The best way to improve your turtle’s quality of life and lifespan is by providing the best diet and other essential requirements. Turtles can get sickly and suffer other complications unless they get proper food. Therefore, it is vital to feed your pet healthy and highly nutritious food.
My favorite one is Fluker’s medley treat. Read on as we focus on the best food for your turtle’s well-being, how to feed them, and the key factors to consider in your purchase.
In this article, we’re going to review the following turtle food:
We understand how overwhelming it can be to peruse through hundreds of pet products to find the best food for your turtle. With thorough research from pet parents and our personal experiences, we have assorted the top options in the market. They are all highly nutritious and affordable; hopefully, you will find the best one for your pet from our list.
If you are looking for a great addition to your pet’s diet, think of these mixed treats. It is a mixture of various fruits that most pet turtles love. The contents are dried bananas, apples, mangoes, blueberries, strawberries, and pears. Zilla reptile foods also come in various mixes, allowing you to explore other tastes too. The meal is convenient for both veteran keepers and beginners since it is easy to prepare by hydrating it in water before serving.
It also doesn’t require refrigeration to remain viable. To prevent spoiling, you can reseal it to prevent water spillage and insect infestation. You can solely feed Zilla Munchies fruit mix to your buddy or serve it as a treat complementing it with vegetables. It has proteins, fibers, and fats, which are essential nutrients for every turtle. Owners usually provide it as treats for the younger ones.
Alternatively, older turtles can feed on it exclusively since it has low protein content for their systems to handle. Another advantage is that the fibers in the fruit mix improve digestion. Unlike fresh fruits that attract fruit flies and may be subject to contamination, the fruit mix is more hygienic, promoting a healthy living environment for your pet.
Pros
It is multipurpose since you can serve it as a treat or the main diet
It is suitable for aged turtle’s health
Cons
It does not contain sufficient proteins for juveniles
It isn’t ideal for turtles that are picky about fruit treats
Fluker’s is a popular brand for reptile products. This turtle food blend combines all the necessary nutrients for a healthy pet, regardless of its age. They are in pellet form and contain minerals and vitamins in the right quantities for your aquatic pet’s needs. It also has dried shrimp and mealworms for vitamins and proteins. Given that it is a blend, it has different foods that balance well; hence, you don’t need to worry about overfeeding the same type.
This special formula ensures that you have proteins and fats in one place for your hatchling’s growth. Also, you should provide it less than five times a week since it has excessive proteins that can be lethal to your pet. It makes it easier for you since you don’t have to buy different foods separately. Besides, you won’t struggle with overfeeding, which keeps your pet healthy and saves you a lot of money in the long run.
One feeding a day or thrice a week is enough for your turtle. Another advantage is that the pellets are lightweight; hence, effortlessly float on the surface. However, remember to provide the right portions to avoid sinking to the bottom when your pet leaves particles behind. The recommended feeding time is about 15 minutes, after which they will disintegrate and sink to the bottom.
Pros
It contains high-protein shrimp
It is a blend of different foods in one
It has the right percentage of protein and fat
Cons
It breaks down and sinks into the water quickly
The pellets are not the right sizes for some turtle species
If you need high-protein food, especially for your incessantly growing turtles, consider dried crickets. This product is primarily protein and is a favorite meal for wild reptiles.
Your growing buddy will require high protein consumption of about eighty percent of their daily meals; baby turtles usually rely on such nutrients as their primary bodybuilding blocks. Additionally, proteins will improve the turtle’s metabolism process and tissue repairs. This food also contains fats, calcium, and fibers in small proportions.
Furthermore, pets that find it hard dealing with live prey would love this meal. To your advantage, you will find this meal easy to store, preserve and prepare for your turtle; hence, it saves you a lot of time.
Dried crickets are a whole natural meal that you can provide as it is or as a treat together with other low protein and high calcium meals for an ideal diet. Note that crickets are smaller, and you may mistakenly feed a large portion, leading to overfeeding. It is wise to provide a few pieces daily, and it would be more convenient to use an automatic feeder to be certain of the right amounts.
Pros
The crickets are dried hence cannot emit a foul smell
It is an essential alternative to live crickets
The container keeps them whole since it is a large glass jar
Cons
It is low in calcium which is a vital component of the turtle’s diet
Fluker’s has always been a go-to brand for many reptile parents due to its high-quality products, and they don’t disappoint in this one either. It comes in a large jar containing all the nutrients for a growing turtle.
Experts recommend feeding it to your juveniles and hatchlings since it facilitates their fast growth. The product focuses on overall growth and development and may not be a great alternative if you are looking for different nutrients in one product. With this meal, you get mealworms, dried shrimp, and crickets; hence, it is rich in proteins for your pet’s needs, particularly the baby turtles.
However, it may not be the right product if your pet is mature. Excessive protein is overwhelming for adult’s bodies to digest and can lead to obesity or other health-related concerns. We advise providing them less than three times a week to avoid excessive protein intake.
Pros
It is affordable
It is a great protein source for baby turtles
Cons
It is not a viable meal for adult turtles due to the high protein content
Unlike other products on our list, Zilla Reptile mix is a vegetable-based diet. We selected it because it is highly nutritious, especially for older turtles who have switched to a herbivorous lifestyle.
It contains the best-recommended veggies for your pet, such as dried carrots, Zucchini, Peas, Bok Choy, and green beans. If you want your pet to enjoy vegetables but you want to avoid all the hassles involved in preparing fresh food, this is the right choice for you.
No more chopping, fruit flies hovering over the leftovers, and a rotten smell from leftover particles. Instead, you get a dried product that you don’t have to refrigerate to maintain freshness. Apart from the sweet taste, it also saves you a lot of time, unlike serving fresh vegetables. It is very convenient to use since you can soak it in water first or serve it as it is and let the aquarium water rehydrate it.
It is a great supplement to pellets and other fresh veggies, especially when your pet is a picky eater when you serve them while fresh. There are also different varieties of this product and various portions to select the right one for your turtle.
If your pet loves vegetables, you can go for a large amount or pick a small packet when uncertain. Remember to remove leftovers to avoid rotting and water contamination.
Pros
You can feed it to any reptile.
It doesn’t need refrigeration to maintain freshness
It provides all the essential nutrients found in fresh vegetables
It is a tasty meal for herbivorous turtle species
Cons
Some customers say that it has a repulsive smell when it soaks in water
What You Should Consider When You Are Choosing Turtle Food
The great thing about turtles is that they are not as demanding as other pets. They will be fine as long as they have food, water, heat, and light. If you are a first-timer or have trouble selecting the best options to feed your pet, look no further. We have a list of factors to consider in your selection for the best pet turtle feeds.
Type of Food
Turtles are either aquatic or semi-aquatic, meaning that they spend most of their lives in water. They also eat in it as they drink. When selecting a food type, it is best to consider floating pellets since your pets can easily spot them while they swim around in the tank. Secondly, the food should be tiny, not only for it to float but to fit into your pet’s mouth.
Your options are in various shapes like long grains, flat, circular grains, or flakes. The food also doesn’t necessarily have to be a particular color, although some buyers go for bright pellets since they are more attractive. Typically, turtle food takes the ingredient’s color, but some manufacturers add artificial colors.
Always ensure that the additives are safe for your pet, as some manufacturers add toxins into pet feeds. It is best to always go for natural food types to be safe. Wild turtles only eat what nature provides, and you can maintain that by avoiding artificial feeds or those laced with excessive additives and preservatives.
Type of Turtle
Different turtles have particular dietary needs depending on their species, ages, and sex. It is critical that you research the type of turtle you have to understand the most nutritious food and the right portions. Your pet’s subspecies will guide you in finding the food they need most. For instance, turtles that shed their scutes frequently need many nutrients for healthy shell growth.
Consider meals rich in calcium for a strong shell and to prevent issues such as Metabolic Bone Disease. Similarly, juvenile turtles need more portions, particularly proteins, for their general growth. The choice should also be nutrient-rich for their well-being since they are at the most crucial stage.
You may also find that hatchlings are more carnivorous than adult tortoises, and they slowly adopt herbivorous tendencies as they grow older. Sickly or old turtles and females who have just laid eggs may also need special meals directed by a specialist.
Nutritional Benefits
It is essential that you feed your pet turtles food containing the required nutrients and in the correct amounts. Too much of it can still cause fatalities; hence, you have to be very cautious. For instance, vitamin C and calcium are a crucial addition to your buddy’s diet. Vitamin C boosts the immune system; thus, assisting your pet in fighting highly infectious common diseases and living a healthy and happy life.
Similarly, calcium is responsible for robust bones and shells. In contrast, calcium deficiency can lead to various unexpected health issues, including soft shells and bones. Additionally, the nutrient improves muscle and nerve functioning. While the muscles assist in locomotion, healthy nerves ensure that impulses run efficiently to the respective receptors. Also, provide proteins to improve the turtle’s health.
Protein foods will improve growth and development, body coordination, improved metabolic processes, and healing broken body tissues. Researchers suggest that it is best to feed hatchlings and growing turtles about seventy or more percent protein. On the other hand, adults need thirty percent or less, with the rest being complemented by vegetables.
How To Feed Your Turtle
Turtles may not be very demanding, but they have specific requirements contrary to other pets. For one, your pet should not eat a lot of food just because it is available. They need small portions at a time and have issues with obesity when you overfeed them. Hatchlings and juveniles eat more than adults since they need the nutrients for bodybuilding. Therefore, they can eat twice a day while the middle-aged turtles are fine with a meal every other day. Their portions will also reduce as they grow older.
Baby turtles are more demanding because they grow extremely fast and need the proper meals to help them build their bodies. Although they need proteins for muscle growth, they can be lethal when in excess. It contributes to shell deformities and other health issues; therefore, it is best to avoid worms or other fatty foods and instead provide more pellets. It may not be a favorite treat initially, but your reptile will soon be comfortable with it.
Ensure that the pellets are smaller than their head size to make the meal easy to eat. In essence, you should give your turtle a considerable portion to determine how much it can comfortably eat. In the future, you can provide the same at each feeding, and in case there are any remains, remove them after about twenty minutes to prevent overfeeding or contaminating the water.
Mature turtles may only need to eat thrice every week, when they are around six, depending on the subspecies. Be keen on the nutritional benefits of the food and emphasize the key components, not just treats that your pet loves. Your feeding location also matters since turtles naturally eat in their water as they drink because they don’t have saliva to help them lubricate the food. Hygiene is also important because they can get pretty messy as they feed.
They tend to leave leftover particles in the water, and unless you remove these bits, they can cause contamination and make the water dirty. Some pet parents would rather have two tanks, with one set aside exclusively for feeding. This way, you don’t have to worry about your buddy’s health. Otherwise, you can invest in a powerful filter to help you eliminate the impurities and keep the water clear at all times.
The right meal for your turtle should be highly nutritious to provide all the dietary needs. Your pet needs proteins, calcium, vitamins, and mineral salts for general growth and development. We find Fluker’s medley treat as one of the ideal options for your turtle since it is a wholesome food containing vitamins and proteins, particularly fit for a growing turtle. It contains shrimp, mealworms, and crickets; hence, it saves you money and is more convenient. Also, Fluker’s buffet blend turtle foodis an ideal alternative from the same company since it contains shrimp and mealworms; hence, a high-protein food, especially for baby turtles.
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