I just bought two small turtles from chinatown. What do they eat?

Question

I do not know what type they are but the bottom of their shells are spotted and they are the size of a person's thumb.

Answer 1

PROTEIN makes up about 50% of the diet. Protein foods should be cut up small enough so the turtle cannot get its fill of food with just one bite of protein. Mix the protein with the vegetables and fruits. All meats should be sprinkled with calcium supplement that contains no phosphorus. Cuttlebone given to birds may also be shaved onto food stuff or left in the turtle's home so the turtle can forage on it al will. It is high in calcium.

REGULARLY—Natural live, whole foods like pesticide free earthworms, slugs, waxworms, beetles, grubs, sow bugs. Boiled, chopped chicken, feeder fish or beef heart.
OCCASIONALLY—Low-fat soaked dog kibble, soaked puppy Milkbones®, low-fat premium canned dog food, cooked lean steak, mealworms and crickets that have been gutloaded with enriched food. Prepared box turtle food products.
RARELY—Boiled egg, tofu, low-fat cat kibble.
NEVER—due to the possiblity of contamination, fat content and salt: Raw meats, fatty meats or processed meats.

VEGETABLES make up about 30% of the diet. Use only the part of the vegetable that is colorful as it contains the most nutrition. Use fresh vegetables whenever possible, and steam or grate hard vegetables before offering to the box turtle.

REGULARLY—Summer and winter squashes, peas in the pod, sweet potatoes, okra, grated carrots, green beans, wax beans and cactus pads with ALL spines removed.
OCCASIONALLY—Mushrooms, corn on the cob and tomatoes.
RARELY—Sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, beets and cauliflower.

FRUITS make up about 10% of the diet and are dessert for your turtles. Most turtles love fruits and each seems to have a favorite. Try to find your turtle’s favorite. If it is a finicky eater, use the fruit to entice it to eat other foods. Chop the fruit into small pieces and mix it with things the turtle should eat but won’t. This way, with every bite of fruit it will also eat the required food. I sprinkle vitamins on the fruit as well.

REGULARLY—Grapes, fresh figs, blackberries, raspberries, mulberries, apples, crabapples, strawberries, cantaloupe, kiwis, cherries and persimmons.
OCCASIONALLY—Bananas and watermelon.

LEAFY DARKY GREENS make up the remaining 10% of the diet. Dark leafy greens contain fiber and many minerals and vitamins. Greens help keep the turtle gut healthy through their cleansing action. Always provide your turtles with greens.

REGULARLY—Collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, carrot tops, wheat grass and turnip greens.
OCCASIONALLY—Romaine, red leaf lettuce, endive.
RARELY—Parsley, kale, Swiss chard.
NEVER—due to the high oxalic acid content or poor nutritional value: Spinach, rhubarb leaves and iceberg lettuce.

Following the above diet I have produced healthy box turtles with smooth shell growth and strong immune systems.

Answer 2

Do you have a picture if so we can help ID the turtle. If not here's a generic question: Do they have bent legs and walk like an alligator or do they have claws and move like you'd swim breaststroke? If it's the former, you most likely have a tortoise. If it's the latter, most likeley aquatic. Infact, I'm willing to bet its a red-eared slider (RES). Does the turtle have red marks on the side of its head?

I have a 'chinatown' turtle too. * Its illegal in many places to buy/sell turtles with a shell smaller than 4 inches. Sadly, RESs are commmonly inhumanely kept and sold illegally. I made the mistake of supporting the business but yes, it is possible for the turtle to live a healthy life. I've had mine for 6 years.

Anyway...
http://www.gotpetsonline.com/pictures-gallery/reptile-pictures-breeders-babies/red-eared-slider-turtle-pictures-breeders-babies/pictures/red-eared-slider-turtle-0026.jpg

Is this your turtle? If so, you have what I have: RES. To answer your question, they are primarily carnivourous but it's important to make sure your turtle get's a balanced diet. Reliable pellet brands (ex: reptomin) are good to a certain extent but not exclusively. Veggies and live prey (crickets/feeder fish) can also offered.

Here's a site with comprehensive info on care.
http://redearslider.com/

Quick note though: This turtle can grow to about 1 foot in length. It will require a large tank complete with basking/UV lights, heater, and filter. It's a commitment no doubt. Just make sure you can provide a good, permanent home. Your little turtle will grow fast.

Good luck!

Answer 3

You are in for it now. First, get them out of the "death bowl" you got with them. Sliders need AT LEAST 15-20 gallons per inch of shell, cumulative. They were probably just hatched and about an inch long, so that means a 40-gallon tank until they grow. They will probably not eat for a week or two, as they adjust to their new home. You might try slipping small earthworms into their tank to get them started. Bits of liver dusted in bone meal are good too. As they get bigger, you can add bait fishes to the tank so they can hunt their own food. The liver will replace sunlight. Otherwise, set up a UVB bulb over the basking site. Giving them sunlight is tricky. It can't have passed through glass and you have to insure that the turtles don't overheat.

Answer 4

Any vegitable or fruit for land turtles. Look up the species on the internet. i wouldn't suggest taking them to a pet store for advice thought, many turtles under 4" are illegal to own. also there are many endangered species that are illegally sold within the US.

Answer 5

I feed my turtle Reptomin Floating Food Sticks, she loves them. I also occasionally give her small, live goldfish from the petstore.

Answer 6

What is it with freaking lettuce?
BABY AQUATIC TURTLES DO NOT EAT FREAKING LETTUCE!!!
Where do people get this?
Young aquatic turtles are primarily insectivorous in the wild, and they also scavenge. So, try insects, earthworms, small fish, and occasional pellets.
AND NO FREAKING LETTUCE!

Answer 7

they eat a lot of things go to the pet store and look for food email me

Answer 8

turtles defiantly eat lettuce and other vegetables but try looking up turtles on google to find out what type you have.

Answer 9

Here is a link to everything you need to know: http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/newhatchling.htm

Answer 10

Please don't buy animals if you have no clue on how to take care or ever what to feed them. It is irresponsible pet ownership.