i caught a wild painted turtle for my kids, what should we feed it?

Answer 1

To add to madkins' "naughty" list:
- You've taken a wild specimen out of the breeding population. I don't know where you live, but in my area the painted turtle and box turtle populations are severely dwindling because of people taking them home as "pets." Turtles keep the same territory their whole lives and taking one away will affect all the others s/he may have lived near and possibly bred with.

If you don't even know what turtles eat, you are not ready to care for a wild-caught one. Please return it to where you found it.

Answer 2

Painted Turtles As Pets

Answer 3

You just asked this in Reptiles and you're going to get much of the same answer here. Sorry, but the best thing to do for the turtle is to put it back where you found it. Wild animals belong in the wild and can have a lot of diseases. If you want a painted turtle, or any turtle, get one at a pet store where it can be guaranteed to be hand raised and captive-bred. They may be more expensive but the animal will probably be healthier in the long run.

Answer 4

Lets get the 'naughty naughty' out of the way...
- It MAY have been illegal to catch (although I have never heard of anyone being busted for it unless it was an endangered species).
- It MAY have Salmonella, which is easily prevented by simple handwashing and hygiene practices, and is not a real big deal to begin with (same thing as 24 hour bug or stomach flu).
- It WILL not do as well for you as a pet as a captive bred turtle would- it may not eat well, etc.

Now, make me a promise and I won't haunt your conscience: promise to try to either take good care of this turtle or release it within a week.

Diet: The basic diet is about 50% good turtle pellets- the best brands are Mazouri and ReptoMin. I would not buy anything cheaper than these.

The other 50% depends on the size of the turtle. If it is under about 4", then offer it things like bloodworms, freshwater snails, rosy red minnows or mollys, small crickets, earthworms, silk worms, etc. (http://www.redearslider.com/prey.html)

If it is over about 4", add in some dark leafy greens or water plants.

As part of the deal, you should house it well. Painted need big tanks with lots of water (about 10 gallons per inch of shell length), well-filtered, and heated to about 75-80F.

They also need a good basking site (warmed to about 90F), and good lighting- with some shadier, cooler spots to hide out in.

It is not really cheap to set up a good turtle habitat- a good filter alone will run you about $50+. Once it is set up, however, it is cheap to keep and feed a turtle!

Also try http://www.austisnturtlepage.com for other ideas.

Answer 5

Depending on where you live, it could be illegal to keep the turtle.
For example: "No turtle or tortoise can be collected from the wild at anytime for any reason in NJ (Poaching carries fines up to $5000 dollars per animal and we prosecute aggressively those who we catch)"
http://aboxturtle.com/state_laws.htm
That website also has links for other states and their laws and restrictions.

I also know, from having worked with a biologist at the Avian Rehabilitation Center who also had a permit to rehabilitate injured wild turtles, that you can contract salmonella from turtles.

She always told people to leave the turtles where they are. If one is injured, do not touch it, contact someone from the state fish and game department, or a licensed rehabilitator who will come and get the turtle. If it is uninjured, it doesn't need anyone's help. And wild turtles should never be kept as pets.

Answer 6

Um....I recommend letting it go back where you got it. Taking animals from the wild is not a good idea and is kinda cruel to the animal. Go to the store or adopt one that is already used to humans and needs a new home. As far as food goes, pet stores usually sell turtle food, but a wild caught turtle may not eat it.

Answer 7

They have turtle pellets at Petsmart and Petco. You can also feed him hamburger, feeder fish, and veggies. The best thing for you to do is to let it go. Turtles need a lot of care and are very expensive. It would be much better to buy one at a paet store. Do some research if you really want to keep it.

Answer 8

Go put it back where you caught it. Research before you kidnap.

Answer 9

fish or plants

Answer 10

food