Red-eared sliders are a favorite for beginners turtles due to their cute appearance and simple to keep. However, many people who are first time keepers are struggling to provide them with an appropriate red-eared slider diet.
Many people are aware that turtles consume vegetables as well as meat. However, they don’t realize that the proportions of vegetables and meat that you feed them should change with the growth of.
This article we’ll discuss the red-eared slider diet & also share the top feeder fish, and diet.
We also discuss some common food mistakes, how to avoid overfeeding , and the reason why you should not feed with power. We also offer some suggestions about why a red-eared slider’s diet differs for babies than adults as well as the best way you can feed them…
What do Red-Eared Sliders eat?
The red-eared sliders are an omnivore therefore they consume both animals and plants.
Adults typically eat aquatic plants like elodea water lettuce, duckweed as well as water ferns. Adults consume so many different plants that they are classified as herbivores. They are only allowed to eat meat when it is easily available and there aren’t any plants around. Some adults will consume smaller fish or earthworms snails, redworms, insects as well as tadpoles, slugs, and Frogs.
Baby sliders with red eyes consume greater amounts of animal flesh than the adults. The meat provides younger species with the extra protein needed for growth and help develop their shells. Invertebrates are a favorite for babies, as well as tiny feeding fish (e.g. minnows) and Worms.
As they age , this species is not as dependent on protein.
In adults, too much protein could cause an issue known as shell pyramiding. This is the process of making the shell more triangular in its shape.
The red-eared slider hunts by watching in silence waiting for a fish to pass by, taking it and grabbing it or by chasing and grabbing any bugs that fall into the water. Adults can also swim along the bottom of lakes or ponds and consume aquatic plants and algae.
Foraging and hunting to find food takes up an enormous amount of energy. Therefore, they usually eat multiple times throughout the day.
In the wild, turtles will devour food at any time they are able to. However, pet sliders must be fed only each two or three times per day since they don’t need to hunt. Many people like to feed their turtles fruit, but they are very high in sugar and can give your turtle diarrhea.
Red-Eared Slider Diet
Giving red-eared sliders a nutritious diet is crucial to their well-being.
Many turtles have stopped eating because of boredom, if they receive the same food. Offering a variety of food to their diet is crucial to maintaining an appropriate appetite.
Adult red-eared sliders may be fed:
- Dark leafy greens: romaine lettuce, kale, dandelion greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, or swiss chard.
- Vegetables Bell peppers or carrots.
- Food fish Guppies, goldfish or minnows.
- Insects, earthwormsand slugs or snails.
Feeder fish can be a great for enriching for turtles because they must chase it down in order to capture it, however they also can contain parasites. If you want feeding feeder fish, purchase them at an animal store in your area. It is not recommended to feed prey caught in the wild.
Alongside a balanced diet Your turtle will require calcium supplements.
A calcium powdered supplement which also has Vitamin D3 is the most effective. The calcium supplement can help to prevent shell deformities and diseases. Another option is throwing into a cuttlebone at least every week.
It is crucial to understand that the diet of a red-eared slider alters as they grow older. Babies with red-eared sliders require an eating plan that is richer in protein and meat. Babies should have a variety of vegetables, however the majority of their food should be carnivore.
If the colored slider gets older, you may want to start providing less fish and insects as feeders and replace them with a wide variety of veggies as well as aquatic plants.
Baby Red-Eared Feeding Timetable
The baby red-ears must be fed more often than adults. They also require food that is high in protein. Babies must be fed throughout the day since they require an immense quantity of calories to grow at a proper rate.
You must provide a red-eared slider which includes:
- Dark Leafy Greens
- Vegetables
- Aquatic Plants
- Feeder Fish
- Feeder Insects
- Worms
- Commercial Turtle Pellets
A balanced mixture of protein-rich food items as well as dark leafy greens and other vegetables is perfect for a young red-eared slider.
The diet of the average person should consist of 30% plant-based and 70% animal.
All vegetables you feed your turtle must first be cooked and chopped into small pieces to fit in the mouth of the turtle. The turtle should be allowed to enjoy an hour-long feeding. After the feeding time you can remove any food that isn’t consumed in order to ensure that the water is clear.
Utilize a feeding plan to keep track of what you are feeding your turtle in the event your turtle gets sick. Find a great food schedule here:
| Day | Food |
|---|---|
| Monday | 3-4 small feeder fish, A small handful of mustard greens A tiny amount into turtle pellets. |
| Tuesday | 3-4 earthworms, A small handful of kale Half of a carrot chopped, Calcium supplement. |
| Wednesday | 2 redworms, Three to four crickets (or mealworms) A small little handful of baby spinach Half of a diced bell pepper. |
| Thursday | 3-4 small feeder fish, A small handful of kale Two tiny worms. |
| Friday | 3-4 large worms, 3-4 crickets/mealworms, A small handful of spinach 1-2 blueberries. |
| Saturday | Food for the turtle (follow the feeding instructions on the container), 2-3 insects, A small amount of Swiss chard. |
| Sunday | 5-7 crickets/mealworms, 1 earthworm, Half an unpeeled bell pepper Two turnips with green leaves. |
Adult red-eared Slider Time-line for Turtle Feeding
Adults must be fed large portions of food twice a day.
A large portion of green leafy vegetables and a handful of the pellets of turtles and maybe a couple of insects or worms is enough. Adults eat smaller portions of meat. So be sure that you include plenty of dark vegetables, greens, as well as the aquatic plant.
Protein-rich food items such as fish or invertebrates should only be served once per week.
In order to prepare the vegetables for feeding it, boil them until they’re sufficient soft that they can be perforated by a fork. This will eliminate bugs or bacteria and soften the vegetable to make easy for the turtle consume.
Food items can be cut up and then served at one time. It is important to take away all food items that don’t be consumed within 15 minutes to make sure that your water is free of dirt.
A varied diet can ensure your turtle’s health and ensure that they’re never bored and quit eating.
| Day | Food |
|---|---|
| Monday | A huge handful of kale One chopped carrot, One red bell pepper chopped, Calcium supplement. |
| Wednesday | A huge handful of kale Two earthworms Two minnows A small amount into fish-food pellets. |
| Friday | A large amount of kale 2-3 aquatic ferns, 1-2 blueberries, A small amount of commercial food for turtles, Calcium supplement. |
| Sunday | A large amount of kale One chopped carrot, A tiny handful of chopped Swiss the chard. |
The majority of keepers select staple food items that they rotate each week. For instance, you could pick kale as a primary green for one week and then alternate between adding bell peppers carrots, earthworms and carrots. several minnows or turtle pellets.
Red-Eared Slider Food
Red-eared sliders are omnivores, which means they are omnivores and can take in both plants and animals.
- The diet of a baby red-eared slider should consist of about 70% meat and 30 percent of plants.
- Adults must eat a balanced diet consisting of 50% meat and 50 percent plant.
A red-eared slider’s diet includes so much plant matter that they’re classified as mostly herbivores. This means feeding them the best, diverse and healthy diet easy.
The plant component of the diet should mostly consist of aquatic and vegetable plants as well as vegetables.
For anyone of any age it’s a good idea to fill their tank by introducing aquatic plant species they can eat If they feel hungry after eating. You could you can even add some freshwater fish or shrimp as well.
The animal component of the diet should include invertebrates worms or commercial fish food. Feeder fish are great to help your turtle get exercise, however they’re typically filled with fat and could be a source of parasites or bacteria.
Below is a comprehensive list of food items that are safe for red-eared sliders :
- Crickets
- Mealworms
- Minnows
- Tadpoles
- Frogs
- Earthworms
- Redworms
- Feeder goldfish
- Waxworms
- Snails from the ocean
- Bloodworms
- Daphnia
- Shrimp
- Water ferns
- Duckweed
- Elodea
- Romaine lettuce (in tiny amounts)
- Kale
- Mustard greens
- Turnip greens
- Swiss Chard
- Bell pepper
- Carrots
- Carrot tops
- Zucchini
- Cucumber
- Squash
- Corn
- Okra
- Celery
- Green beans
- Cactus
- Commercial fish food
- Commercial food for turtles
What kind of vegetables do Red-Ear Turtles Consume?
Vegetables make up a significant element of the diet of a red-eared slider. As adults, they consume lots of vegetables, so they are bored with eating the same food. The variety of veggies you can offer keeps your pet engaged in their food. This is our most popular list of foods that you can feed red-eared sliders
- Bell peppers
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Zucchini
- Celery
- Squash
- Green beans
- Corn
- Okra
- Cactus
There are certain veggies to avoid, such as peas, broccoli and brussels sprouts because they could all trigger gout..
What are the best fruits for red-ears to eat?
Fruit should only be fed to a turtle as a treat.
The red-eared and yellow-bellied sliders shouldn’t be fed fruits as a significant part of their diet. However, it’s okay to feed them occasionally for treats. Wild sliders rarely consume fruits, and their bodies aren’t capable of digesting the large quantity of sugar that it has.
Red-eared sliders are best fed too much fruit may cause diarrhea.
It is recommended to give one or two pieces per week. Here’s a list of fruit that could be served as a treat to children:
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Pears
- Mangos
- Grapes
- Tomatoes
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Plums
- Star fruit
- Cantaloupe
- Kiwi
Common Feeding Errors
Turtles are very smart and quickly learn when it is time to be fed.
The turtle and other animals are known to be more slowly after eating eating, which is why refeeding in order to escape quickly is a standard strategy.
Red-eared sliders could re-inhale their food if handled too quickly after having eaten. This is why it is recommended to wait at least five hours after eating before handling. This gives your turtle enough time to digest the food.
Five hours should be sufficient to ensure that your turtle not feel as if it is in danger.
Red-eared sliders are also susceptible to eating too much.
When your pet weighs over 6 pounds it’s likely eating excessively. Other indicators of obesity are the appearance of bloating, fatigue or shell-related marks. Obesity is a cause of many health issues such as the fatty liver as well as heart issues as well as diabetes, arthritis, and.
Also, you should never use power to an electronic slider. Power feeding can lead to numerous health problems and weight gain. Power feeding is the deliberate overfeeding that is usually done by reckless breeders in order to trade or breed turtles fast as they can.
Many people who are first time keepers believe that you need to relocate your turtle to a different enclosure to feed them.
The concept is that the turtle won’t think of your hand reaching into the tank as feeding but this is an untruth. This has the advantage of keeping the tank’s water clean, however it’s simple to take out any food items that are not consumed and then use tanks as filters.
Transferring a turtle into an enclosure that is separate in order to feed them puts them under tension and must be avoided as often as it is possible.
Foods that they are not allowed to eat
The diet of the red-eared slider must be varied, but there are certain foods that should be kept out of.
One food to stay clear of is any of the Brassica family. It includes broccoli cabbage, brussel sprouts, brussel sprouts and the bok-choi. If consumed in excess, these food items could cause kidney issues and affect the absorption of calcium.
Also, avoid eating food items such as Radishes ( they contain goitrogens) as well as soybeans as well as avocados, dairy and any other foods that are that are high in fat, and any human food. Each of these food items can cause your pet turtle to be sick with diarrhea.
This is the complete listing of food items that you should not feed to a turtle that is a slider:
- Broccoli
- Soybeans
- Avocado
- Dairy
- Cabbage
- Brussel
- Bok-choi
- Radishes
- Foods with a high fat content
- Human food
- Prey that was caught in the wild
Summary
They are an omnivore which means they consume animals and plants. As they get older they require less protein.
Adults are advised to eat an omnivorous diet consisting of 30% meat or protein, and 70 percent plant matter and infants should be fed 50/50 of plant matter and meat.
The best plants to feed red-eared sliders are dark , leafy water plants, greens and other vegetables. Feeder fish, invertebrates along with commercial turtle pellets can be great source of protein.
Check to see if your turtle receives a calcium supplement once per week and isn’t taken care of after eating.
What is your Red-eared slider diet? Tell us what your turtle’s favorite food is by leaving a comment below.
