What can I feed a finicky box turtle?

Question

He used to eat all kinds of stuff, but since he's lived outside in our patio, he seems to like only bugs. Will he stay healthy on just bugs?

Answer 1

Since box turtles eat mostly bugs in the wild, bugs are pretty much all they need.

In captivity, variety is the key to healthy box turtles. Try this:

50% low-fat proteins: live bugs, worms, snails, etc. (NOT mealworms, except occasionally, then try to use SuperWorms), canned crickets, low-oil fish, cooked chicken, organ meats, and high-quality/low fat canned or kibble dog food (soak kibble first), scrambled or hard-boiled eggs (with shells crunched up).

30% vegetables: colorful veggies (steam or microwave hard veggies a little), mushrooms, and 'forage'- plants it eats in the yard- leaves, flowers, grasses, etc.

10% fruit, except for citrus

10% dark leafy greens

Sprinkle the appropriate dose of reptile vitamins and calcium supplements as directed.

Answer 2

A Box Turtle diet should consist not only on live food (Mealworms are amongst the best, nutritionally packed feeds), but also some (about 30-40% of their diet) form of vegetation (grass, dark green leafy veggies, Hibiscus flowers work well) is --needed-- as well.

We tend to do a special blend of Mealworms and a Box Turtle specific pellet diet when feeding ours. Depending on the size of yours, we feed approximately 10-13 worms and a quarter sized amount of *Box Turtle Food* from Pretty Pets (We add a dollop of water onto the dry food to make it moist and easier for the Turtle to consume) for a 4"-5" Box Turtle. I usually finger "mix" the worms into the moist food so that they're fooled into eating the pellets. The pellets provide a substantial source of the vitamins and minerals that live food doesn't contain. As a --daily necessary-- treat we typically use Hibiscus flowers, which seems to be their favorite. Of course, Hibiscus isn't available everywhere so you can still use rose petals, strawberries, carrots or spinach too.

Answer 3

He will stay very healthy on bugs. Box turtles need bugs to survive. I feed ours mealworms constantly. Good luck.

:)

Answer 4

he should start hibernating about now so that might be why. i suggest you keep trying veggies and fruits. and yes in the wild turtles do eat bugs, fish and plants

Answer 5

as long as he is outside he will live healthy at pet stores they sell turtle food mabey a treat

Answer 6

it's time for box turtles to be hibernating, go to turtles .com and they'll help you with this, box turtles are one turtle that gets real sluggish during hibernation

Answer 7

he should be trying to hibernate right now and will stop eating
when he resumes in spring, try feeding him some earthworms,
canned dog food (chicken based) and RED food, like watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe also try chopped collards,
grated carrots and squash, you will just have to play with his diet to find out what he will eat, keep trying

Answer 8

bugs

Answer 9

letuce, leaves .not hibernating yet ?????