A competent approach to keeping and feeding aquatic turtles is the key to their healthy and long life. Developing a balanced diet for these animals is not difficult at all. How to properly feed a water turtle?
Instructions
Step 1
It is recommended to feed aquatic turtles during the day, after the animal warms up well under the heating lamps. You should know that at temperatures of 30 degrees and above, the digestion process takes place most intensively in aquatic turtles.
Step 2
Aquatic turtles are predators, so animal feed should be the basis of their diet. It is recommended to feed small water turtles with bloodworms, tubifex and earthworms. Dry aquarium food is also suitable. All species of turtles should definitely receive gammarus live or dried. As a rule, these foods are sufficient for young small turtles.
Large animals require additional food. The main food for them is beef, poultry, offal and fish. Chicken and beef can be served raw or boiled. Raw fish should be fed no more than once a week. If you feed your pets with fish more often, then you should hold it in boiling water for at least a couple of minutes.
You can diversify the menu of your pets with the help of snail, shellfish or squid meat. Young turtles are very fond of daphnia and koretra.
In summer, it is recommended to give the turtles grasshoppers, non-hairy caterpillars, beetles and other insects. In winter, live food can be bred at home or purchased at a pet store.
Large turtles happily eat mice and frogs.
Step 3
Despite the fact that aquatic turtles are carnivorous, their diet should include plant foods such as carrots, vegetables and fruits. The ratio of meat and vegetable components is determined by the type of turtles.
Step 4
Regardless of the type and size of your pets, it is recommended to fortify the feed to maintain their health. To do this, you need oil solutions of vitamins D and A. Saturate gammarus with vitamin D, drop a few drops on it, and throw it to the turtle. Vitamin A is given in a similar manner.
Step 5
It is recommended to feed adult turtles 2-3 times a week, but the food should be plentiful. Juveniles need daily feeding.
It should be remembered that turtles eat slowly, intermittently. The feeding process takes about an hour. After this time, uneaten food must be removed from the pool or aquarium.
