Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 7:31 pm Re: Turtle Jello Shots
I recently acquired two neglected sliders. In wanting to create the most optimal habitat allowable I have researched their needs extensively. Unfortunately, discrepancies about nutrition abound in the absence of evidenced based outcomes. Some people advocate leafy greens while others caution against veggies with too much phosphorous. But the veggies high in vitamins A and K and calcium (such as kale and beet greens) also contain hight amounts of phosphorous and other potentially dangerous elements. Some people promote romaine lettuce, others feel it is empty. Some say carrots are a good choice but too much Vitamin A can be toxic (and carrots are high in sugar). Still, to promote a varied and balanced diet, I decided to introduce my new friends to raw veggies. I have one turtle that eats just about anything but the other is very finicky. In a comical kind of way, he takes a bite of leafy green, spits it out, and pushes it away with his leg. After scratching my head for a few days, I decided to read about homemade turtle food, which brings me to this morning's "turtle loaf". I didn't follow any hard and fast recipe but rather opted to use veggies I had on hand. I ended up grating/chopping equal proportions of sweet potato, carrot, kale, romaine, and beet greens. To the mix I added some pellets and tuna juice (for a fishy smell) along with a bit of grated apple. I also sprinkled some calcium powder fortified with vitamin D3 over the top, stirred, and added this concoction to three packets of gelatin. This particular combination yields quite a bit - about three weeks worth of food for two turtles (give or take). I decided to cube the veggie laden gelatin for storage (some in the fridge and some in the freezer). Upon serving I sliced the cubes to create thin patties. This was devoured in seconds without any mess and is really easy to make. What a relief!!! When I make the next batch I am going to try a different mix of veggies - maybe some red leaf lettuce and anacharis.
If anyone knows about which veggies to avoid, I would appreciate hearing from you...