People have to eat. Dogs have to eat. Everyone has to eat both to survive and to maintain their health. Turtles are not any different. Just like there are many types of human conditions that warrant varied diets, turtles come in different species that will require specific nourishment. Box turtle food, for instance, is different from the ones that soft-shell turtles normally eat. Aside from providing proper homes for them, you will want to find out what your pet turtles eat as this will have a huge bearing on their development. Improper diet and box turtle food can result in brittle shells for this species. It can also affect their health which can shorten their lifespan as well.
Box turtles are relatively common pets. Many people opt to have them over other species because box turtle food is easier to prepare. In fact, a proper diet for this type of turtle is pretty straightforward – much like what humans have to eat only on a different variety. Box turtles are omnivores – that is, they eat both vegetables and prey. In essence, box turtle food can come in the form of a wide range of plant and animal based products. The differences come in the proportions.
Hatchlings are generally more carnivorous so they are more apt to eat insects, worms, slugs and such. As your pet grows older, you will want to start incorporating more plants and vegetables in your box turtle food. The proportions will still vary across different species so it’s important to take note of the specific type of turtle that you have in your tank.
Interestingly, box turtles are like humans – they do have favorites when it comes to box turtle food. Some of them are even fixated to specific food choices especially when they have just come in from the wild. It’s probably because of the adjustment into life in captivity as well as changes in the environment in itself. You may have prepared the right box turtle food but that doesn’t necessarily mean that your pet will gobble it all up. Given wrong circumstances – such as improper lighting and temperature, your turtle may just refuse to eat and go on a hunger strike. Yes, they are just as stubborn as most humans. Fortunately for them, their systems are designed in such a way that they do not have to eat as soon as possible. Their metabolism can just slow down until proper environmental conditions are met and they can just eat box turtle food again.
Box turtle food also requires variety. Try eating the same type of vegetables each meal and you’ll probably just grow tired of it sooner or later. The same rule applies to these turtles. It’s a good thing that they are omnivores because you’ll have a wide array of options to choose from. Box turtle food should contain more protein and can come in the form of bugs, slugs, earthworms, beetles and even boiled chicken, feeder fish and beef heart.
Pet Turtle Care Tip #1
Turtles are members of the Reptile family and they are some of the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have been around for more than two hundred million years. This makes them as old as the dinosaurs. There are hundreds of different kinds of turtles all over the planet.
Pet Turtle Care Tip #2
Sea turtles are the most popular of all of the turtles. These are also some of the largest creatures—some sea turtles can grow to more than six feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. Scientists think that sea turtles are actually land creatures that went back into the water and never came out. Over time their limbs evolved to make them stronger swimmers and to keep them in the water: their front appendages are actually flippers.
Pet Turtle Care Tip #3
All turtles, even sea turtles, are air breathing creatures. While some turtles can stay under the water for hours at a time, they all must surface at least once a day to stay alive. There is one turtle, the giant turtle that only has to surface once a day to take in air. There are some studies being done to see if some species of turtle might be able to draw oxygen from their cells much like some fish use their gills to breathe.
