Feeding and Nutrition :: Pears.

[adam85491]

It looks like I should start feeding my turtle fruits and veggies. I read what to feed and what not to feed them. However, I still have a few questions. We have pears, and I want to feed them some, it says no more than once, but anyway, do they prefer little diced up pieces or just the skin, or just a big chunk? The only way I can give them vegetables most of the time is frozen, and I don't know if that would be OK. If it would, would it be OK to just slightly boil it for them? And are regular potatoes lightly boiled OK as well?

[Pizza]

I think regular potatoes lightly boiled (I prefer soft for the turtles, potatoes are pretty hard), are fine, as a rare treat, since they too, contain lots of starch.

Frozen Vegetables are not as good as fresh ones, they have been frozen, so some (maybe most?) of the nutrition in there is dead, I'd personally go Fresh or none at all, but your choice. And boil them for sure, frozen vegetables are like steel to the turtles, they have strong jaws, but they aren't THAT strong. If my turtles have trouble chewing their pellets, then frozen is probably even harder.

I would say diced up pieces of Pears are best, with a big chunk, like any other large piece of food you drop in there, it gets ripped and torn up, and gets the water messy, also your turtles have to take more time and effort to get a good bite in. Not sure about the skin, but all the skin really is is fiber, nothing more, and turtles get plenty of fiber from vegetables and a bit from their pellets so I wouldn't put my vote on skins only. Your turtles probably wouldn't like to each just pear skins either, unless there's a bit of fruit on it,

[cam722]

If all you have is frozen veggies, just let them thaw out first, don't give them to them frozen. You could put chunks of fresh fruit in there occasionally, see if they eat it. I don't think potatoes are a good choice to feed turtles, there's very little nutrition in it.

Actually Pizza, frozen veggies ar sometimes better than fresh as they are frozen at their peak. You never know how long the "fresh" stuff has been sitting around

[adam85491]

I actually saw on the news that frozen can be better. Of course, I will try to get them fresh, but I can definetly give them a lightly boiled broccoli or cauliflower piece. I'll ask my mom to get a fresh carrot next time, or maybe a bag of those little ones.

[adam85491]

Sometimes, my turtles eat the pellets that are on the bottom and are old, is this unhealthy?

[Pizza]

I stand corrected, .

[adam85491]

They didn't like the pears, they wanted these dried crickets and shrimp, something new. I will try to get a vegetable clip to encourage them eating fruits and veggies.

[cam722]

They didn't like the pears, they wanted these dried crickets and shrimp, something new. I will try to get a vegetable clip to encourage them eating fruits and veggies.

Just remember that both of those should be given only as treats not as a daily part of their diet because both are high in protein.

[adam85491]

I have never fed them this before, but I was thinking maybe once or twice a week?

[industrial_girl_2000]

I vote for once a week.

And definitely try some green lettuce like romaine. It's ok if they don't eat it right away, let it float for a little while (the water will keep it fresh for a few hours). Sometimes turtles can be persuaded to try new foods if it is in the tank for a while.