Most people know what turtles are. Small shelled reptiles that often live in lakes, streams, and moist vegetation. When asked what turtles eat and drink, these same people have much less knowledge.
Turtles are a kind of exotic pet. They are not as well known as dogs, cats, and other more common household pets. Tortoises eat different types of food than mainstream pets, but they do require a balanced diet nonetheless.
They eat turtles?
In search of protein, the turtles will eat almost anything they can catch and subdue. Good examples are insects, such as worms, slugs, certain spiders, and flying insects.
Depending on the size of the tortoise, it may even seek out larger prey. Some tortoises are known to eat small mice and frogs. Turtles will eat almost anything that is edible.
Most turtles prefer to eat in the water. This is not only because they feel more at home, but the water helps their oral digestion. Turtles don’t produce saliva, so the water acts as a way to break down food so it’s easier to digest.
Aquatics are often known to hunt small fish. Minnows, crayfish, goldfish, and anything else in the “feed fish” section of the pet store make tasty, protein-packed turtle snacks.
All turtles need a lot of vegetation to obtain essential vitamins and minerals. With the exception of baby turtles, most adults have at least 60% of their diet as plant life. Adolescent tortoises are mostly carnivorous. They are believed to be accumulating protein for growth production and shell development.
Most people who keep pet turtles feed them a variety of vegetables. These include carrots, sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, kale, green beans, and most other vegetables.
Fruits like bananas, apples, berries, and peaches can be great snacks. These should only be served as treats due to the high levels of natural sugar. Stick to a diet high in vegetables.
What do turtles drink?
Turtles drink the same water in which they swim. While swimming or wading, they simply drink in one gulp. In nature, all the good bacteria in the water naturally filter out most of the toxins produced by animal waste. However, in a home tank, a turtle owner must ensure that the water is regularly cleaned.
Even if you only have one turtle in a large tank, turtles make a mess of their waste. They usually defecate while eating and eat in the water. This means that they are defecting in your water frequently.
Once feces and urine break down in water, they create ammonia, a toxic substance that can cause skin irritation, illness, and even death. If the water is not changed several times a week, this could cause your pet to drink and swim in toxic waste.
This is a very broad outline. Turtles are quite versatile animals when it comes to their diet. The simplest answer to what turtles eat and drink would be what is around them. In the wild, tortoises can turn almost anything edible into a meal. As a pet, a tortoise should be given the same varied diet that it would find in the wild.