What to feed red-eared turtles at home - tips and tricks.

What to feed a red-eared turtle

Before purchasing a new exotic pet, you need to learn more about it in order to know how to properly care for the animal and what to feed it. The red-eared slider is an omnivore. She needs animal and plant food. To raise a healthy turtle, you need to ensure a varied diet. What to feed a red-eared slider?

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Animal feed

For red-eared turtles, animal food should make up 70% of the total daily diet. Turtles love meat (horse meat, beef, poultry), fish and seafood, and are not averse to eating insects.

It is preferable to feed lean beef, rabbit meat, and pieces of poultry. It is not recommended to feed pork and lamb, as these foods are too fatty and will be difficult for turtles to digest. The diet should contain offal: heart, liver, navels. Meat can be given raw or boiled, after cutting into small cubes.

Article on the topic: What do swamp turtles eat, what to feed at home

Some turtles happily eat small mice.

But do not forget that constant feeding of raw meat leads to hypovitaminosis A and rickets develops. Therefore, food should be varied.

Fish and seafood

Low-fat varieties are suitable for feeding. The fish is cut into pieces, large bones are taken out and placed in a feeder.

Attention!

Raw fish contains the enzyme thiaminase, so before feeding it to your turtle, you need to put the fish in hot water for a couple of minutes.

In its raw form, you can give it a “sea cocktail”, which includes green shrimp, pieces of octopus and squid. Snail meat (large pond snail, reel, marise) and pieces of squid are a good addition to food, but you should not make them the main food.

Turtles do not get along in an aquarium with fish. Crucian carp, guppies, goldfish, carp, swordtails serve as food for them. The turtles eat them with pleasure.

Insects

In summer, turtles can be offered grasshoppers, beetles, non-shaggy caterpillars, and bloodworms. Mealworms are available at pet stores, so they can be purchased and given during the winter.

As for feeding cockroaches, especially those caught in the kitchen, it is better to refrain from such an undertaking, because these insects can crawl to you already poisoned.

The diet must include dried or live gammarus. From time to time you can feed coretra and daphnia. At this time, you need to turn off the filter for 15 minutes.

General characteristics

The name comes from the presence of two red or orange spots on the head, located behind the eyes of this amazing creature.

• The color of the shell depends on age: young animals are awarded bright green with a ring pattern of yellow tone with the addition of green. As they mature, they acquire a brownish-yellow color or transition to olive. The lower part is a rich yellow shade with a contrasting dark ornament.
• The body is covered with stripes - streaks from white to dark green. Males are characterized by darkening throughout the life cycle to an almost black state. There are albinos. And at the beginning of the twenty-first century, a golden variety was bred: a golden light color of the shell and translucent, pink-colored skin.
• The size of a turtle is determined by a direct measuring device (ruler, square) along the edges of the shell from head to tail, without taking into account curvature. When hatched, the babies are only two and a half centimeters long. A one-year-old specimen reaches six. Freshwater red-eared turtles grow on average up to three tens of centimeters. The lifespan of domestic animals can reach up to forty years. Wild forms are limited to twenty years.

Home content

What should you equip your pet's corner with? Choose the right conditions of detention.

• Aquaterrarium. The recommended volume is about two hundred liters. Looking at a young individual, it is difficult to believe in the need for such a scale. It's simple: as a turtle grows up, it does not lose its need for an aquatic environment. The pool should be enough for free underwater movement; this is proper care.
• Above-water surface. The area of ​​land is intended for the opportunity to warm up. Buying a ready-made island has its advantages (stability, comfortable texture, compliance with the quality parameters of the material). It is possible to make it yourself (driftwood, stones). The occupied area is one quarter of the total space, heated ten degrees higher than the water temperature.
• Heating lamps and ultraviolet (UVB 10%). Sold in pairs. The operating mode is a dozen hours (the length of the whole day).
• The ground covering of the bottom does not carry any semantic meaning (only for the beauty of the view). Only large stones are used.
• Water environment. The temperature regime is observed in the range from 22 to 28 degrees Celsius.

Monitoring is carried out using a water thermometer, as accurate readings are required. For a healthy existence, water must be clean. This requires the use of a filter and water changes once or twice a week. To change the water, leave it for at least 24 hours.

Nutrition

Care in the feeding regime and diet is responsible for the proper development of growing individuals and the healthy condition of mature individuals. We will consider what to feed a red-eared turtle next. Young animals are considered a growing organism up to two years old and up to ten, twelve centimeters. Red-eared turtles need to be fed once, for a quarter to a half hour, every day in the morning. If you refuse food, the daily portion becomes smaller; you don’t feed for two days.

Mature turtles should be fed at one feeding every two or three days. The constant presence of plant components is allowed. If there is no craving for food, similar measures are taken to prevent overeating as with the “little ones.” Intervals in taking the protein (animal) component increase with age (up to four times a month). Here's how to properly feed turtles.

See what kind of food you can prepare for turtles with your own hands.

First two years

Now let's look at what you need to feed small red-eared turtles. The initial food is animal components for the entire volume. One fifth consists of insects, mollusks, and crustaceans. The main share comes from feeding raw fish. But what kind of fish to feed the red-eared turtle is another question. Small aquarium fish (platecilians) are often released for independent hunting of armored wards.

At this age, you already know how and what to feed red-eared turtles at home. There are dry foods designed for feeding young animals. The composition contains all the necessary vitamins and components for the healthy and uniform development of the growing body. Ready-made foods: ReptoMin Menu, Raffy Baby-Gran.

From two years and older

In the third year of the life cycle, plant foods are added to the feeding of red-eared turtles. Lettuce, dandelions, and root vegetables (carrot and beet tops) are suitable for this. Hard tree branches help grind off growing plates of horny origin.

Animal feed

The list of what to feed the red-eared turtle includes meat, fish pieces and seafood, and insects.

• Meat assortment. The best options are chicken pieces, rabbit pieces, bone-in beef and veal. Lamb and pork meat is not recommended due to the fat content of the product. It should be supplemented with liver, heart and other offal. Available both raw and boiled.
• Sea and river food. Fish pieces of special varieties are pre-soaked in hot water for several minutes. This procedure is carried out due to the content of thiaminase in its raw form. The prepared pieces are freed from large seeds. Squid and octopus meat, snails, and green shrimp are given raw.
• Insect diet. During the season, they will not refuse the offered naked caterpillars, grasshoppers, and beetles. The winter period can be diversified with bloodworms and mealworms, which are present in pet store products. Feeding with amphipod crustaceans (gammarus) in live or dried form is necessary. It is allowed from time to time to use daphnia and coretra as a supplement (it is necessary to turn off the filter while eating).

Plant-based food

Plant foods are necessary for all turtles, but as they age they make up the majority of their diet.

Grass

Animals love plantain, clover, vetch, dandelion leaves and rhubarb. In addition, they can be given lawn grass, coltsfoot, sprouted barley and oats.

Fruits and berries

It is recommended to cut plums, apples, pears, bananas, peach, mango into small pieces and offer them to the turtle as a treat. Tangerine, orange, apricot and melon are also suitable for feeding animals.

Aquarium plants

It is preferable to plant duckweed, spirogyra, water beetle, and pond algae. The turtles do not allow the plants to grow even a little - they are instantly eaten. You should refrain from planting elodea! The plant secretes poisonous sap and poses a danger to animals.

Vegetables

The diet should include bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, and eggplants. You can’t do without pumpkin, radishes, legumes, carrots and beets. Broccoli, celery, and dry seaweed are given as additional food.

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Mushrooms

Pieces of boletus, champignons, and russula are recommended to be given to animals no more than once a week.

Attention!

Human food is not suitable for turtles! They will also happily eat food intended for other animals, but it will not benefit the turtles. It is forbidden to feed citrus peels or give berries with seeds.

Features of handling a pet

Red-eared turtles should not be allowed on the floor. They can bite, hiss and show aggression; you should handle it carefully when picking it up; it is recommended to hold the reptile with both hands; the shell can be quite slippery. After contact with pets, hands must be washed with soap; a large number of pathogenic bacteria accumulate on the shell.

Living in their natural environment, turtles independently obtain all the vitamins and minerals necessary for health. In a home environment, the owner must independently add important elements to the feed.

Mandatory list of useful substances:

• vitamins d3, A and E;
• calcium;
• minerals.

All additives must be added strictly following the instructions and recommendations; any overdose is dangerous for the life of the individual.

Walks

A red-eared turtle kept at home needs walks in the summer. Thus, it becomes possible to get a dose of ultraviolet rays, eat healthy grass, and breathe fresh air. The place for a walk should be clean, away from the road, with lawn grass.

The temperature in the shade should not exceed 20 degrees, and the walking time should not exceed half an hour. When walking, there should be water in a visible, accessible place. In order not to lose your pet among the green grass, it is recommended to attach a bright mark, for example, orange, to the shell, it can be a sticker or a flag.

Care and hygiene

It is recommended to arrange water treatments for pets at least once a week. Waterfowl turtles need more frequent bathing or a bathing container in their terrarium. Water for bathing should be warm, but not more than 32 degrees, boiled if possible. The fluid level must be comfortable for standing with your head retracted.

Bathing a turtle

During the first bath, you should carefully monitor the procedure to avoid frightening the animal. If the reptile does not feel well in the water and refuses to bathe, it is recommended to limit itself to spraying the shell and skin. If the bathing container is freely accessible inside the terrarium, the liquid must be changed every day.

It is recommended to use a cloth or sponge for washing; they must be soft. The use of chemicals is prohibited. For preventive measures against fungus, methylene purchased at a pet store is used. After each contact with water, the turtle should have the opportunity to dry and warm up under an ultraviolet lamp. She cannot tolerate temperature changes in the aquarium, which increases the risk of colds.

Artificial feed

Pet stores provide pet owners with a huge selection of food for land and aquatic turtles. It is sold in capsules, granules, tablets and flakes. The large amount of food produced by manufacturers does not always meet the needs of a particular species. Often, turtle food is modified fish food. Some animals are irritated by the pungent smell, and they demonstratively turn away from it. There are foods in which the content of calcium, protein and vitamins does not meet the needs of turtles. But some animals are happy to eat only food. Of the manufacturing companies, JBL, Sera, Nutra Fin, Tetra have proven themselves well.

Homemade food for red-eared turtles

If store-bought artificial food is not suitable, you can prepare your own treats for turtles.

Feed composition:

• cabbage – 50 gr.;
• carrots – 70 gr.;
• non-fatty fish – 145 g;
• apples – 50 gr.;
• squid meat – 100 gr.

Cooking method. All ingredients should be passed through a meat grinder, add 2 eggs, gelatin diluted in hot water (per 150 ml - 30 g) and milk in a volume of 150 g. Mix thoroughly, let cool and add 20 drops of Tetravita. The shelf life of the food in the refrigerator is 1 week. Before feeding, the mixture is cut into pieces and given to the turtle.

The prepared food is enough for 10 feedings, per 1 turtle with a shell length of 15 cm. If the animal is sick, you can add medicine to the food. Gelatin can be replaced with agar-agar. This will prevent the cubes from quickly melting in the water.

Feeding turtles food for cats and dogs. "Pros and cons"

Red Ears really like combined foods, but they are intended for feeding warm-blooded animals and are not suitable for turtles. The food contains a completely different set of substances that are useful for cats and dogs, but completely useless for turtles.

Lamps

An ultraviolet lamp is necessary for the turtle to produce vitamin D3, which is involved in the absorption of calcium. In nature, sunlight contains enough ultraviolet radiation, but at home you need special lamps. Household UV sources are not suitable for these purposes, because they are difficult to provide the required wavelength. The most common terrarium (aquarium) lighting options are Repti Glo 5 and 8 lamps. Place these lamps at a distance of no closer than 40 cm, as they can cause burns.

A regular incandescent lamp (from 40 to 60 W), the light spectrum of which includes infrared rays, is needed by turtles to digest food. Various metabolic processes in cold-blooded animals, which include reptiles, occur only at a certain ambient temperature, which is ensured by lamps. A decrease in temperature entails a slowdown in metabolism and hibernation.

Lighting a terrarium for a red-eared turtle

Do turtles need mineral and vitamin supplements?

In young animals, the bone skeleton is formed and the shell is being built, so they need calcium. Ground bone meal should be added to food daily. For a small turtle, one pinch will be enough; for older specimens, add 1 tsp. in Week.

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Bone meal can be purchased at a pet store. If this is not possible, the calcium requirement can be met by adding crushed eggshells.

Special vitamins for turtles are recommended to be mixed into food in the doses or quantities indicated on the package.

Vitamin feeds have a short shelf life. Therefore, you should not give them to turtles after the expiration date.

Features of care and maintenance

This type of turtle is perfect for beginners. If they are properly maintained, they live a long time, so such a pet can live in a family for many years. There are several basic rules for proper maintenance and care at home.

You can't let a turtle out on the floor

. There she can find something and eat it. There may be drafts on the floor, which will greatly harm the health of the reptile.

Meat is a heavy food for turtles, so you don’t need to feed it often.

When an animal becomes overgrown with small algae, it cannot be cleaned with a brush. It can damage the surface of the shell and injure the skin of the reptile.

If the aquarium is not equipped with an island and there is no dry land, the animal may die because it needs air.

Various vitamin supplements

should be in the diet, but used without abuse. Otherwise, they will have a detrimental effect on the condition of the red-eared turtle.

For a reptile to become a true member of the family and bring pleasant moments of communication, it only needs food, care and clean water in the aquarium. An animal needs contact and care from people, and only then will it grow up to be a true friend, and how many years it will live always depends on the family it ends up with.

The turtle order includes many species and subspecies: they are both terrestrial and aquatic. Depending on this, it is necessary to regulate the pet’s nutrition. What do red-eared turtles, which are also aquatic species, eat?

How often and at what time should you feed your turtles?

A difficult question that cannot be answered unequivocally. Much depends on the age and size of the animal, and on the food you feed.

For young animals up to 1 year old, plant foods and artificial feed are suitable. Feeding should be daily.

From 1 year and older you can feed every 1-2 days. If the turtle prefers plant foods, it is recommended to feed it daily. The amount of food also depends on the age of the turtle.

Proper feeding is the main condition for the normal development of red-eared turtles. Every owner should feel his pet, choose the right food and give him what he likes and what is healthy.

Suitable varieties

The main food for red-eared turtles is fresh, low-fat fish, mainly small river fish. Factory-made food, as well as meat and bloodworms, cannot provide the correct ratio of elements for the development of a pet and should be given only in addition to the main diet. But not all fish will be useful for the red-eared turtle; it is recommended to choose the following varieties:

Regular consumption of fish will protect your pet from rickets and vitamin imbalance; small turtles (up to 2 years old) need to be fed this way daily. Many manufacturers offer turtle food based on dried fish. This option is suitable for supplementary feeding or in case of departure of the owners, but cannot provide the correct diet. Also, if you constantly buy granulated food, the turtle may become weaned from fresh food and refuse to eat.

What to feed a red-eared turtle at home?

Feeding the red-eared turtle does not cause any particular difficulties; this type of reptile is omnivorous; the main thing is to provide it with a balanced diet, in which up to 70% are animal products. Like most predators, the reptile should also be fed plant foods, which will help fill the body with vitamins and microelements. From it the turtle receives calcium for the development of a strong and healthy shell. The diet of red-eared turtles living in an aquarium consists of the following components:

1. Animal feed - meat, fish and seafood, insects, snails, worms, caterpillars.
2. Plant foods - grass, fruits and berries (seedless), vegetables, mushrooms, aquarium plants.
3. Artificial feed - purchased, dry, balanced mixtures.

How to feed a red-eared turtle with dry food?

Often, reptile owners, when thinking about what to feed red-eared turtles, prefer dry food, sold in pet stores in the form of granules, tablets, capsules or flakes made from dried crustaceans. It should be borne in mind that dry food can be used infrequently, adding to the main diet in the form of a treat.

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If you decide to feed your red-eared turtle dry food, you can dilute it with small meat or fish pieces, add algae or other plant products. Do not accustom your pet to one type of dry food; periodically change its composition and manufacturer, choosing well-known, proven brands. Pay attention to the purpose of dry food; some types are used as primary nutrition, some as an energy supplement, as a preventive measure against rickets or to maintain immunity.

What fish should you feed your red-eared slider?

Quite rightly, some owners raise the question of what kind of fish can be fed to red-eared turtles. Not every type of fish is suitable for use in the diet of these reptiles. It is better to feed the red-eared turtle with freshwater species of fish, they are less fatty, but you can also give them sea fish - after soaking it in water and boiling it.

Before feeding your red-eared turtle fish, remove large bones from it and cut into small pieces. Red-eared turtles will not refuse seafood: mussels, shrimp, squid, crabs - they are bought fresh or frozen in the store. To prevent parasites from entering the body of reptiles, it is better to lightly boil fish and seafood or at least pour boiling water over them.

What kind of meat should I feed my red-eared slider?

When feeding turtles, give preference to lean meats:

• beef;
• horse meat;
• rabbit meat;
• lean lamb;
• offal.

To the question whether it is possible to feed a red-eared turtle chicken, the answer is unequivocal - it is possible, especially chicken liver. By giving liver to reptiles once every 7-10 days, you don’t have to worry about a lack of vitamins. The types of meat should be changed periodically, since the protein content in different types is different. It is even better to alternate meat food with fish food, this will eliminate the possibility of rickets.

What vegetables can you feed your red-eared slider?

Let's consider what you can feed a red-eared turtle besides food, meat and fish. Plant crops, especially vegetables, diversify the reptile menu. The more varied you feed your red-eared turtle with vegetables, the more different microelements and vitamins it will receive. The best vegetables are:

• zucchini, eggplant;
• tomatoes;
• carrots and beets;
• Bell pepper;
• cabbage.

When adding vegetables to the food of red-eared turtles, do not overdo it with any one type, it is better to use a little of everything. Vegetables do not contain protein, so they do not contribute to the intensive growth of reptiles; it is better to include them in the diet for older turtles. Do not feed spoiled or spoiled food to animals; this will cause them distress and poisoning.

Article on the topic: What to feed a land turtle at home: diet and choice of food for Central Asian and other land turtles

Basic rules for bringing pet turtles out of hibernation

For 3-4 months it hibernated indoors at a temperature of +6-10C; during the period of hibernation or hibernation, the pet lost about 10% of its weight. By the time the reptile leaves the hibernation, the reptile’s body is exhausted, therefore, in order to safely wake up the red-eared or Central Asian turtle, it is necessary to carry out the following steps step by step.

Smooth increase in temperature

In the wild, reptiles wake up when the air temperature gradually rises; the same principle applies in March, when it is necessary to bring the turtle out of hibernation. Within a week, it is necessary to bring the temperature in the terrarium to +20C, and then 3-4 days later to 30-32C. This process is done gradually; the container with the sleeping reptile is first transferred to a place with a temperature of 12C, then 15C, 18C, etc. You cannot place a sleepy turtle in a terrarium with a temperature of +32C, such a sharp drop will instantly kill the pet.

Taking baths

The body of an exotic animal is severely exhausted after a long hibernation; in order to completely awaken a land turtle, it is recommended that the awakened reptile take baths lasting 20-30 minutes in warm water with glucose. Water will saturate the animal’s body with life-giving moisture, the animal will remove urine, and hygiene procedures will raise the overall tone of the body. After bathing, the pet must be immediately placed in a warm terrarium, excluding the possibility of drafts.

In order to bring the red-eared turtle out of hibernation, after the stage of raising the temperature in the aquaterrarium, it is recommended to bathe the animal daily for 40-60 minutes in warm water for a week. It is strictly forbidden to fill an aquarium full of water with a sleepy reptile, which may choke and die.

A course of restorative drugs

After waking up, the body of an exhausted turtle is susceptible to various infections, viruses and pathogenic fungi. During hibernation, the animal lost a huge amount of energy and moisture, therefore, in order to bring a land turtle or red-eared turtle out of hibernation without complications, herpetologists prescribe the animal a course of vitamin preparations and electrolytic solutions. These measures are aimed at restoring the required amount of fluid and stimulating the reptile’s body’s defenses.

Ultraviolet irradiation

After waking up, aquatic and land turtles turn on a source of ultraviolet radiation for reptiles for 10-12 hours.

Feeding

If all actions to awaken the reptile are carried out smoothly and correctly, after 5-7 days from the moment it emerges from hibernation, the pet will begin to feed on its own.

The process of bringing a reptile out of hibernation does not always go smoothly; it is recommended to urgently consult a doctor in the following situations:

• after the temperature rises, the animal does not wake up;
• the pet does not pass urine;
• the turtle does not eat;
• the reptile's eyes do not open;
• The animal's tongue is bright red.

The most important thing for bringing a turtle out of hibernation is warmth, lighting and the patience of the owner. After proper awakening, reptiles continue to enjoy life and delight all family members.

Diet of the red-eared slider

The diet of red-eared turtles is compiled taking into account the fact that this type of reptile belongs to predators, therefore the main element in their menu is animal food, and plant food is used as a supplement in the amount of 25-30% of the total food. When developing a diet, the age of the pet is also taken into account; for the diet of reptiles under one year old, use those products that contain more protein. The nutritious diet is divided into winter and summer, while fresh vegetables can be replaced with frozen foods or dry food.

Description of the marsh turtle

If we were painting a portrait of a marsh turtle, then its most important detail would look like this: an almost oval, small-height carapace (about the term - help below), in which the width of the rear part is clearly greater than the front. In the largest individuals, the length of the carapace reaches 20 centimeters or more.

The carapace is the convex dorsal shield of a turtle's shell, consisting of a bone base and a horny covering.

Due to the fact that these turtles mainly live in the water element, the carapace of the animal is tightly pressed to each other, and it itself is streamlined in shape, without any protrusions, the fingers are connected by membranes. The turtle's paws have large and sharp claws, which is logical, since it is a predator. With their help, the turtle is able to tear its prey apart (your hand will not be the object of the hunt, but you should not let your guard down when communicating with your pet).

The tail of this reptile is quite long (up to 12 cm, which is often ¾ of the entire length of the shell). Its main function in the water is to guide and assist in maneuvering, creating a counterweight and maintaining balance during sharp turns. Moreover, in females it is shorter than in males.

The average weight of a reptile is 1.5 kg.

As for the color scheme, the swamp pet’s carapace is usually dark (from olive and khaki to almost black), but the plastron is light (closer to yellow). The body is densely covered with small light splashes and spots. The eyes depend on the gender: in males they are most often red, and in females they are light shades.

Habitat

The known European marsh turtles can be seen in large numbers in Europe, Asia or Africa. Their habitats are bodies of water (from swamps to streams, rivers and ordinary puddles somewhere in the forest). Water is an absolute comfort for them, but they also love to bask in the sun, and to do this they have to crawl onto the shore or rocks protruding upward. These creatures try to catch the sun's rays even on the coolest and gloomiest days. But as soon as the turtle hears an extraneous sound, it will immediately run into shelter (water) from the unpleasant attention. Strong paws allow the swamp beauty to swim quickly, and its claws allow it to instantly bury itself in the mud or under foliage near the shore.

With the arrival of cold weather, in mid-autumn, picky animals hibernate: this is how they escape the winter cold. With the warmth of spring, they wake up again.

How often should you feed your red-eared slider?

The question raises a lot of controversy: how many times a day to feed a red-eared slider, experts advise, based on the age of the reptile, its size and the composition of its diet. Young animals need one or two meals a day, in some cases additional feeding is necessary; it is better to consult a veterinarian about this. It is recommended to feed one- and two-year-old children every other day; for older reptiles, older than two years, gradually switch to one feeding every two, and often three days. At the same time, carefully monitor the animals; underfeeding is harmful, as is overfeeding.

Preparation

In order for your pet to receive all the nutrients, vitamins, and calcium for its shell necessary for growth, you need to feed the whole fish, including the head and bones. It should be given raw (fresh or defrosted) after being cut into small pieces. If the bones are too large, the costal processes are cut off and only the vertebrae are fed (they need to be cut as small as possible or flattened).

It is recommended to prepare feeding portions in advance and place them in molds to freeze. In the future, such a briquette can be quickly removed from the freezer and cut into cubes of the desired size. The pieces should be at room temperature or slightly warmer, without any remaining ice. It is convenient to feed your pets in a special container with water; you can also defrost food in it beforehand. When feeding in a hatchery, the leftover food will not pollute the water in the terrarium and spread an unpleasant odor.

Feeding a red-eared turtle fatty fish is harmful, although your pet may eat it more willingly. Before feeding varieties of medium fat content (capelin, sprat, herring), it is necessary to hold the pieces in hot water (80 degrees) for at least 2 minutes. The percentage of fat content should be within the following norm - 3-4% for constant feeding, up to 10% for rare ones; varieties with a fat content above 10% are prohibited.

What should you not feed your red-eared slider?

Feeding a red-eared slider at home is not difficult, you just need to keep in mind that not all foods on your table are acceptable for reptiles. Thus, the issue of feeding turtles eggs causes controversy among owners; opinions are divided between those who advise giving only the yolk, and those who do not recommend the use of this product at all. It is not recommended to feed reptiles with bread, it causes bloating, loss of appetite, and they have to be put on a starvation diet for several days.

Carefully examine the grass, leaves, and aquarium plants that you give to your pets; they may contain poison. Turtles pull everything into their mouths indiscriminately, like children, so they do not recognize which plant is useful and which will be harmful and even lead to death. It is better to heat the meat of poultry, animals and fish, at least briefly, so as not to cause salmonellosis and not to introduce parasites.

When thinking about what to feed your red-eared turtle, it is very important to understand that the overall health of your pet, the development and condition of the shell depend on a balanced and proper diet and compliance with the feeding regime. Observing the animal's appetite and behavior, choose a rational complex for it, this will save your pet reptile from health problems.

Arrangement of the aquarium

The owner should worry about the turtle’s comfortable life at home in advance. This applies primarily to the arrangement of the home of an exotic beauty. To make a comfortable house for her, you need to purchase:

1. Aquarium with a capacity of 150-200 liters.
2. External or internal filter for water purification.
3. Heating lamp.
4. Ultraviolet lamp for aquatic turtles with UVB 10%.
5. 100 W heater.
6. Materials for arranging coastal or island space. Pet stores offer a completely finished island.
7. Lamp and thermometer.

Often future owners prefer not to bother themselves with following all the recommendations. In addition, they know a little about the care and maintenance of the red-eared turtle. The result of such irresponsibility is often the illness or death of the pet.

Read more: aquarium for the red-eared turtle.

A red-eared turtle needs an aquarium with a capacity of 150-200 liters

Shore heating

Proper development of the coastal area is vital for the animal. Under natural conditions, turtles come out of the water to warm up.

Reaching an ambient temperature of +30–35 °C becomes possible thanks to a special lamp, which should be located close to the animal. But it should be borne in mind that too close a heat source can cause burns.

The lamp must be insulated from water. The turtle will definitely dive, and splashes on the base can lead to damage to the device. For this reason, the luminaire should be completely isolated from fumes and splashes. The duration of its operation during the day should be 10-12 hours.

UV lamp

To properly care for a red-eared slider at home, you must have an ultraviolet lamp that ensures stable absorption of calcium and B vitamins. This process is necessary for the proper development of the pet’s shell. If the absorption of necessary substances is impaired, the animal may develop rickets, which will lead to the curvature of its shell.

The lamp should be placed directly above the turtle so that the walls of the aquarium do not block the penetration of ultraviolet rays. The operating time of the device should be about twelve hours daily.

An ultraviolet lamp will ensure stable absorption of calcium and B vitamins

Water requirements

To keep a red-eared turtle at home, you should pay special attention to the purity of the water. Exotic reptiles spend most of their time in it: they sleep, eat, and relieve their natural needs. Dirty water can become a source of disease and infection

In addition, it gives off a specific smell in the apartment. Once or twice a week you should partially change the water. Its complete replacement is carried out once a month with mandatory thorough cleaning of the walls. In this case, it is necessary to remove the entire contents of the aquarium, and transfer the turtle to a container filled with water.

Dirty water can become a source of disease and infection. In addition, it gives off a specific smell in the apartment. Once or twice a week you should partially change the water. Its complete replacement is carried out once a month with mandatory thorough cleaning of the walls. In this case, it is necessary to remove the entire contents of the aquarium and transfer the turtle to a container filled with water.

Dirty water in an aquarium can become a source of disease and infection in red-eared sliders.

This process can be simplified by installing filtration devices. The internal filter is not powerful enough, so the water will still have to be changed, albeit not so often. An external filter will perfectly solve the cleaning problem, but it is not suitable for everyone due to the high price.

The water temperature in the aquarium should be 22-28 °C. You need to measure it using a thermometer. If the temperature drops, the water should be heated using a heater. Before adding water to the aquarium, it should be allowed to sit for one to five days. Thanks to this, it will be cleared of chlorine and other harmful compounds.

What do you feed red-eared turtles at home?

Despite the fact that red-eared turtles are unpretentious eaters and are omnivorous creatures, the basis of reptile nutrition should be food high in protein.

An approximate diet for a red-eared slider includes the following components:

• Meat and animal by-products.
• Various types of fresh fish and seafood, dried factory feed.
• Plant foods – greens, fruits and vegetables.
• Insects.
• Mushrooms.

In addition to this list of products, additional nutrition in the form of vitamins and minerals is necessary for the healthy development of the turtle. This is especially true at the stage of growing up of an individual, whose growing body needs microelements. If your pet regularly eats fresh meat, fish and vegetables, taking vitamins is not necessary. However, some owners, trying to save on keeping their pet, feed the turtle exclusively with semi-finished products, which have very dubious benefits. In this case, a course of vitamins is vital.

It is important to remember that the diet of turtles largely depends on their age. Young individuals under one year of age take the necessary elements for the development of the body in products of animal origin. It is recommended to feed an adult turtle more varied, adding plant foods to the diet.

When purchasing an aquatic turtle, the owner of the reptile should be prepared to spend money on healthy food for the pet. The diet should include meat and offal as the main source of protein and vitamin A. Turtles like to eat the following types of meat:

• rabbit meat;
• lean poultry;
• beef.

Fatty pork and lamb are contraindicated for turtles. Meat is occasionally given raw, but more often the product must be boiled so that pathogenic bacteria do not enter the animal’s body. Regular consumption of raw meat can lead to the development of rickets.

In addition to small pieces of boiled beef or poultry, red-eared turtles happily eat offal such as liver and heart. Food is easily digested and has a beneficial effect on the health of the individual’s skin. In some cases, large turtles may eat a small mouse.

What fish to feed red-eared turtles

One of the most important components of a healthy turtle diet is sea and river fish. Any low-fat variety will do, the main thing is to process the fillet correctly. The food should be completely free of bones and offal. Experts advise pre-holding the fish in hot water to rid the product of harmful substances.

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Red-eared turtles love to hunt for small fish. They happily eat guppies, crucian carp, swordtails and other inhabitants of home aquariums. A real delicacy for these reptiles is seafood, which does not require pre-processing and is served raw. A cocktail for a red-eared reptile may consist of the following ingredients:

• green shrimp;
• shellfish;
• squid pieces;
• octopus meat;
• snails and much more.

To ensure that your turtle regularly receives the required dose of calcium, try to pamper your pet more often with pieces of sea fish and other seafood. In their natural habitat, the diet of aquatic turtles consists of more than fifty percent fish, which must be taken into account when keeping the animal at home.

Insects

During the hot summer season, the diet of the red-eared turtle at home is significantly enriched with various types of insects. Red-eared pets eat grasshoppers, small bugs, and smooth caterpillars with appetite. At any time of the year, you can buy mealworms, daphnia and corerta in stores.

The owner of a turtle who decides to treat his pet to caught cockroaches is acting very recklessly. The fact is that their body may contain poison, which the residents of the house used to try to get rid of unwanted insects. Once ingested by a turtle, the toxic substance is often fatal.

In order for the turtle to eat well and its diet to include a variety of foods, it is necessary to include insects in the diet. However, care must be taken to ensure that beetles, caterpillars and grasshoppers are not exposed to poisons. It’s better not to risk it and buy quality food at a pet store.

Animal feed

The red-eared slider is a predatory reptile, so its diet must include animal products. The owner of the shell can be fed the following types of meat and fish foods:

• boiled and raw lean meat (poultry, veal, lamb);
• sea ​​and river fish processed with hot water;
• seafood (octopus, squid, mussels, etc.);
• various types of insects;
• small mice.

The consumption of protein and calcium, which are the main components of animal feed, is especially important for young animals. The condition of the animal’s skin, its bones and the overall health of the pet directly depends on what the red-eared turtle eats.

Plant food

In the second year of life, experienced turtle breeders gradually introduce most plant-based foods into the reptile's diet. These include:

• fruits (apples and pears, some varieties of citrus fruits, peaches and plums);
• vegetables (broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, legumes, carrots, beets, etc.);
• green plants (meadow grass, lettuce);
• occasionally mushrooms in small quantities (champignons, boletus mushrooms);
• aquarium algae and dried seaweed.

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As the animal matures, plant components are added to its diet. Despite the fact that a variety of algae and grasses seem to be the safest food for a turtle, some representatives of aquatic and terrestrial flora can harm your pet. Red-eared reptiles eagerly eat algae growing in the aquarium. Most often, breeders place spirogyra sprouts, duckweed and pond algae in aquariums. But the juice of the poisonous elodea will poison the turtle, and the animal may die.

Like any other food, vegetables, fruits and mushrooms need to be processed and cut into small pieces. Some inexperienced owners try to feed their red-eared pets berries with seeds or even orange peel. Even if an animal eats an inedible dish, it can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Artificial feed

Professional breeders of red-eared pets treat artificial food with a fair amount of skepticism. Everyone knows that natural food is much healthier than semi-finished products. In addition, most manufacturers, when creating ready-made food, do not take into account the characteristics of the turtle’s body, and minimally modify dry fish food, selling it under a different name. Of course, you shouldn’t feed a turtle such a dubious product.

Currently, a variety of foods for red-eared turtles are available on the shelves of pet stores, but only a few manufacturers create truly high-quality products with a balanced composition. Even high-quality food in the form of flakes, capsules or tablets should constitute a minimal part of the red-eared reptile's diet. The best way out of the situation is to make your own food from vegetables, fruits and fish, which will become healthy food for the red-eared turtle.

Vitamins and mineral supplements for turtles

Sometimes even feeding exclusively natural products does not guarantee that the red-eared turtle’s body will develop correctly. An important stage in the maturation of this reptile is the formation of bones and shell. To strengthen the skeleton, experts advise feeding turtles once a week with food containing vitamin supplements.

Bone meal is most often used as a source of calcium, necessary for the construction of skeletal and shell cells, a pinch of which is added to reptile food. Juveniles need a daily dose of calcium, while an adult turtle will only need one teaspoon of flour per week. If the owner of a water turtle does not have the opportunity to feed his pet with healthy flour, you can use ground eggshells of a raw egg for this purpose.

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Caring for your turtle

The first thing you should pay attention to when purchasing a pet is its appearance and size. A turtle that is under 5 cm in size at the time of purchase will be very difficult to raise. At this age, small individuals are susceptible to various infections and diseases.

This is how natural selection takes place. Therefore, a turtle 5–7 cm in size will be the best choice when purchasing

At this age, small individuals are susceptible to various infections and diseases. This is how natural selection takes place. Therefore, a turtle 5–7 cm in size will be the best choice when purchasing.

You should also carefully examine the color of the shell. The claws and tail must be intact. The skin looks healthy and the eyes shine. After the pet is in the aquarium, watch how it swims. A healthy turtle should swim smoothly, without leaning in different directions.

Healthy turtle

Features of treatment

After purchasing a pet and moving it into an aquarium, it may go through an adaptation period. Typically it will take 2 to 5 days. At this time, the animal becomes a little inhibited, or, conversely, very active. There is no need to panic and pick up the animal. Give him peace and time to adapt to new conditions. After a while, the turtle will get used to the new environment and become calmer.

When trying to pick up a turtle, do it very carefully and always with both hands. Not all representatives are willing to make contact. Some may flounder, hiss, and defecate in fear. The shell becomes slippery in water; keep this fact in mind when removing your pet from the aquarium.

After you hold the turtle in your hands, be sure to wash them with soap. Despite being kept clean, turtles are often carriers of salmonellosis. To avoid the spread of infection, you must always monitor the condition of the aquarium and the quality of the food.

Cleaning the shell

Since green algae in an aquarium is a source of infection, it is important to regularly clean not only the container, but also the turtle’s shell. They cannot do this themselves. During the decomposition process, algae also fall under the surface of the shell, and as they decompose, they harm the shell

During the decomposition process, algae also fall under the surface of the shell, and as they decompose, they harm the shell.

You will get used to the fact that once every 3-5 days you need to take the turtle out of the water and wipe its shell with a clean cloth, a special soft napkin, or gently brush it with a toothbrush. During the process, you should try to remove all small particles of algae and other dirt.

Cleaning the shell with a toothbrush

Some unscrupulous owners try to make the turtle's shell beautiful and lubricate it with various oils or creams to add shine. This is strictly prohibited, as it harms the skin and interferes with the healthy “breathing of the body” of the pet.

How often to feed your red-eared turtle

The frequency of feeding a turtle depends on several factors, the main of which are the animal and its individual characteristics. Thus, feeding adult red-eared turtles will take a minimal amount of time from their owners. The older the reptile gets, the less often it is fed. For some individuals, one serving per week is enough. However, there are some nuances.

If your pet's diet preferably consists of plant-based foods, the frequency of feeding increases. Meat and fish need more time to digest, and animal food saturates the turtle’s body for a long time. However, you should arrange the flora of the aquarium so that your pet can snack on algae if desired.

How many times a day should you feed your red-eared slider?

A turtle of any age only needs one portion of food per day. Very young individuals are fed daily, eventually increasing the period of abstinence to a week.

What to feed baby red-eared turtles

What a little turtle eats determines its future health. The diet of young animals must include seafood. It is useful for armored babies to hunt aquarium fish. Turtles can be given clams and pieces of shrimp, but the food is always served raw. You cannot feed small red-eared turtles with products of plant origin - such food will not bring the desired benefits.

The first year of life of red-eared reptiles is very important for the formation of the skeleton and strong shell. For the healthy development of the body, babies need calcium and vitamin A, which is aimed at renewing skin cells and creating keratinized tissue. The turtles are fed daily, adding bone meal to the portions. In addition to fresh fish, you can purchase combined dry food for young animals at a pet store, after consulting with the seller.

What should you not feed your red-eared turtle?

Despite the fact that this armored reptile is considered an omnivore, there is a certain list of foods that are strictly contraindicated for these animals. The list of foods harmful to turtles includes the following components:

• poisonous land plants and algae (Elodia, Ambulia, Legendandra);
• plant and animal products containing large amounts of oscalates, phosphorus, purines (tomatoes, cabbage, raw liver, fatty meat, etc.);
• poisonous and poisonous insects;
• locusts and grasshoppers with serrated stalks;
• fatty meat and fish;
• bread, potatoes, etc.

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Many of the above foods contain substances that can lead to the development of diseases such as gout, goiter and iodine deficiency in the turtle. The seemingly beneficial phosphorus interferes with the absorption of calcium, which also applies to oscalates.

Island

Now there are different versions of islands for turtles on sale, but when buying them, pay attention to what they are made of and how they are attached to the aquarium. Typically, plastic frames with suction cups are used as fastenings.

But when your turtle grows and weighs about a kilogram, the suckers will constantly come off. Ideally, it is advisable to use a flat area as an island where your pet will get out of the water.

That is, a ladder is needed to the island that does not interfere with the animal’s swimming in the aquarium, but, at the same time, descends to a sufficient depth so that the turtle can sit on it when it gets hot under the lamp. We do not recommend buying islands made of painted polyurethane foam. The sharp claws of an adult turtle crush it with ease.

How to properly feed a red-eared turtle

Even knowing the exact list of what red-eared sliders eat or don’t eat, you can make a number of dangerous mistakes. The most common disease of armored reptiles is common overeating. The owner of the animal needs to develop a strict feeding schedule for the pet in order not to succumb to the provocations of the cunning little face that is just begging. However, if it is obvious that the turtle is hungry, it must be fed.

The turtle feeder should not be overcrowded; too much food can also lead to overeating. Having fed the pet to its fullest, after a while the owner notices that the animal has become lethargic and passive. In this case, you should contact your veterinarian. If you still think that the reptile does not have enough food, it is better to give preference to algae and other products of plant origin. The health and longevity of a turtle directly depends on how much food the pet regularly consumes.

It is important to know how to feed a turtle in such a way that its body receives all the necessary substances. In addition to a varied, complete diet, owners of armored pets should not forget about vitamins. To make the creature's skeleton and shell stronger, it is worth feeding your pet with bone meal once a week.

If, however, the red-eared turtle stops eating, you should look for the cause and begin treatment.

What can overfeeding cause?

Owners of red-eared reptiles often come to veterinarians complaining about the apathy of their aquatic pets. At the same time, the animal’s diet consists of natural products, and the diet is very varied. The problem is that animals eat too often or too heavily. Large portions of food often lead to disastrous consequences, one of which is digestive disorders.

When getting a red-eared creature, you need to think about the animal’s diet in advance. Despite the fact that turtles require a variety of food, their portions are negligibly small and pets eat very rarely. Even the laziest animal lover can have an adult turtle, which he will have to feed once a week. However, do not forget that the animal should not be overfed, nor should it be abused with dry food.

Sources:

https://myturtle.ru/chem-kormit-krasnouxuyu-cherepaxu/ https://womanadvice.ru/chem-kormit-krasnouhuyu-cherepahu-chto-mozhno-davat-chto-nelzya https://rybkies.ru/obitateli /kormlenie-krasnouhoj-cherepahi.html