But other items can be also … In addition to their regular diet, baby red-eared slider turtles need supplements, as well. They are more prone to diseases, they need special attention and they need to be fed more regularly. When it gets an adult, feed it every other day. Commercial pellets are an excellent choice for a baby turtle. In the wild they hibernate every winter, and they are also able to hibernate as pets. There are a lot of food options in stores that you can feed it with but are all of them good enough? If you are interested to learn more about it, check out our guide on that subject: If you do it right, your turtle will grow up in a healthy adult red-eared slider turtle and will live a long life. Turtles can also eat cooked as well as uncooked meat without any problem. When your turtle finishes eating its meal, just put it back in the tank. These turtles are omnivores, and will take advantage of both meat and plant food sources. Don’t hesitate to give them plants once in a while, even though they refuse it to eat. When they are at those life stages they are growing a lot faster than adult red eared sliders, and to grow this fast they need a lot of protein that they get from meat. You could argue that if the diet regimen is balanced and also diverse, additional nutrients are not essential. You’ve probably bought a baby red-eared slider turtle and now you are wondering what you can do to ensure that it has a quality life. eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'aquaticpals_com-box-3','ezslot_7',104,'0','0'])); One of the first questions that popped up in your head was: What do baby red-eared slider turtles eat? The absolute best way to make sure your baby red-eared slider gets enough nutrition is by using a good turtle pellet as its staple food. Soon, however, they will associate your presence with food, and will greet you with anticipation. Do red eared slider turtles hibernate? However, many beginners often mess this up when it comes to feeding their red-eared slider. It is in the maintenance category and is meant for adult turtles. Don’t hesitate to give them plants once in a while, even though they refuse it to eat. Adult red-eared turtles are herbivores, so instead of giving it too much commercial food, try feeding it with more plants, prey food or leafy greens. Let’s explain everything step by step. As they get older, lots of people feed a good-sized portion every 2 or three days. You’ve read some stuff before, but you are not quite sure that’s the information you are looking for. Look at their eyes, shell, how they swim, and whether or not they seem very active. In the wild they eat bugs, larvas, insects. Please Beware you might think it's cruel to the potato bug. Calcium and Vitamin D are important elements for the health of the turtle shell and should be mixed in the regular diet of your turtle. I apologize they are fast red eared slider turtles VS Potato Bug feeding the turles In this article, I’ll answer all those questions. Today I fed them fruit! Yes, red eared slider turtles are able to hibernate. Living in the wild, red eared slider turtles feed on aquatic vegetation, little fish, and material that is decaying such as frogs and dead fish. Red eared slider turtles live in a lot of different places, and a lot of those places it can get really cold during the winter, so during this time they will hibernate. In general, red-eared slider turtles are omnivores, which means their diet should consist of animals and plants. Related: Do red eared sliders need to be in the water all the time? In their juvenile period, baby turtles most need proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Made in the form of pellets, it floats so that your pet can easily pick up and eat, preventing any mess in the tank. I caught three of them in my back yard this morning and don't know what to feed them...help please. The Red Eared Slider can get a little Too Big for your Regular Aquarium, so providing The Best Tank for Red Eared Slider will Guarantee Him a Happy Life. Smaller live feeder fish are also a great choice if your turtle is big enough to consume them. Purchase all worms from reputable shops to be on the safe side. Nonetheless, where red-eared slider turtles are not indigenous, it may still be legal to gather them as pets. Also, a significant risk exists that red-eared slider turtles can transfer diseases and parasites to native reptile species. If you are interested to learn more about it, check out our guide on that subject: Why my red-eared slider turtle is not eating? 1 It's still a good idea to offer vegetation to young turtles, even though they may not … If your baby red-eared slider refuses to eat plant-based food, there is nothing you need to worry about. I recommend either Mazuri or Omega One for pellet food. Make that just a small part of their diet. What can you do to solve this situation? Can a Red Eared Slider eat roaches? But the fact that roaches live in some unsanitary places doesn’t … You’ve probably bought a baby red-eared slider turtle and now you are wondering what you can do to ensure that it has a quality life. If you see this, you need to cut down on the portion of food you give your red-eared slider or feed it with food that is low in fat. Young red-eared sliders eat more animal protein, so babies should start with a diet that's more on the carnivorous side. Check the eyes, cheeks, breathing, nose, and mouth. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'aquaticpals_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',109,'0','0'])); Red-eared sliders are messy animals. Baby turtles like to hunt and they’ll be happy when you feed them with live prey. Do red eared sliders need to be in the water all the time, Why my red-eared slider turtle is not eating. One of the most common semiaquatic turtles currently in the pet industry is the red-eared slider. How to feed your baby turtle? The shells of baby red-eared sliders are typically green with yellow or dark green marks. The first year is the most crucial, which determines whether the turtle will survive or not. The young turtles are mainly carnivorous and become more omnivorous as they grow into adults. Because the yellow belly slider turtles are opportunistic omnivores, they eat whatever they find within their environment, including insects, snails, small vertebrates, algae, weeds and even aquatic snakes. One way to truly know which food options are good enough is by trying them out, but it is going to be expensive going through all products. They cannot digest bread, and it lacks the nutrients they need to grow so it will only lead to health problems. Dark leafy greens like collard may be fed to your pet. Your email address will not be published. All information, content, materials on this site, or obtained from a website to which the site is linked are provided to you “as is” without warranty of any kind either express or implied. If a red-eared slider feels threatened, however, just like other pets, it may bite. In fact, wild turtles are likely to disappear into their shells or underwater when they hear or see anything approaching, while captive bred sliders may actually swim up to you expecting a treat. High quality commercial pellets are a good option for this, as they make a good base for their diets. Red-eared sliders are omnivorous in the wild. A malaria-like parasite was spread to two wild turtle populations in Lane Cove River, Sydney. Especially, when it comes to what they do eat. Instead, feed your turtle with live feeder fish, and earthworms as a source of protein. Wardley Premium Amphibian and Reptile Sticks. With a balanced diet of greens, protein and commercial food, your red-eared slider turtle can grow to a healthy 12 in (0.30 m) adult size, and live longer than 20 years! It is the perfect product for your aquatic turtle. They are mainly carnivores and change into omnivores as they get older. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'aquaticpals_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',111,'0','0'])); In the wild, baby red-eared slider turtles are not so fortunate like those ones kept as pets. Zoo med has got you covered at all stages of your turtle’s life as it concerns feeding. Red-eared sliders are aquatic turtles that have been popular for a long time as long as the pet trade is concerned. It contains calcium, which is essential for your turtles to maintain a hard and healthy shell. They are packed with the right combinations of nutrients, specially designed for your turtle needs. It may appear fine one day and seem to be dehydrated the next. Young red-eared slider turtles should be fed at least once a day. They should never be fed commercial dog food or cat food. In the wild, they eat tiny fish, decaying animals like frogs and fish, and aquatic vegetation. Other ingredients that make up this wonderful product are dried seaweed, cinnamon bark oil, oregano oil, garlic amongst others. Because red-eared slider turtles eat plants as well as animals, they could also have a negative impact on a range of native aquatic species, including rare frogs. Turtle Supplements. You can feed your turtles once every three days, or every day. What do I need to know about red – eared sliders? Like their box turtle brethren, adult sliders are omnivores, but with their primary habitat being lakes, ponds and streams, sliders have access to different sources of meat and plants. The captive diet for pet red-eared sliders should be a varied diet consisting of invertebrates such as worms, aquatic and land plants, and other natural foods. They are usually more active in the mornings. has foods for all growth stages of your pet turtle. As mentioned earlier, red-eared sliders eat a lot of items while in their natural habitat. Raw meat may also contain harmful microorganisms, so always boil the meat before you feed it to your pet turtle. Fruits and veggies are very good sources of vitamins and minerals and should be included in your turtle diet. My slider (RES) eats stix, meat, lettuce, krill, and dried up shrimp!! Hikari Saki Turtle Food is meant to take care of the mess associated with feeding your aquatic pets. As protein is a part of your pet’s dietary needs, you will include this in its meal but make sure you do not feed it with more than 25% protein in the total meal. It is packed with calcium to ensure strong bones and vitamins for a healthy immune system. The first possibility is that your turtle is too young. It is a floating stick formulation and is ideal not only for your turtle but also for other reptiles and amphibians. There are one of the most easily cared for pets as they are resilient and have a tolerance to a lot of conditions. While it is not possible to completely mimic the foods they eat in the wild while you keep them at home, you can provide them with similar options. However, the diet of baby red-eared slider turtles should lean more on the animal side. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Comet goldfish, earthworms and insects may be offered as treats. … Bear in mind the reality that your slider breathes air, not water. As long as the meat is not spoiled they can eat it without any problem.So if you can eat a certain type of meat without any problem, so can your turtle. So you are covered and can ensure the healthy growth of your pet from hatchlings until adulthood. Contains the right amount of nutrients for turtles of all growth stage, A balanced diet for your red-eared slider, Contains a good amount of vitamins and minerals, Floating pellets for easy reach and consumption, Contains lots of essential vitamins and minerals, Only comes in medium-sized pellets which are too small for adult turtles, Made to satisfy the dietary needs of your adult red-eared slider, Providing Good Nutrients for Your Red-Eared Slider, Commonly Asked Question About Red Eared Slider Foods. While in captivity, they are likely to feed on just about anything you feed them. , and so whether your red-eared slider is in the pond or in an aquarium, these items are a good treat. Baby turtles will rarely accept foods that are not from animal origin. (Complete Guide). In an aquarium or pond you can add aquatic plants on which turtles usually love to snack. Always feed your turtle in the water and limit the pellet quantity to 25% of the total diet. Wardley Premium Reptile and Reptile Sticks is a product that is packed with nutrients and free from harmful chemicals. Red-eared slider turtles make fun and easy to care for pets. Your baby red-eared slider’s diet should be primarily protein-focused. This is because they eat almost anything you offer them, but it doesn’t mean it is good for them. Keep In Mind. Baby sliders need to eat large amounts of protein than adult sliders do, because they have a larger carnivorous side on them. Red-eared sliders need a diet that is a mixture of both animal and plant materials. Red-eared slider turtles are attracted to movement and will love to see some live creatures in their tank. Not a whole lot is required, just enough to cover the turtle half means. Red-Eared Slider Availability. Red-eared sliders are aquatic turtles that have been popular for a long time as long as the pet trade is concerned. Q: How Often Should I Feed My Red-Eared Slider. 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