What you feed your red-eared turtle will determine its future health and life expectancy.

In order for this animal to remain active for as long as possible, it needs to have the right diet. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify how this can be done at home to benefit the turtle.

WHAT DO THEY EAT?

IN natural conditions turtles eat mainly river and sea fish, as well as plant foods. While in the apartment, she eats everything that is offered to her without any problems. However, not all products may be useful for her.

It is important to understand that turtles cannot be accustomed to just one type of food. This is especially true for meat. Otherwise, the animal will begin to be mischievous and refuse other food.

This will cause a number of such diseases, How:

• hypovitaminosis;
• rickets;
• lack of calcium.

It follows that even before buying a red-eared turtle, you need to study what it eats and draw up at least an approximate estimate for it. effective diet. You need to eliminate as much fatty foods as possible. This applies most to lamb and pork.

It is imperative to feed the animals plant foods. First of all, it includes various salads, cucumbers, cabbage and much more.

WHAT TO FEED SMALL PETS?

A special approach to implementing proper nutrition should be in those cases when you have acquired a small red-eared turtle. Food should be balanced and varied.

Even baby turtles are already predators, this is their basic nature. Therefore, as a basis they require animal food.

The diet is as follows:

• river and sea fish – 80%;
• crayfish, insects, mollusks, plant foods – 20%.

Video: eating

What to feed adults?

Adult turtles require special food in their diet, which is sold in pet stores. These animals should also eat carrots, lettuce, beets, and dandelion leaves. If desired, you can include house plants in their food. They can be grown specifically for your beloved pets.

Among other things, red-eared turtles enjoy eating:

• many types of fruits, including even oranges;
• sunflower and wheat seeds;
• beans.

Adult turtles have a strong need for hard plant branches. Thanks to them, they have the opportunity to sharpen their horny plates. As for ready-made feeds, they are presented in a huge variety.

The best for red-eared turtles are:

• RaffyMineral. If your turtle is different increased efficiency, then you can add this particular food to your main diet. It is important to remember that it has a very high calorie content, so you should not constantly feed it to the animal.
• ReptoMin. The turtle will eat regular dry and nutritional sticks made from healthy ingredients.
• RaffyP. This food can be used as the main food; it will be quite enough for the turtle.

Both adults and juveniles love to eat while in the water. They usually do not like to get out of the aquarium onto land. But it is recommended to tame them. Otherwise, the aquarium will be very dirty. The food will quickly begin to spoil, and the turtle may become seriously ill.

HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD I FEED?

Turtles begin to get sick mainly due to the fact that their owners greatly overfeed their pets. The turtle may well become very obese, which will significantly affect both its health and life expectancy. You should especially not overfeed small turtles. Excess food For them it is tantamount to death.

Young individuals whose age has not yet reached one year need to be fed only once a day. This should be done either in the morning or in the evening. The final volume of the portion depends on how active the animal is.

The correct rule is that the turtle should eat quietly for about half an hour. For example, she eats 3 medium pieces of fish at exactly this time. The turtle may refuse to eat.

There are two solutions to this problem:

• reduce portion sizes;
• let her fast for a few days.

Adults will need to eat a hearty meal a couple of times a week. This mainly applies to meat and fish. Plant food in small quantities can be placed on the bottom of the aquarium. If the animal wants, then it will feast on it. Old red-eared turtles can eat even less often - once a week. They don't need more.

Video: feeding process

Vitamin complexes

Vitamin – mineral complexes necessary to maintain a full life of red-eared turtles. Thanks to them, the animals will always be in excellent physical condition.

A big problem that predominantly young turtles face is a lack of calcium in the body. Therefore, their owner needs to periodically buy bone meal from pet stores. Young animals should receive it in their diet almost every day. sufficient quantities. Crushed eggshells are a great substitute.

You can feed turtles with those vitamins that are recommended for humans. First of all, it is calcium phosphate and gluconate.

Once a month, turtles need vitamins C and E. They need to be mixed into their main food.

Under no circumstances should turtles be given vitamin and mineral complexes that are made exclusively for dogs and cats. Of course, the animal eats them without any problems. However, his health may deteriorate.

RESULTS

The owner of the turtle must decide for himself what he will feed his pet. However, you need to understand that a hungry turtle is considered the healthiest. Food must be balanced. These simple rules will allow the turtle to live for a very long time.

A proper diet is the basis for the health of freshwater turtles. Turtles should only eat high-quality, fresh food.

You cannot feed them cold food, so if it is taken out of the refrigerator, it should sit for a while at room temperature.

Red-eared turtles take food in the water and crawl onto land with it. But it is recommended to gradually teach turtles to take food directly from land, since water from food (especially live food) quickly becomes contaminated and spoils. In this regard, they are taught to feed first at the water's edge next to the shore, and then it is placed on a saucer of water. Over time, the saucer is gradually moved away from the water. In this way, gradual training of turtles is carried out.

Some turtle owners use a special technique to prevent the water in the aquarium from getting dirty - they take the turtle out of the aquarium and place it in a wide basin filled with some clean, settled water at the same temperature as in the aquarium. The well-fed turtles are sent back to permanent place residence.

If you nevertheless decide to feed the turtle in the aquarium, then you should not give too much a large number of fatty foods, for example, or pork. If food remains, it should be thrown out of the aquarium. This food should not be given again. In addition, it should be taken into account that fatty food not only pollutes the water, but also spoils the biofilter.

Young animals are fed daily, and turtles over two years of age - once every 2-3 days. You should not skimp on food, since red-eared turtles are very gluttonous, so large portions are the norm for them.

Turtle lovers often prepare food according to their own recipe. This is not at all difficult to do. A mixture is prepared based on gelatin or agar-agar. This mixture is inexpensive, in addition, it is nutritious and can last for a long time in the refrigerator. You can also add a variety of mineral supplements and vitamins to it.

This mixture is prepared according to the following recipe:

• 50 grams of cabbage;
• 70 grams of carrots;
• 100 grams of squid fillet;
• 50 grams of apples;
• 2 raw eggs;
• 145 grams of fish fillet;
• 150 milliliters of milk;
• 20 drops of “tertravat”;
• 30 grams of gelatin;
• 10 tablets of calcium glycerophosphate;
• 150 milliliters of water.

Turtles are omnivores.

Fish fillet along with squid, apples, cabbage and carrots are minced in a meat grinder. Pour in gelatin warm water, bring it to steam bath until completely dissolved and swollen. The resulting minced meat is poured with hot gelatin and milk with eggs beaten into it. The resulting minced meat is mixed well, and when it cools, vitamins and minerals are added. Then the mixture is stirred again and put in the refrigerator.

This food can be easily stored in the refrigerator for a week. Before giving food to the turtle, it is cut into cubes, left to warm up at room temperature, and then fed to the pets.

Red-eared slider - common home resident.

The resulting food is enough to feed one turtle, about 15 centimeters in size, for ten days. If necessary, medications are added to the feed. You can use agar-agar instead of gelatin, then the food will be more solid and it will not melt so quickly in water.

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- not very frequent guests in our homes. Pets are quite unusual, because they will not greet you from work, joyfully wagging their tail, or let you scratch their neck, experiencing insane tactile pleasure.

However, contrary to the above, they themselves are capable of bringing pleasure to their owners. Their leisurely grace is extremely pleasant to watch. Turtles get into apartments in different ways, but all new owners are worried about the question of what to feed the red-eared turtle.

About 80 percent of people who started reading this article will think - what is the purpose of preparing, bought an aquarium and went after a turtle. It couldn't be simpler. But it turns out that everything is not so simple. And we will emphasize the importance of preparing to buy a turtle using the example of a specific family from Moscow, into whose life a small green cute thing named Rafa burst into life.

The appearance of the animal caused unimaginable delight, and, naturally, it was necessary to urgently solve the turtle’s housing problem. The first aquaterrarium was purchased and furnished on the same day, and Rafa rushed to explore new house. Why the first? Some nuances should have been known about reptiles, as it turned out a little later.

Not a single seller of terrariums on the market told buyers that after 2-3 years a 30-liter container will no longer be enough for a turtle. After all, animals grow to the size of a good plate of soup in the size of a shell.

No one said that they are not hamsters who live 2-3 years and the owner is allowed to choose a new pet. In captivity, red-eared turtles live up to 50 years. And you should approach the question responsibly: are you ready to take care of this pet for half a century, or is it not for you.

Well, the most interesting thing, when asked about feeding, the sellers said different types food, but they forgot to mention the main point - if you feed the animal meat, the turtle will develop the habit of biting. And with a high degree of probability, by the age of 5 the creature will become simply dangerous to pick up and try to play with it.

Still have the desire to buy such a pet? Then let's figure out what to feed the turtle.

Baby turtles

A small turtle that appears in the house needs extreme rich diet and a variety of nutrients and minerals for its development. WITH small age you should decide on the turtle’s nutritional vector. There are several options: granulated food sold in pet stores, and natural products - fish, shrimp and meat.

Both types of feeding allow you to provide your pet with all the necessary substances for life and development, but the diametrical difference in them was described just above. There won’t be any particular problems with jars: you go to the pet store, show the approximate diameter of your pet’s shell, the seller gives you a jar and feed the turtle following the instructions on the food packaging.

Having decided to follow the path of natural food, the basis of the turtle’s food should consist of 80 percent of small sea or river fish. The remaining 20 percent will be crustaceans, insects and molluscs.

Viviparous aquarium fish: guppies, swordtails or mollies are used as feeding and some entertainment. The pet needs to run after this food, although this formulation sounds very cynical. But this will allow you to somewhat diversify the menu of your ward.

Banned

First of all, I would like to protect readers from the mistakes made by many inexperienced owners of exotic pets.

The harmful ones include the following, namely:

• poisonous plants;
• spinach, peas, rhubarb;
• tomatoes;
• fatty fish;
• radish;
• asparagus;
• citrus fruit;
• nuts;
• mushrooms.

All of these diet ingredients are harmful to the turtle. Spinach and peas, for example, contain a large amount of oxalates, which can lead to the development of some dangerous diseases in your pet.

Tomatoes interfere with the absorption of calcium, resulting in a negative impact on the formation bone structure in young turtles. And citrus fruits are generally not intended for turtle nutrition in any variation.

Big turtle loves natural

We would like to say right away that fish products should predominate in the diet of the red-eared turtle. Both river and sea fish are suitable. The main thing here is to take into account the fact that the turtle needs to be given low-fat dietary varieties of fish. This is very important because it can directly affect the health of your ward.

So, the preferred representatives of the ichthyofauna for a turtle’s lunch include the following, namely:

• European hake;
• whiting;
• zander;
• mullet;
• pike;
• flounder.

The fish should not be cut, as it usually swallows its prey whole. She needs all those useful material contained in the skeletal system of fish. Without them, your pet is likely to have problems with the strength properties of the shell and skeleton as a whole.

You also need to remember that raw fish contains thiaminase, so before giving the turtle raw fish, you need to keep it in hot water for a couple of minutes.

You can also give your turtle mixed seafood, such as:

• mussels;
• oysters;
• squid and octopus;
• all types of shrimp.

Other feeds

In addition to fish, feeding reptiles can easily be diversified with other foods. And the list is quite varied.

Meat

If you want to pamper your red ear with meat, lean beef, rabbit or pieces of poultry are perfect. It is not advisable to give lamb and pork - these products are difficult for reptiles to digest. The meat is served raw and boiled, and offal is also used: liver, navels, heart.

Some turtles are happy to eat a small mouse, don’t let this fact bother you. But do not forget, constant feeding of meat leads to hypovitaminosis. The animal's diet must be varied.

Insects

Summer is paradise for the turtle in terms of a variety of insect menus. Bugs, grasshoppers, non-poisonous caterpillars, and bloodworms served to the table are excellent. However, if you catch a cockroach or fly in the kitchen, you should not feed it to the turtle. In addition to the fair image of carriers of diseases, these insects can enter the apartment already poisoned and such a meal will not end well.

It is necessary to include live and dried gammarus, as well as daphnia, in the diet.

Vegetarian component

As a rule, omnivorous “tortillas” quite willingly eat not only protein foods, but also plant foods.

Plant food usually makes up no more than 20% of our pet’s total diet, and the red-eared turtle should be given greens and fruits no more than 1-2 times a week, if we are talking about a young individual.

Elderly armored reptiles are quite capable of eating plants in large quantities, since they no longer need the set of those substances responsible for growth and development.

So, a plant-based diet consists of the following products:

• cabbage;
• lettuce leaves;
• watercress;
• dandelions;
• seaweed;
• dill;
• parsley;
• plantain;
• apples, pears, melon, bananas.

In general, with age, the reptile makes a thorough shift towards a vegetarian diet. A little less meat, a little more vegetable.

IN last years It has become popular to keep exotic species as pets. Many people keep reptiles at home. In great demand used by turtles because they are unpretentious and safe. These representatives include the red-eared turtle, which is not only a rare animal, but also a devoted pet. How to care for her at home and how long she can live with proper care?

What is a red-eared slider?

This animal belongs to freshwater reptiles. It gets its name from the elongated orange-red spots located behind the eyes. This species of turtle does not have ears, but despite this, it hears quite well. It is also called the yellowbellied because of its bright yellow ventral carapace. She has excellent eyesight and sense of smell.

Females differ from males in larger sizes. The average size of the shell of individuals can be from 18 to 30 cm. In young red-eared turtles, the color of the shell is juicy green, but with age it becomes olive color can also be brownish-yellow with yellow stripe patterns.

The red-eared turtle is considered a long-liver. At home, with proper care, it can live quite a long time - 30-40 years. Its intelligence level is several times higher than that of many other reptile species. She perfectly perceives sounds at very low frequencies.

Choosing a terrarium for a reptile

If kept improperly or in poor conditions, the red-eared turtle is doomed to death. It is believed that this type of turtle is ideal for keeping at home. They are very hardy and in order for them to live comfortably it is necessary to pay great attention to:

• nutrition;
• microclimate;
• water.

It is best to keep such reptiles in a 150 liter aquarium, it should be spacious. The turtle does not spend all its time in the water and periodically appears on the surface to breathe air. The animal grows over time and the water level in the container must correspond to the size of its shell. The reptile must move freely in the aquarium. It is believed that the more space and water in the container, the better it will feel.

It is very important, before placing the red-eared turtle in the aquarium, properly plan the territory in him. This is not difficult to do now, because most pet stores sell aquariums that are ready for keeping reptiles. Once you buy it you just need to add required quantity water.

The optimal water temperature should be at 21-25 o C. The dry level in it should be 25%. The reptile needs freedom of movement so that it can easily roll over.

The container requires settled water, but it is best to provide the aquarium with filtered water. It is necessary to change the water 1-2 times a week. If this is not possible, then it is better to equip the container with a special filter. In this case, you can change the water once a month.

The area of ​​land where the reptile rests must be equipped with a lamp so that the turtle can warm up. So, she is used to doing natural conditions a habitat. The temperature of the island should be 10 o C higher than the temperature of the water in the container. One of the pieces of sushi must be flooded with water. The reptile will crawl out of the aquarium and the safe island will serve as an excellent place for it to warm up and relax. Its surface should be textured and the red-eared turtle will be able to move freely from water to land and back without getting stuck.

Nutrition

Such an exotic animal must be selected proper nutrition. If you follow all the conditions of keeping at home, the red-eared turtle will feel excellent and live in the family for many years.

IN at a young age These animals are carnivores, but later they prefer plant foods. At a young age, young turtles need a lot of vitamins, such as calcium and amino acids. This will allow them to fully develop. Adults try to save their energy and accumulate it.

The diet of red-eared turtles is very varied, but you need to take into account the age of the pet. As food Various foods are suitable:

Turtles have a good appetite and prone to overeating. The task of reptile owners is to provide the animal with balanced food with high level calcium. Pet stores sell special food for turtles. Experts recommend diversifying your pet’s diet and feeding them food that is close to natural conditions.

Sometimes turtles are given beef, poultry, horse meat, preferably boiled. It is cut into small pieces. Fish is a favorite food for reptiles. It is usually given boiled and raw. Often they buy fresh frozen food for this, but it should be thawed first and only then given. You should not give turtles fatty fish to avoid upset of the digestive system.

• guppy;
• crucian carp;
• swordtails;
• goldfish.

Snails and squid will be a real treat for red-eared turtles. They also prefer daphnia and freshwater crustaceans. Insects will be a good variety. These can be crickets, grasshoppers and other non-poisonous insects. Many people have a question: how much plant and other food do they need?

Plant foods should make up at least 60% of the turtle's diet. Adults readily feed on aquatic vegetation:

• hornwort;
• ceratopteris;
• Lidvigia.

Also, reptiles do not refuse dandelion leaves, cabbage, lettuce, clover, carrot tops and beets. They also eat houseplants- hibiscus, aloe, basil, hyacinth. Red-eared turtles can eat grains, such as sprouted wheat, beans, and seeds.

Pet stores sell special food for red-eared turtles, so you also need to buy them for pet reptiles. It is imperative to follow the recommended dose of such feeds and fortified supplements.

Young turtles under 2 years of age should be fed twice a day. Adults need to be fed every 2-3 days. You need to feed turtles in a special tray and give your pet fresh, high-quality and warm food.

Features of care and maintenance

This type of turtle is perfect for beginners. If they are properly maintained, they live a long time, so such a pet can live in a family for many years. There are several basic rules for proper maintenance and care at home.

You can't let a turtle out on the floor. There she can find something and eat it. There may be drafts on the floor, which will greatly harm the health of the reptile.

Meat is a heavy food for turtles, so you don’t need to feed it often.

When an animal becomes overgrown with small algae, it cannot be cleaned with a brush. It can damage the surface of the shell and injure the skin of the reptile.

If the aquarium is not equipped with an island and there is no dry land, the animal may die because it needs air.

Various vitamin supplements should be in the diet, but used without abuse. Otherwise, they will have a detrimental effect on the condition of the red-eared turtle.

For a reptile to become a true member of the family and bring pleasant moments of communication, it only needs food, care and clean water in aquarium. An animal needs contact and care from people, and only then will it grow up to be a true friend, and how many years it will live always depends on the family it ends up with.

One of the easy-to-care pets is the turtle. In nature these amazing creatures They choose their own diet, combining protein foods and essential minerals. And when kept at home, responsibility falls on the owner. Let's consider what should be fed to turtles so that they develop harmoniously, are healthy and active.

About the importance of choice

Turtles need food to normal development animal. It must be balanced and contain a complex of minerals, otherwise the pet may get problems with its shell and die. Therefore, the menu for your pet must include foods rich in calcium and vitamins.

Also, problems that an animal suffers from improper nutrition include diseases of the digestive system and metabolic disorders. The turtle becomes lethargic and inactive.

What to prefer

Food for turtles directly depends on their type. The table shows the features of the diet of animals depending on their species.

The type of turtle should be the main one when creating a menu for it, this will take into account the natural needs of the animal.

How to please a predator

Food for the red-eared turtle, which belongs to the category of predators, must be rich in animal components. Therefore, at home you should please your pet with live, low-fat fish or defrosted fish. For young individuals, it is necessary to finely chop the carcass, removing the spine and large bones; small bones and entrails can be left. Adult turtles are allowed to give larger pieces or whole small fish. In addition to fish, red-eared turtles eat liver (chicken or beef, given no more than once every 7 days), small rodents (such as mice or baby rats), and green shrimp.

At the same time, all animal components of the diet should not be boiled, but given to the animal exclusively in raw form. Predators happily eat specialized raw food, insects, slugs, and frogs.

At the same time, you should refuse the temptation to feed the predator turtle the following products:

• meat and semi-finished products (chicken, pork, beef);
• fatty fish;
• fruits;
• food for cats or dogs;
• milk;
• bread.

With a properly composed menu, reptiles will feel most comfortable, not get sick and delight the owner with activity.

How to please omnivores

It is not difficult to choose food for turtles that belong to the group of omnivores. The animal component, which should make up 50% of the diet, can be used the same as for the previously described predators. At the same time, it is better to treat aquatic individuals with seafood and fish; for land animals, buy mice in pet stores. You should choose fresh herbs as a herbal component.

What do herbivores like?

The majority of food for herbivorous turtles should be fresh herbs, it is better to give animals salads, leaves, herbs. 1/5 of the diet may include vegetables: carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, unsweetened fruits are acceptable in moderation. A small slice of apple or pear once a week will please your pet and will not cause harm to its health.

It is imperative to dilute the diet with specialized food for turtles, bran, soybean meal, and dry yeast. However, the following foods should not be given to vegetarians:

• meat in any form, including minced meat;
• fish;
• food for cats or dogs;
• bread.

A competent approach to nutrition will allow the animal to remain healthy and active for many years, delighting the owner with its funny antics.

Menu for sushi dwellers

Food for land turtles must be balanced, so you should please your pet with a variety of foods. Despite the fact that the animal is unpretentious and not picky about food, the owner still needs to try and provide it with everything nutrients and vitamins. It is important to remember that these reptiles are herbivores, which is why food for land turtles should include an abundance of greens and grass.

The plants that this animal can use for food are diverse. These can be dandelions, lettuce or pea leaves, aloe, plantain, coltsfoot, sorrel, tradescantia and rhubarb. You can even give your animal juicy lawn grass. Therefore in summer time Obtaining food for a turtle will not be difficult, and in winter you can grow plants yourself in pots on the window.

The vegetables that land reptiles happily eat are also very diverse: radishes, carrots, beets, zucchini, peppers, pumpkin, cucumber. The latter, however, should be given infrequently and in small quantities. Fruits and berries that can be used as food include plums, apricots, apples, bananas, watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. It is useful to treat your pet with sunflower seeds, dry seaweed, soybean meal. Juicy vegetables and fruits, in addition to their main task, will also help provide the animal with liquid.

Nutrition for marine life

It’s not at all difficult to choose food; it’s finely chopped meat, raw chopped fish, water snails, and beetles. It is very important to provide the animal required amount vitamins, so about once every 7 days you should drop a couple of drops of vitamin D into the aquarium, and once every 14 days - vitamin A. Algae, dandelion leaves or flowers, and lettuce leaves are suitable as a plant component.

You can also give sea creatures dry food for turtles, which can be easily purchased in specialized stores. Its pros and cons are presented in the table.

Ready-made products are rich in proteins, but cannot serve as the basis of the diet; it is better to use them as a treat. You can prepare a mixture of dry food yourself, including tubifex, daphnia, bloodworms, and aquatic crustaceans.

“Tortilla” is food for turtles, which contains gammarus, shrimp, numerous small crustaceans, mollusk shells, phosphorus, calcium and ash. As the manufacturer promises, the product will help make the shell stronger, but pet owners do not recommend using the gammarus-based variety, since this component can cause tympany in the pet - swelling of the rumen. Other products of this brand can be given once every 7 days.

How to feed a turtle

Land animals obtain the necessary moisture through their skin, so it is a good habit caring owner You should bathe your pet once a week in lukewarm water.

In addition, moisture enters the body of land animals through food, which is why juicy cabbage leaves should be included in the diet as often as possible.

Prohibited

It is important for owners of pet turtles to remember that there is a list of foods that should not be included in the animal’s diet. These are the following foods:

• onion and garlic;
• poisonous insects;
• domestic cockroaches, crickets and grasshoppers;
• eggshell;
• cherry;
• medicinal or poisonous plants;
• potato;
• porridge.

Food for turtles must be balanced; you cannot constantly feed the animal the same product.

Main mistakes of owners

When choosing food for a turtle, some owners make mistakes that negatively affect the health of their pet. What should you avoid? Some of the most common errors include:

• Feeding herbivores with meat food.
• Lack of animal components in the diet of predators.
• Inattention to adding calcium and vitamins to the feed.
• Eating too rarely or too often. If the first leads to problems in the formation of the shell and interferes with the full development of the animal, then the second can cause obesity. Of the two extremes - overfeeding or underfeeding - it is better to choose the second.

Very often, owners give their predatory animals exclusively specialized food such as gammarus, believing that this is enough for them. Indeed, it is much easier to pour dry treats into the aquarium than to waste time gutting the fish. However, this can be disastrous for animals. It is important to consider the type of turtle you have to provide the correct diet.

Food for a turtle should ideally be rich in fiber, balanced, varied and therefore healthy.