What Do Turtles Eat?

The turtle diet depends on the species of turtle. There are approximately 300 different species of turtles alive in the world today. Many of those species are on the endangered species list. Some of these many turtles spend all their time on the land and others spend most of their lives in the ocean. Turtle jaws and beaks are designed to be useful for their specific type of diet. Some are omnivorous, some herbivorous and others are carnivorous.

Of the 300 different species of turtles, there are many different diets and food consumption usually will depend on what types of food are available in a given turtle's habitat.

In general, though, turtles are omnivores. This means that they will eat all types of food. Vegetation, meat, fruits and vegetables are all good choices for pet turtles.

Sea Turtles

Some species of sea turtles change their eating habits with age. The green sea turtle hatches as a carnivore and by the time it reaches adulthood, it has changed to a herbivorous diet.

Sea turtles encompass a variety of species including loggerheads, green sea turtles, hawksbill, flatbacks and leatherbacks to name but a few. Each of the particular species has a different diet. There may be similarities, but all of the differences exist most likely due to the differences in local habitats.

• The green sea turtle, for example, has jaws that are finely serrated and adapted for the consumption of vegetation such as sea grasses and algae.
• Hawksbill turtles have heads that are rather narrow and that meet at a sharp angle. Their heads and jaws are specially adapted for eating food from within the crevices of a reef. The particular items on their diet include sponges, trunicates, shrimp and squid.
• Loggerhead turtles have a jaw adapted for crushing and grinding. They feed primarily on crustaceans including crabs, mollusks and shrimp. They also supplement that diet with sea vegetation and jellyfish.
• Leatherback turtles have jaws like scissors that do not have the strength of some of the other turtles. Any hard substance can damage them. Their diet is mainly jellyfish and soft bodied animals.
• Flatback sea turtles are still being studied but all indication suggest that their diet consists of seaweed, sea cucumbers and cuttlefish. They are very opportunistic eaters.
• All sea turtles have been found to maintain health by eating a carnivorous diet in zoos and aquariums.

Diet of Pet Turtles

As for pet turtles, you need to know what do turtles eat in order to be a good pet owner. For pet turtles, a diet of flowers, bits of fruits and vegetables and fresh grasses will work quite well. 

Most pet turtles will also need a source of protein for their diet. Many protein sources come from small insects and can be supplemented by things including mealworms, earthworms, bits of egg and cooked poultry. These will keep your turtle healthy and thriving.

If possible, the absolute healthiest diet for your turtle is his own natural diet. Many pet owners can’t recreate that for turtles in their new habitat but that is the target you are aiming for when you are creating their new home. With turtles that live in ponds and small lakes, for example, it is advisable to stock their swimming water with small fish from the pet store. Cheap and inexpensive fish will give the turtle exercise as he chases them and tries to catch them for dinner.

You will need to provide a source of clean water for them, as they will foul their swimming water with their feces. They will also need to have their cages or aquariums cleaned on a regular basis.

Beware of pet turtles, as their nails are sharp and their jaws are strong. They can cause injury if not handled with care.

You can have a lot of fun with a pet turtle as you watch them interact with their habitat. Put some activities in their habitat that will allow them to feel at home and follow their instincts.