Turtle Eating by Ocean Frontiers, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Published on Feb 26, 2014 (18)
A Hawksbill Sea Turtle eating a snack on a dive site in the East End of Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. Diving with Ocean Frontiers Dive Shop.
Facts on Turtles Feeding/Eating taken from www.What-do-turtles-eat.info
What do turtles eat in the wild
What turtles in the wild eat depends greatly on the type of turtle and its natural habitat. Wild turtles typically eat a lot of plants that grow in the water, small insects, snails, worms, and even dead marine animals and fish. Protein is very important for wild turtle's to grow. This is why many wild turtles are carnivorous when they are young and then gradually start eating plants and vegetation as they age.
What do feed a turtle
Before feeding a turtle, you must first determine the type and age of the turtle. The natural habitat of the turtle will tell you what type of food to feed it and what kind of conditions in which it will thrive. What do turtles eat? Most turtles are carnivores, or meat eaters, while young and eventually grow to become omnivores, or meat and plant eaters.
The ideal diet for most adult turtles are protein, including cooked meat, insects, and cooked eggs, and leafy vegetables. Many turtles also like fruit and even flowers. Never feed a turtle dairy products, as their stomach cannot properly digest lactose. Also steer clear of giving turtles processed foods. Whole, dairy free foods are best. If you know for certain the specific type of turtle, feeding it becomes much easier.
What do sea turtles eat
Sea turtles, for instance, have several different subspecies. Many types of sea turtles feed on sponges, jellyfish, and other soft sealife. However, some turtles that have stronger jaws feed on shellfish. Not all sea turtles eat meat though. The green sea turtle is an herbivore, which eats no meat at all. They feed on algae, and are an important part of coral reef maintenance
What do painted turtles eat
Painted turtles, a fresh water turtle found all across North America, eats all types of leafy vegetation, bugs, such as worms and crickets, small fresh water shellfish, and other fish. Since turtles can be messy eaters, a separate tank for feeding is a good idea to ensure their water stays uncontaminated. Don't forget that a turtle needs a lot of calcium in their diet to maintain a healthy shell. Since turtles cannot have dairy, a vitamin supplement is a good way to ensure the turtle gets the calcium it needs.
What do Snapping Turtles eat
Snapping turtles are a turtle that prefers a mostly live food diet. Small fish like minnows and gold fish are a favorite with snapping turtles. You can find these at your local pet store. They also like crayfish and crickets, which can be found at bait shops and pet stores. If fresh fish isn't an option, there are many types of small, whole frozen fish at grocery stores. Most non-fatty meats are perfectly appropriate for a snapping turtle. A snapping turtle also needs some vegetables and fruits. Turtle food can also be purchased at the pet store to supplement some of the vitamins that they are missing from their captive diet.
