Can Turtles Eat Strawberries? – Solved!
Turtles are wonderful pets that are fun to experience and learn about. Most of them are omnivores, which means they eat plant and animal matter.
Can turtles eat strawberries? Yes. Strawberries are rich in vitamin A and C, calcium, folic acid, and fiber; therefore, they are very beneficial in a turtle’s diet. However, they should only be served in small amounts due to the high sugar content, which may harm a turtle’s health.
The ideal nutrition for your turtle is mainly influenced by its species and age. Strawberries should be offered only as a treat in addition to the regular diet of your pet turtle.
Can You Feed Strawberries To Your Pet Turtles?
Contents
Yes, you can feed strawberries to your pet turtles. However, there are a few things one needs to consider, for example, the turtle’s age, species, and habitat.
A pet turtle’s diet is mainly composed of animal food sources, plants, commercial feeds, and vitamin supplements.
Strawberries are a good source of vitamins such as A, C, and calcium and should account for no more than 10% of the total diet. Why? Because strawberries have a high sugar content which might cause harm to the turtle.
Strawberries have no significant health risks. It all relies on how the owner feeds the pet turtles. Turtles will tend to choose sweet strawberries over their natural diet; therefore, it is advisable to provide them occasionally and when combined with watermelons, among other fruits.
Strawberry overfeeding diminishes certain minerals and vitamin levels, affecting the turtle’s immunity; because of an imbalanced diet.
Despite this, strawberries provide the turtles with vitamin A, which is essential for turtle health. They are particularly vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency.
When feeding the turtles strawberries, ensure the top leaves are young rather than old. This is because of the high levels of cyanide gas in old leaves, which is harmful to a turtle’s body.
Do Turtles Like Strawberries?
Turtles, like humans, have a “sweet tooth,” and strawberries are a favorite of theirs. However, turtle owners should not rely on strawberries as the main component of their turtle’s diet.
It is entirely the pet owner’s responsibility to keep the diet balanced and to ensure that turtles do not overeat this fruit.
Health Benefits For Turtles Eating Strawberries
Rich in Vitamin A
Strawberries have a very high nutritional level of vitamin A. The vitamin helps grow and develop the turtle’s skin and shell. It prevents the turtles from getting mouth and limb infections.
Rich in Vitamin C
Vitamin C boosts the turtle’s immune system. It acts as an exfoliator where it removes toxins from the turtle’s body and regulates its growth size.
Calcium
Calcium helps develop turtles’ bones, especially at a young age. Calcium strengthens the bones and prevents immune diseases.
Source of hydration
Strawberries have a high water content, which keeps turtles hydrated, especially desert ones.
Appetite stimulant
For turtles suffering from appetite loss, strawberries act as an appetite booster.
How Much Strawberries Should Turtles Eat?
A few strawberries (1 or 2) are sufficient for turtles. The turtles are to be fed strawberries once per day on alternating days per week. Turtles should consume only 100g of strawberries per month.
How Do You Prepare Strawberries For Turtles?
Most strawberries have high levels of pesticides because they are prone to be attacked by pests and worms, so farmers use pesticides to repel them. In addition, most strawberries in local stores contain preservatives.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare strawberries for turtles.
- Put the strawberries in a water and baking powder solution to get rid of pesticides and preservatives.
- Allow the strawberries to soak in the solution for at least 15 – 20 minutes.
- Take them out of the solution and rinse them thoroughly to ensure no pesticides are left in the small divots of the strawberries.
- If the strawberries are enormous, chop them into small pieces so your turtle can easily eat them.
- Serve them either by hand or use a separate bowl other than your pet’s main water container.
- Ensure you throw away the leftover fruit to prevent contamination.
Can You Feed Strawberries To Baby Turtles? If So, How?
Yes, you can. Baby turtles enjoy strawberries; however, they should not be part of the main diet. The turtles should only eat one strawberry every two days, which can be offered in a mixture of other fruits.
The pet owner should thoroughly clean the strawberries before serving them to the baby turtles. The fruit should be cut into small pieces making it easy for the baby turtles to swallow.
Video Of A Turtle Eating Strawberries
Here is an example of an adult turtle eating a strawberry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Box turtles are omnivores found mainly on land or near sources of water. They can eat strawberries only occasionally, but the fruit should not be part of their regular diet.
Their regular diet should comprise insects such as crickets, vegetables, succulents such as cacti, and supplementary vitamins from fruits. If the owner decides to feed them strawberries, they should not exceed 10 percent of this regular diet.
The Red-Eared slider turtles can eat strawberries. However, the strawberries should be thoroughly washed to eliminate pesticides, which can be hazardous for this turtle species.
For young turtle sliders, cut the strawberries into small pieces so they can quickly eat the fruit. The red-eared slider turtles benefit from the strawberries in terms of vitamins which help in the proper growth and development of the turtle’s shells and provide immunity against many immune diseases.
They are also called aquatic turtles, and yes, they can eat strawberries. They are omnivorous but feed on small fish, aquatic plants, and fruits. However, strawberries can only be given in moderation.
The 10 percent rule still applies to painted turtles. If more is given, it could lead to digestive problems and nutrition deficiencies.
Outro
Strawberries are a good source of vitamins and minerals essential for your turtle. The vitamins boost the turtle’s health and prevent vitamin deficiencies. However, only offer them in small quantities to avoid cases of obesity, liver and kidney diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases due to the high sugar content in the strawberries.
Ensure you thoroughly wash the strawberries to get rid of pesticides that can cause harm to the turtles’ bodies. When feeding the strawberries, offer them amidst other fruits or leafy greens. Best of times while feeding strawberries to your turtles.
Do you want to know if turtles eat cilantro or apples? Read our articles about it to learn more.
