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There are more than 300 species of Turtle in the world, and they can have very different diets, primarily according to what is available where they live. Generally, aquatic turtles are omnivores and can consume animal and plant-based foods. Most turtles eat fish and vegetation, but some may eat small crustaceans and other small animals.
Pet turtles are usually fed commercial pellets because they are formulated to provide all the vitamins and minerals they need. They can be supplemented with treats like mealworms or vegetables, but some owners prefer to develop a diet for their aquatic turtles themselves, feeding a combination of meat and plant-based foods.
One food that is considered safe for turtles, albeit only in moderation and fed occasionally, is corn.
Can Turtles Eat Corn?
Corn is safe for turtles to eat but is high in sugar and potassium, so it should not be fed as a regular part of your pet’s diet and should be given as an occasional treat instead. The biggest concern with feeding too much corn is that it is high in natural sugars, which can eventually ferment. This fermentation of sugar leads to a condition called acidosis, which can, in severe cases, lead to death.
This is very unlikely when feeding small amounts occasionally, however, so corn is considered a safe treat. Corn is high in fiber, which turtles need to maintain a healthy gut and digestive system. It also contains carbohydrates, sodium, and protein, all of which are burned slowly and act as natural fuel for the Turtle’s body.
How To Prepare It
You should avoid giving pet turtles processed food. Processed foods are even higher in sugar and contain large amounts of salt, both of which are dangerous when fed in large amounts. Feed fresh corn, remove it from the cob, and discard the husk, or you can feed frozen corn as long as you make sure it is defrosted before being served.
You may be able to offer corn tortillas, but you need to ensure that it is a plain tortilla with no added ingredients. You can feed canned corn, but again, make sure there are no other ingredients and avoid corn stored in brine or salt water unless you wash it thoroughly before feeding it. The corn can be fed raw, or it can be boiled to cook it.
How Often to Give Corn to Turtles
Corn should only be an occasional treat. Feed a small amount once or twice a month, but no more than that.
The 5 Foods Turtles Can Eat
Turtles can be fed a commercial pellet diet. The pellets usually contain animal and plant ingredients, and they are formulated to meet your pet’s dietary and nutritional requirements. Alternatively, you can feed pellets and supplement with fresh ingredients, or you can create a diet from scratch using ingredients that are safe and nutritious, including the following:
1. Fish
Many species of wild turtles live on a diet consisting heavily of fish, and it is perfectly safe to feed it. Fish is packed with healthy protein, calcium and phosphorus, fatty acids, and a host of vitamins and minerals.
If you have an aquatic turtle, you can even put the fish in the water so that they get exercise hunting the fish for dinner. Alternatively, you can feed plain, cooked fish, which is beneficial if you have any left after your meal.
2. Chicken
Turtles like most other types of meat, ranging from ground beef to shredded chicken. You should cook the meat first to eliminate bacteria, but don’t use processed meat. Turtles have strong jaw muscles and hard beaks and can use them to crush up their food, so while you can feed chicken shredded in small pieces, your Turtle will do an excellent job of devouring slightly larger pieces, too.
3. Apple
You can feed some vegetables to turtles daily, but you should feed fruit much more sparingly. Fruit is not as nutritionally beneficial, and it contains high levels of sugar and other compounds that should not be given in large quantities. If you want to feed fruit, apples are a good choice.
Cut the apples into small pieces or shred them, but remember to remove the seeds since they contain cyanide. You can serve a few small pieces once or twice a month.
4. Watermelon
Watermelon has a very high water content, hence its name. Like apples, they have too much sugar and should be considered a treat and make up part of the 5% treat element of your turtle’s diet.
5. Boiled Egg
You may have noticed that eggs and boiled eggs are included in commercial pet foods, especially cat and dog foods. This is because eggs are a very good source of protein. You can boil an egg, remove all of the shell, and chop it into small pieces to make it easier to consume.
Conclusion
Turtles are omnivores, and they eat a combination of animal and plant ingredients, but their diet depends on the species. Even if you give your turtles a diet of commercial pellets, you can supplement it with vegetables. Corn is considered a treat because it has a high sugar content, and too much sugar is bad for your Turtle. Avoid serving processed foods with corn, but you can feed your turtle raw or boiled corn. Feed it once a month and avoid giving too much of this sugary treat at a time.
Featured Image Credit: tookapic, Pixabay
