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Humans have long held a fascination for turtles due to the way they retreat into their shells when they’re threatened. This leads to turtles being common pets, and one in particular that many people want to keep is a snapping turtle.
Snapping turtles are mostly found in North America. So if you’re thinking of adopting a snapping turtle, then you need to know what to feed it. Snapping turtles are omnivores and eat animals, plants, insects, and vegetation; however, juvenile snapping turtles have a more carnivorous diet. In this guide, we’ll discuss in detail what baby snapping turtles eat in the wild and what you need to feed one that you’re raising as well.
About Snapping Turtles
The term “snapping turtle” is somewhat ambiguous and doesn’t refer to a single species of turtle. It may refer to the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), but also the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). Alligator snapping turtles have been documented biting off human fingers and are considered vulnerable according to the IUCN and, therefore, shouldn’t be kept as pets.
The common snapping turtle, though not as dangerous as the alligator snapping turtle, is nonetheless a very complicated species to care for as a pet. The decision to adopt one shouldn’t be rushed, as they need considerable space as adults (an outdoor pond) and may live for several decades. Their nutrition is also quite complex.
We strongly advise you to ensure that it is legal to adopt one where you reside and that you have the time, resources, and available expertise of a reptile veterinarian before choosing to adopt one. In addition, you should never adopt a wild-caught animal. Similarly, you shouldn’t release a pet into the wild.
What Do Baby Snapping Turtles in the Wild Eat?
Snapping turtles are opportunistic feeders and will readily consume anything they can find. However, as babies, their nutrition is more like that of a carnivore than an omnivore or herbivore. That being said, they will readily eat certain plant matter, especially if their prey is scarce. Their food consists of the following:
- Small mammals
- Amphibians
- Reptiles
- Fish
- Birds
- Eggs
- Carrion
- Insects
- Molluscs
- Vegetation
- Algae
What Should You Feed Your Pet Snapping Turtle?
While it’s best to take direction from what these same turtles eat in the wild, don’t feed your baby snapping turtle food that you catch outside, as it could contain unknown parasites or pathogens that can hurt a snapping turtle that’s being raised as a pet. In addition, capturing wild animals is also considered unethical, as it would displace a wild animal from the ecosystem, thereby disrupting the balance.
There’s commercially-made food that is designed especially for your turtle, but you need to feed them a balanced diet that includes live food as well. It’s important to note that this species of turtle will eat anything you throw in their enclosure, so you want to be careful what you’re giving them.
Make sure that you ask your exotic veterinarian about the use of supplements to ensure that your pet is getting all the nutrients and minerals he needs to be healthy and thrive under human care.
Supplements and Live Food
Your snapping turtle may need certain supplements to ensure they grow into adulthood and are healthy. However, you also need to make sure that you feed them a balanced diet of live food as well. Always make sure to source your live food from reliable sources and don’t overdo it on feeding them live food, either, as overnutrition is just as detrimental to their health as undernutrition.
Keep in mind that offering your turtle every supplement you can find without consulting your veterinarian is just as detrimental to their health as not offering them any supplementation. Almost every nutrient turtles require in their diet can have negative effects on their health and immunity if offered in excess.
In addition, some snapping turtles don’t require any supplementation from synthetic sources whatsoever (depending on how they are housed and what they are fed). As such, there’s no “one size fits all” approach to turtle nutrition. Instead, you should appreciate the fact that your pet is a unique biological entity with unique nutritional requirements that a trained professional (your veterinarian) can assist you with.
What Live Foods Should You Feed to Your Baby Snapping Turtle?
When it comes to live foods and your turtle, they eat pretty much the same thing that baby snapping turtles eat in the wild. There are a few foods that you can feed to your snapping turtle listed below. As previously stated, make sure to source these foods from a reputable, organic source for the best results.
- Small animals
- Frogs
- Birds
- Carrion
- Shrimp
- Snakes
- Spiders
- Small turtles
- Birds
- Fish
- Worms/Blood worms
- Aquatic plants
- Leafy, green dark vegetables
How Often Should You Feed Your Baby Snapping Turtle?
Chances are that anytime you offer your baby turtle food, it’s going to eat it. However, constant eating is not good for your turtle. Overfeeding can cause health problems, and these turtles have a problem with obesity. Therefore, it’s best to feed your baby snapping turtle once or twice a day instead.
Conclusion
This concludes our guide on what baby snapping turtles eat in the wild and what you should feed them as pets. Remember, some species of turtle are becoming endangered, so if you adopt one as your very own, it’s important to take excellent care of him. Do this by keeping his cage clean, keeping up with any vet appointments, and feeding him a balanced diet of supplements, turtle food, and live food.
Related Reads:
- Snapping Turtle vs. Box Turtle: What’s the Difference? (With Pictures)
- Do Snapping Turtles Make Great Pets? Facts & FAQs
Featured Image Credit: Hoth Cook, Shutterstock
