of the maximum level. Under such conditions, the turtle is unlikely to think about its hibernation, especially if it has all the necessary products.

It is very important that the heating resembles the warmth that the turtle felt while under the rays of the sun. Indeed, in the sun, the turtle not only warms up, but also receives a dose of UV radiation, which helps to better absorb calcium in the body. Without calcium, the turtle will not be able to fully develop and this should always be remembered. Therefore, the presence of a UV lamp is mandatory, as is its inclusion for several hours throughout the day.

From this it should be concluded that the future of a small pet depends entirely on who cares for him. You should not think that the animal will grow up on its own, without proper care. Unfortunately, this is not so, considering what dangers lie in wait for a small turtle, if you do not pay due attention to its content.

Living turtles do not have teeth, they are excellently replaced by hard, sharp horny sheaths called ramphothecus. With their help, animals cope with fairly solid types of food. When dismembering large pieces of food, turtles help themselves with their forelimbs.

The main requirement for keeping tortoises is to maintain an optimal temperature regime that does not allow excessive cooling of the animal.

A feature of the digestion of turtles is that their saliva does not contain digestive enzymes. Therefore, food forcibly put into the animal's mouth and even into the esophagus is not digested, but rots, causing poisoning of the turtle. So, unlike other reptiles, turtles cannot be force-fed.

An hour and a half before feeding, an animal kept in an apartment on a “free pasture” must be placed under a heater in order to “warm up” the turtle. It is better if the thermal baths last all daylight hours. In extreme cases, your pets need to be warmed in the evening. The duration of heating is two to three hours. Only in this case, she will be able to eat with appetite and fully digest the food she has eaten. The main food for turtles in nature is various herbs, including dried ones (in our concept, this is hay), leaves of shrubs, stems and fruits of cacti. Animals living in the zones of agriculture diversify their table with various fruits. Some species do not refuse meat food, as well as carrion.

Young animals should receive food every day, after they reach the age of one year, turtles are fed once every two days.

Vegetables

With a few exceptions, land tortoises are vegetarians, so feeding them is not a problem. They often prefer brightly colored fruits or flowers, especially red ones. Apples, pears, plums, tomatoes and beets are cut into small pieces, but overripe bananas can be given whole (small turtles - without peel, large ones - together with the skin). You can offer your turtle strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, grapes, ripe cherries, peaches, apricots, sweet watermelon, oranges, tangerines. Stone fruits (cherry, peach, apricot, etc.) should be pitted if there is a chance that your pet will be able to swallow them. Some turtles eat onions.

It is important that the turtle's diet is varied. It happens that a turtle stubbornly refuses a certain product for weeks, and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, greedily pounces on it.

All turtles love lettuce, they enjoy parsley, young beans and peas, fresh leaves of the pea plant (beets, parsley, spinach and other plants containing oxalates should be given in a limited form). All hard vegetables (such as cabbage) should be cut into small pieces. Carrots and beets are peeled. In spring and summer, different flowers diversify the diet well, turtles are especially fond of red clover, dandelion and coltsfoot flowers.

animal food

Some turtles are real gourmets and have a particular preference for slugs, earthworms and fairly large insects. My friend had a Central Asian tortoise, which had to share its rather large terrarium with agamas. Daily

she ate rather large quantities of beetles and mealworms, which were actually intended for lizards.

Another American hobbyist also had a land tortoise (its species was not specified) in a terrarium with large teiidae lizards. The lizards were given raw eggs and horsemeat cut into finger-length pieces. As soon as these dishes were in the terrarium, the turtle "ran" to the feeder and even pushed the lizards away in order to be the first to catch up to the dinner table, and there was a bowl of fresh salad, pears and tomatoes next to it.

In conclusion, I would like to draw your attention to an excellent highly nutritious food - germinated wheat. It is greedily eaten by all turtles, and there is no better food for rearing young turtles, especially during the winter months.

Vitamin and mineral supplements

People often forget that turtles, especially young ones that continue to grow, need calcium to build their shells. Finely ground bone meal should be given daily at each feeding. A pinch is enough for one individual. Bone meal is usually sold in pet stores. There are also special vitamin preparations for turtles on sale. (We must choose those that do not have phosphorus in their composition: such top dressing is harmful to herbivores). They should be mixed with food. It's a good idea to put a piece of school chalk, old lime or cuttlefish "bone" in the terrarium (it is sold in pet stores as bird feed). Turtles, as needed, will gnaw off pieces from them themselves.

Dog and cat vitamin and mineral supplements are not suitable for turtles due to their composition. Some of the vitamins they contain are harmful to turtles.

Care must be taken when using fat-soluble vitamins. Their overdose can adversely affect the animal. Water-soluble preparations can be diluted in water intended for drinking or bathing. Turtles can absorb water with their skin, and along with the liquid, vitamins will also enter the animal's body.

Water

No living being can do without water. But animals can get water in various ways. To replenish their liquid reserves, turtles drink water from various reservoirs, including from drying puddles (this is not necessary in captivity), lick dew (not all desert turtles are familiar with stagnant reservoirs) and eat wet food. Basking in the mud of half-dried puddles, animals absorb moisture through their skin. Some species use an original way of collecting water. The tortoise lifts the back of the shell, forcing rainwater to flow down the peculiar "troughs" formed by the large carapace shields and curved marginal shields to the head, allowing the turtle to drink water without difficulty. The drunk liquid is "stored" in the bladder and anal bladders.

Drinking water given to turtles in captivity should be clean, warm. It is poured into low stable drinking bowls-saucers. It is also advisable to arrange "bath" days for the turtles at least once a week, placing them in a bowl of warm (25-30 ° C) clean water. The procedure can last from 30 minutes to an hour or two.

It must be remembered that turtles love to defecate in the water, so in the drinkers it has to be changed several times a day. Dirty water can cause disease in animals.