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Feeding my turtle.

22 16:15:08

Question
Hi I have a year old 3 toed box turtle. I have had her for about 3 weeks. I was just wondering how often and how much I should feed her. I have tried to find the info via Internet but for some reason they just jump around that question. My boyfriend and I are getting a little worried cause she only eats every other day. And I just want to make sure that I am taking good care of her. To benefit her for her life from here on out. Hopefully you have the answers for me.

Answer
My favorite site for Box Turtles is http://www.boxturtlesite.info

Portions: Figure a daily serving of food is about the same size as the turtle's head (squishing it down to fit). For the first year, we feed daily, then we start skipping a day a week for a couple years, then skip a couple days a week.

Diet: In the wild, they eat about 75% 'bugs' and other meats. Many websites recommend a diet too high in plants.

I go for a three-part plan:

1/3rd 'wild foods'- worms, insects, slugs and snails, pinkie mice, caterpillars, Superworms, etc. Avoid mealworms (too hard to digest).

1/3rd 'home meats'- cooked chicken, beef heart, hard boiled egg and shell, well-soaked 'weight maintenance' cat kibble, oily fish, etc. Avoid anything too fatty or processed.

1/3rd salad- dark leafy greens, yellow-orange veggies, mushrooms, strawberry, cactus pads, etc. Avoid too much of any fruit other than strawberry, but use any 'yard plant' it will eat- dandelions are especially good.