Feeding and Nutrition :: What to feed your Red Eared Slider

Turtle diets and eating habits discussed here.

Post Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 5:38 pm   What to feed your Red Eared Slider

Variety is the key to a healthy turtle!

For turtles under 1 year old, feed pellets daily, as much as would fit in their head if it were hollow (not including the neck) and veggies every day (if they refuse, don't stop offering it)

For turtles one year and older, feed every other day at most (amount of food will increase with size of head), with veggies every day.

VEGETABLES **all rinsed thoroughly**

Romaine Lettuce
Mustard leaves
Leaves of Radish
Collard Greens
Tomatoes (must be considered a rarity. too acidic to be a regular staple)
Carrot
Turnip
Sweet Potato (cooked - boiled/ steamed/baked)
Peas (occasionally - once a month max)
Pumpkin
Squashes

FRUITS **no more than once a month**
Papaya
Mango
Watermelon
Cantaloupe/Common Melon
Grapes (remove skin so its easier for them to pick at )
Apple
Pear
Strawberry
Figs
Banana

WATER PLANTS **rinsed thoroughly**
Anacharis
Water Lily
Duckweed
Water Hyacinth
Hornwort

LIVE PREY
Feeder Fish (guppies, rosey red minnows)
mealworms (no more than once a week as they're very high in protein)
mosquito larvae
crickets (preferably gutloaded)
cockroaches
apple snails or other water snails

Getting Calcium
cuttlebone (found in any pet store in the bird section - peel off the hard backing first, as they can't digest it)
Calcium Dusting (you can crush cuttlebone for this)
Calcium blocks

Getting Vitamin A (Great for eyes ..especially if they are puffy)
green leafy vegetables
carrot
squash
cod liver oil

Young RES tend to be more carniverous (eating mostly insects/fish/pellets). Don't let that stop you from offering greens because they'll take to it eventually.
Stay away from goldfish (very fatty, really no nutritional value to your turt). Always offer your RES a variety of different foods. Once they get stuck on one type of food, it's difficult to get them to eat anything else!
The things that come to those who wait may be the things that were left by those who got there first - Steven Tyler
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