Can Turtles Eat Bloodworms? Is Bloodworms Good For Turtles?
Keeping your turtle healthy is tricky if you don’t know what to feed your pet turtle. Turtles need a balanced diet of protein and minerals to remain healthy. Bloodworm is a great supplement that contains protein, and phosphorus.
So, can turtles eat bloodworms? Yes, turtles can eat bloodworms. They keep the turtle healthy and robust. Bloodworms provide enough nutritional value making them an ideal source of nutrition for turtles.
However, before feeding your turtles, it is crucial to know the health benefit and other implications of bloodworms. So continue reading to find out more.
Can You Feed Bloodworms To Your Pet Turtles?
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Many pet turtle owners opt for traditional food. However, this food may not meet the nutritional requirements of your turtle. Your turtle may eat and swim happily but remain underweight.
In addition to offering your pet the nutritional requirements it needs with their regular food, you should probably feed them bloodworms.
If you’re a turtle owner, you’ve probably seen those roundworms at your local pet store. You may think they are just for fish and other aquatic animals, but many people feed them to their turtles too.
The most common two types of bloodworms are tiny red larvae and the genus Glycera. Red worms are commonly used as pet food. These worms are safe for turtles. They look like giant pieces of spaghetti and are typically red.
You can feed bloodworms to turtles because they are highly nutritious. Bloodworms contain –
| Nutrients. | Quantity |
| Crude protein | 8.52% |
| Crude fiber | 0.2 % |
| Fat | 11.40% |
| Omega 3 fatty acids | 8.13% |
| Energy | 1630 kJ |
| Water | 81.7% |
| Amino acid | 0.02% |
| Carbohydrates | 20% |
| Phosphorus | 5.26% |
| Vitamin | Less than 2% |
You can also feed live bloodworms to your turtles. Live worms also make excellent turtle tank cleaners. They will eat algae on your turtle’s shell and nasty leftover food particles that can build up in a tank.
Bloodworms are a great way of supplementing your turtle’s diet. Although they are safe to feed your pets, check the ingredients before you buy.
Do Turtles Like Bloodworms?
Turtles are omnivorous. They love to eat bloodworms. They are very nutritious, and they help maintain proper body weight. They are also a good source of minerals, which turtles require at least once weekly.
Health Benefits For Turtles Eating Bloodworms
Bloodworms are the perfect food for a turtle. They offer lots of health benefits that other foods might not.
- Omega 3 fatty acids help in developing brain tissue
- Good source of energy
- Reduce shedding of skin
- Aids in healing skin wounds.
- Protein helps in the development and growth
- Bloodworms boost turtle’s immune systems
- Amino acid helps in digestion and increases metabolic rate
- Fibre helps in preventing constipation
- It helps in preventing urinary tract infections.
How Much Bloodworms Should Turtles Eat?
Turtles eat about 10% to 20% of their body weight in food per day. Depending on the size and age, a turtle can eat 1 cup of bloodworm. By observing a turtle’s behavior, you can determine how many bloodworms a turtle can eat.
Box turtles usually eat more bloodworms than a snapping turtle if the same amount of food is given to both.
How Do You Prepare Bloodorms For Turtles?
Cut the bloodworms into tiny bits and let them soak in dechlorinated water for about 10 min. After that, soak the worms in mild vegetable oil, such as canola oil.
The bloodworms can be frozen in the freezer. Take out a desired number of worms and put them in an airtight container. The night before feeding, take the bloodworms from the freezer, let them thaw, and then add them to the tank. The bloodworms can be stored in a refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Can You Feed Bloodworms To Baby Turtles? If So, How?
You can feed bloodworms to baby turtles but should be careful. They’re little creatures, so they’ll have a hard time eating a large variety of foods. And they need their food minced into tiny pieces because they don’t have big mouths or teeth as we do.
However, a baby turtle’s digestive system is not strong as an adult turtle. So, excess feeding may cause diarrhea.
Video Of A Turtle Eating Bloodworms
This video shows turtle eating bloodworms –
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are many different foods that a box turtle can eat, and they include cantaloupe, apples, collard greens, cucumber, grapes (seedless), lettuce, oranges (peeled), and blackberries.
Box turtles also eat bloodworms. However, they cannot be fed to a box turtle too often because they have a lot of fat. Do not overfeed the bloodworms; give the turtle a few at each feeding.
Red-eared sliders can eat bloodworms. However, these turtles prefer to eat frozen worms. You can place the worms in a plastic bag and then in the freezer for a few hours. The frozen worms will be easier for your turtle to eat.
A painted turtle’s diet consists of various protein sources, plants, and insects. They can eat bloodworms without problems because they have the appropriate adaptations to consume and digest them properly and safely.
But, it’s better not to feed them bloodworms because they are high in protein. Painted turtles can’t digest high protein.
Conclusion
Only vegetables and fruits can’t meet the dietary needs of turtles. They need to eat high protein and fat to maintain good health. Eating bloodworms provide them with both. It’s not good to give all the bloodworms to a single turtle.
You should feed your turtles a small portion of the worms and watch how they eat. Feeding bloodworms in large quantities is terrible because it can cause much harm. Bloodworms are great food for turtles, but they should be fed in moderation.
Do you want to know if turtles eat blackberries or cilantro? Read our articles about it to learn more.
