what vegetables can turtles eat
[29], In short, yes. https://www.petsgal.com/can-turtles-eat-shrimp/%23:~:text%3DTurtles%2520can%2520eat%2520shrimp%2520in,available%2520to%2520feed%2520your%2520turtle. Phosphorus is what gives turtle shells a little flexibility, which is great because this little extra flexibility makes them more resistant to bites and other types of impact. Yes, turtles can and should eat fruits. Fruits can include apples, cantaloupe, bananas, berries, and mangoes. Once it reaches adulthood (around 7 years old), you can feed it every other dayor about 4 to 5 times a week. Jellyfishes are probably the main source of meat ( some species Otherwise, youre good to go. To feed turtles in the water, you can use floating food sticks like, This aquatic buffet contains some soybean, poultry meal, fish meal, gluten, and corn. A lot of fish food is made out of only vegetation, so if your turtle is omnivorous or herbivorous it can eat the fish food without any worry. Overfeeding. Therefore, whether youve Box, Red-Eared, Painted, Neck, Musk, Snapping, Aquatic, or any other turtle species, you can try our given vegetable list from the above. Different species of turtles have varying dietary requirements. What vegetables can/do Turtles eat: Kale. This is a question that many people may wonder, particularly if they live in an area where winter temperatures can drop well below freezing. Toss some multivitamin powder in there as well but only once a week. Either way, provide safe basking spots, the right food for your turtle breed, a filter if you have an aquarium, and adequate swimming space. Try carnations, dandelions, geraniums, hibiscus, roses, or nasturtiums. This is because the rotting leftovers could turn the water toxic for your turtle. We really appreciate the kindness and support that you show us! Also, carrots, broccoli, and a few leafy greens should be offered cautiously. But if possible such a vegetable should be avoided. WebShredded carrots, squash, and zucchini are great foods that turtles can eat, too. And the toxic vegetables mentioned in the previous topic are the same for every species. Your email address will not be published. They can also be offered various veggies, though protein sources should make up the bulk of their diet. Most omnivorous species usually prefer meat over vegetation, most of them are actually omnivorous because they cant obtain enough meat so they resort to eating vegetation to survive. [22], Fresh, chopped apple pieces and freeze-dried shrimp can be offered as treats from time to time, but should not make up more than 10 percent of your turtles diet. So what your turtles eat may depend on where they live and why you keep them. And here is a link to the dried crickets that I use to feed my turtles. If you are considering keeping ducks and turtles together, you may be wondering if this is a We are a passionate group of writers and researchers who write about pet turtles and tortoises. [24], Turtles can eat shrimp in a few different ways. 3.2:1. The preferences in food of a turtle greatly differ from species to species and the habitat that they live in. The amount of food to give your pet turtle depends on its species. The first possibility is that your turtle is too young. As you may know, turtles are omnivorous species that eat and need both vegetables/plant matter and meat-based foods. The only downside that I have found with these crickets is the fact that the water will get dirty really fast. [11], Always feed your turtle in water, limit the pellets to make up about 25% of the diet, and then make up the rest of the diet with the following items: Prey Items: Earthworms, crickets, waxworms, silkworms, aquatic snails, bloodworms, daphnia, shrimp, krill, and mealworms. Commercially available reptile pellets provide an excellent protein source. Now lets move to the other types of vegetables that arent good for box turtles, those with a high amount of phosphorus. Calcium is essential for every animal in this world that has bones. Therefore, they may grow weak and vulnerable to different diseases. Bananas are fruit and turtles can in general eat fruits, so you can feed a turtle a banana occasionally, but you shouldnt make it one of its main food sources. Alternatively, you can remove the turtle from the tank and serve the food in a different dry location. Meanwhile, many land turtles eat mostly herbivorous diets. In Asia, turtle farms supply these reptiles for food and medicine. A typical adult pet turtle diet should include animal products, vegetables, and fruits. As a general rule, especially for pellets and other non-living foods, only let your turtle eat as much as they can within about 20 minutes and then remove any leftovers. Aquaristland.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Turtles will eat bread but its not actually good for them. On this site you will find articles that cover every basic thing that a turtle owner needs to know, as well as all the advanced stuff. [27], In the wild, turtles eat a variety of things including worms, small insects, snails, and fish. [2], Tortoises can absolutely eat bean sprouts! Some of the most common vegetables that can be fed to yellow bellies include: kale, collard greens, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, bell peppers, and green beans. If theyre happily munching, then youre good to continue within the regular diet. These can include: grated raw carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, corn on the Some of those vegetables are iceberg salad, cucumbers, eggplants, and some mushrooms. When Did The Chinese Alligator Become Endangered? Turtles are fascinating Do Ducks Eat Turtles? A study showed that young slider turtles were carnivorous or insectivorous while the adults in the same lake were herbivorous, this is mostly because slider turtles prefer animal meat and insects over vegetation but because they were unable to find any insects, fish, or meat they resorted to eating vegetation. In the US, turtles are mostly kept as pets. When it comes to what I feed my turtles I usually like to mix things up once in a while when it comes to pellets so I usually give them Zoo Med Natural Aquatic Turtle Food and Mazuri Aquatic Turtle Diet. Generally, pet turtles are omnivores, meaning that they eat both meat and plants. At the same time, some foods are toxic to turtles. You may think its a treat, but you could hurt the reptiles health. Other Vegetables: Carrots (both the orange vegetable and the green top), squash, and green beans. Turtles can eat lettuce and they should occasionally do so, turtles are able to enjoy the full benefits of the nutrients of the lettuce thus making lettuce a great food for turtles. Do turtles eat bread? Can turtles eat grapes ? Keep fruits and flowers in low rotation. Without an appropriate feeding plan, your turtle could get sick or die, so its important to understand what to feed them, how often, and what to do if they dont eat. Some of the vitamins and nutrients from vegetables help people remain healthy to have little to no beneficial effect on turtles. Some of those vegetables are iceberg salad, cucumbers, eggplants, and some mushrooms. Turtles like tortoises are cold-blooded reptiles. My turtle showed no preference between the meat and insects, the pellets seemed to be the most popular second choice and at the end were the fruits and vegetables in no particular order. The only exception to this is the food that they are not able to take a bite out of, even if they have strong bites they are not able to compete with the size of a dogs mouth. Spinach inhibits calcium absorption which is very important for turtles, especially when they are young. Tortoises can eat about 5% of their body weight in a meal, depending on size. Some of the best vegetables to include are kale, parsley, green beans, and spinach. And when Im cooking something with vegetables is usually cut a couple of smaller pieces and feed them to my turtle, just to mix things up a little. To create a healthy diet, you need to combine all types of foods on the menu. There are multiple reasons why gold fishes are not good for turtles, one of them is the fact that they contain too much fat which can be bad for turtles, and they also contain thiaminase, which is known to cause neurological problems. I've became a member of the turtle owner team hoping that my 26 years of experience with turtles will be of some help to turtle owners all around the world. Animal-based food sources for turtles can include processed pet foods like drained sardines, turtle pellets, and trout chow. Every little bit can help us tremendously in continuing to create quality content that helps turtle and tortoise owners around the world. Be careful not to overfeed your turtle, this can lead to many health problems including pyramiding which can be a very serious and irremediable health problem. What Pet Box Turtles Eat in CaptivityShredded carrots.Shredded squash.Green beans.Softened dog kibble.Berries.Melon (with the But your turtles arent eating the soil itself. Check the nutrient ratio. Yes, turtles can eat broccoli leaves. You might struggle telling the difference between a turtle and a tortoise. This avoids feeding your turtles food thats laced with chemicals (herbicides, pesticides, etc. Avoid vegetables with low nutritional value like lettuce and celery. Does this mean that you can give your turtle cat food instead of its normal food? Despite what other sites say, they are not built to eat kale, romaine lettuce, green beans, and other hard and tasteless grocery-store vegetables. Water bowls should be washed and filled with clean water every day. Providing a range of vegetables not only ensures that they receive a balanced diet, but also makes feeding time more interesting and enjoyable for them. Most vegetables have a calcium to phosphorus ratio, this ratio can be 1:1, 2:1, 5:1, 1:2, etc. What vegetables can box turtles eat? A dangerous amount for humans starts from 15 grams, but for turtles, the amount is a lot smaller. WebWhat can turtles eat as a snack? [30], [1]https://pets.webmd.com/what-do-pet-turtles-eat[2]https://www.boxturtles.com/what-do-box-turtles-eat/[3]https://petspre.com/can-tortoises-eat-bean-sprouts-answered%25EF%25BF%25BC/[4]https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/%3Fplant%3D812%26c%3D8[5]https://www.safarivet.com/care-topics/reptiles-and-amphibians/turtle-and-tortoise/nutrition/[6]https://www.tortoise.com/blog/just-get-a-sulcata-tortoise-heres-how-to-care-for_it[7]https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/plant-database/viewplants/%3Fplant%3D494%26c%3D8[8]https://turtleowner.com/what-vegetables-can-red-eared-sliders-eat/[9]https://www.turtleholic.com/how-often-feed-red-eared-slider/[10]https://www.livescience.com/45539-what-do-turtles-eat.html[11]https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-should-i-feed-my-red-eared-slider-1238363[12]https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-do-red-eared-sliders-eat-1238367[13]https://petkeen.com/how-long-can-turtles-go-without-eating/[14]https://www.turtleholic.com/how-long-can-turtles-live-without-food/[15]https://small-pets.lovetoknow.com/reptiles-amphibians/reasons-why-my-turtle-isnt-eating[16]https://www.petmd.com/reptile/nutrition/what-do-turtles-eat[17]https://www.petsgal.com/how-long-red-eared-sliders-go-without-food/[18]https://urbanfishkeeping.com/can-turtles-eat-potatoes/[19]https://petkeen.com/can-turtles-eat-potatoes/%23:~:text%3DPotatoes%2520arent%2520the%2520healthiest,only%2520recommend%2520feeding%2520them%2520occasionally.[20]https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/plants-toxic-to-turtles.htm[21]https://cedarcrestvets.com/guide/turtles-diet/%23:~:text%3DThe%2520better%2520vegetables%2520for%2520their,berries%2520can%2520be%2520added%2520periodically.[22]https://www.medvetforpets.com/sulcata-tortoise-background-care-recommendations/%23:~:text%3DGreens%2520and%2520vegetables%253A%26text%3DVegetables%2520should%2520be%2520about%252010,%252C%2520escarole%252C%2520romaine%252C%2520kale.[23]https://www.thesprucepets.com/painted-turtles-1238355[24]https://www.hartz.com/the-benefits-of-treats-for-your-turtle/%23:~:text%3DShrimp%2520are%2520a%2520common%2520food,Fruits%2520and%2520Vegetables.[25]https://www.petsgal.com/can-turtles-eat-shrimp/%23:~:text%3DTurtles%2520can%2520eat%2520shrimp%2520in,available%2520to%2520feed%2520your%2520turtle.[26]https://reptilesmagazine.com/painted-turtle-care-sheet/%23:~:text%3DPainted%2520Turtle%2520Food,lettuce%252C%2520water%2520hyacinth%2520and%2520duckweed.[27]https://sealifeplanet.com/can-i-put-shrimp-in-my-turtle-tank/%23:~:text%3DEven%2520the%2520most%2520well%252Dfed,regularly%252C%2520then%2520go%2520for%2520it. Can turtles eat ants? They opt for slower birds though. TurtleOwner.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Double-check which breed you have though since some are vegan while others are carnivorous. Mustard Greens. This depends on the habitat they are in and their species, remember that not all turtles are the same. Another difference is that they can take bigger bites so this will allow them to eat smaller animals and insects in one bite, while medium-sized and smaller-sized turtles will have to take more bites to finish their meal. Other than that preferences in food depends on each turtle, just like us each turtle has its own likes and dislikes when it comes to food. These can include: grated raw carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, corn on the cob; greens such as collards, dandelions, escarole, romaine, kale. Younger turtles between about 7 to 10 years old usually need a larger share of animal-sourced foods. Therefore, try to avoid these as much as possible. This means that if a turtle species is carnivorous, they will be carnivorous when they are babies and when they are adults. So, try different vegetables every now and then with a small amount. However, the cooked ones arent likely to interest this reptile species. The second possibility is that you got your turtle used to eat only meat, pellets, and similar things, and now it doesnt want to eat anything else. Its not uncommon for baby and juvenile box turtles to not eat vegetables. When they are at those life stages they are growing a lot faster than adult box turtles, and to grow this fast they need a lot of protein that they get from meat. So eating vegetables or anything else wont do them any good. Can turtles eat cat food? Like us, turtles need different food nutrition too. However, the other vegetables are fine too. Keep a pack of turtle pellets in your pet pantry for quick feeding. Other turtles have softer lips so they swallow their food whole. Up NextMore Crocs! Some turtles are vegetarian but not all of them. An example of a vegetarian turtle is the green sea turtle that lives in the ocean and its diet is entirely made out of vegetation. Even if most species are omnivores ( they will eat both plants and meat ) a lot of them dont have too many chances to eat meat so they will eat considerably more plants. Flies can be a very good source of nutrients for turtles because they can contain traces of essential minerals and vitamins that can benefit the turtles shell and skin. These pointers will keep their flippers fabulous and full. Most wild turtles will never come into contact with a tomato, but they will most probably eat it. Be species specific. WebBingus finally ate vegetables in some form! Turtles should eat a healthy mix between fruits, vegetables, meat, and pellets. We believe thatll be enough for any kind of turtle species. Good choices include hyacinth, lettuce, hornwort, duckweed, anachris, or frogbit. For carrot and broccoli, raw contains high sugar. Keeping pets is a rewarding and fulfilling experience, but it requires careful consideration and planning. Grind this a blender and sprinkle over your turtle food. But they can. Spinach. Again the only difference is that in some cases they might not be able to catch some bigger insects and animals. When they get too cold, they have to sit on a rock and bask in the sun to raise their body temperatures. Below is a list of the healthiest vegetables for box turtles. (Can They Live Together?). Like all pets, keep your turtle bowls clean and disinfected. After that, remove the remaining foods from the tank or water. Foods with a high amount of oxalic acid. https://cedarcrestvets.com/guide/turtles-diet/%23:~:text%3DThe%2520better%2520vegetables%2520for%2520their,berries%2520can%2520be%2520added%2520periodically. Thats a live fish for your turtle to hunt. One is the leafy greens, and the other one is remaining vegetables. First, lets have a look at the leafy greens list that a turtle can eat: These are the common leafy vegetables that a turtle can eat. Vegetables are the major source of calcium for turtles. What to do if your turtle wont eat. So it would be better to just give your turtle something else instead. One of the recent Texas rescues was 150 years old. Welcome to the site and we hope you find what youre looking for. While those vegetables dont actually harm box turtles, they only manage to fill their stomachs, but dont provide too much nutritional value. Such as-. Their diet can differ a little because they are bigger and in some habitats, this can help them catch animals that are a little bigger. They can enjoy raw shrimp, cooked shrimp, and dried shrimp. But this is a general downside to dried insects, not only those dried crickets. Therefore, they need more meat-based food than vegetables. (Estimated Time & Fun Facts), What Do Lizard Droppings Look Like? However, if your turtle isnt like to eat vegetables, theres an alternative way to give them the nutrition they need. [17], Can Turtles Eat Potatoes? When people see my pet turtles one of the first things they ask me is What do turtles eat? and I usually tell them what kind of food I feed my turtle. The only reason it doesnt eat is that its used to other types of food, that is not as healthy, but a lot tastier. When they are at those life stages they are growing a lot faster than adult box turtles, and to grow this fast they need a lot of protein that they get from meat. In the wild, turtles only come up for air, sunshine, or to lay eggs so you dont need to feed them. First and foremost, the video attached is not for the faint of heart. If you enjoy the content that we create, please consider saying a "Thank You!" If it has far less calcium than phosphorous, offer it in small volumes e.g. Some fruit should be limited because their high sugar and wrong nutrient ratio can be a problem for turtles. Overfeeding your turtle can make them gain excess fat, causing them trouble when pulling their arms and legs into their shell. Most turtles will only bite off edible chunks that they can swallow in one bite and only after swallowing that piece they will bite another. (Including List)turtleowner.com what-vegetables-can-red-eared-sliders-eat[8], Avoid These Red-Eared Slider FoodsFeeder fish.Crickets.Earthworms.Crayfish.Ghost shrimp.Krill. But besides that, they will eat the same things. Do turtles freeze in the winter? Nuts also contain too much protein per gram. And you could say- turtles can eat nearly all sorts of vegetables you can offer properly. https://www.hartz.com/the-benefits-of-treats-for-your-turtle/%23:~:text%3DShrimp%2520are%2520a%2520common%2520food,Fruits%2520and%2520Vegetables. WebWhat Vegetables Are Safe For Turtles? Can turtles eat lettuce? All tortoises can retract, and some turtles can as well. [12], A young turtle (less than six months old) cant go a day without eating. Even if most species are omnivores ( they will eat both plants and meat ) a lot of them dont have too many chances to eat meat so they will eat considerably more plants. And turtles are popular enough that people volunteered and rescued them during that infamous Texas blackout. Now, if youre wondering how to feed the turtles veggies, its simple. These include melon, berries, pears, and steamed apples. You can leave the prepared vegetables in the water and remove the remaining after eating. Moreover, you can divide a week like 4 days vegetables and 3 days meat-based food. However, you need to make sure that you feed your tortoise the correct amount of bean sprouts to ensure that these benefits are not outweighed by the risks.Apr 7, 2022[3], So while they arent toxic or poisonous in any way, Bean Sprouts should definitely be avoided in the tortoise diet. How Heavy Is A Full Grown American Alligator? And what they eat depends on their variant. Hence, your offering should contain around 60% vegetables for an adult and 20-30% for a hatchling. Offer them a little for a new one, and check how the turtles are accepting it. This can be because they were really hungry and they had no other source of food available, or it might be the way their species is evolving. The first thing that you have to do is to determine the cause. I said that turtles can eat almost any kind of meat and vegetation but there are some exceptions to this. The fact that they are not Make sure your tanks temperature and water temperature, lighting, and size are ideal for your turtles species. But try not to experiment with weird foods with your turtle, even if giving them a piece of cooked chicken or beef wont hurt them, heavily processed meat might have a bad effect on them. But you also should know that there are a few vegetables that arent good for a turtles health. In general, they will eat any kind of meat as long as its safe for them. Common fruits and vegetables include dandelions, mustard greens, leafy greens, and berries. Hence the cycle continues. To understand it more precisely, lets look at the two different vegetables from our turtles vegetable list. Animal food sources. So lets take a look at what calcium does for box turtles, what phosphorus does for them, and what is good calcium to phosphorus ratio. Their taste and preference level are nearly the same. Yes, cat food is also made out of a lot of meat so turtles will be able to eat it without too much problem. Actually, in some cases, fish food contains more nutrients good for your turtle than turtle food does. In general, dark leafy vegetables are the healthiest vegetables for box turtles. 4.5:1. Turtle shells are made of keratin. Moreover, vets recommended amount of vegetables for your pet turtle is more than 50% of the total diet. In captivity, they can eat a variety of things, including fruits and vegetables, frog legs, insects, and even small mammals. Desirable vegetables to offer include dark leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, collard greens, mustard greens, carrot tops, endive, Swiss chard, kale, parsley, green beans, dandelion greens, turnip greens, and clover. Nuts also contain high doses of oxalic acid, the amount will differ from nut to nut but all of them contain doses that are too high. One of the most stereotypical vegetables that many people feed to tortoises, iceberg lettuce is fine for tortoises but has very little nutritional value. WebHere is a list of food groups that both humans and turtles can eat: Meat Fish Fruits Vegetables Eggs Insects Here is a list of foods that humans eat but turtles cant eat: At least 80% of this is leafy greens and other vegetables and the rest can be fruit, and commercial foods or protein sources to round out the diet. An example of a vegetarian turtle is the green sea turtle that lives in the ocean and its diet is entirely made out of vegetation. (Can They Live Together? Not in the same way as you and I do. Aquatic turtles only eat underwater, so youll need to place food in their water tank. Hatchling needs more than 70% protein and calcium. Collards. Plus, growing turtles need the vitamins and nutrients that can be found in feeder fish.May 28, 2015[28], When offered, some appropriate animal-based protein sources include grasshoppers, crickets, mealworms, wax worms, silkworms, moths, slugs, earthworms, and hard-boiled eggs. Boiled or steamed vegetables are also fine. Given a choice, opt for veggies rather than fruit. Flowers are Key Points. And of course, some turtles will also try to take down a duck on their own. Ciao from Italy, I am Maurizio Giordano, and I have been a proud turtle owner since I was 4 years old. Welcome to the site and we hope you find what youre looking for. Apples and bananas can be healthy Hey Google How Does The Chinese Alligator Differ From The American Alligator. Every vegetable has its own nutrition value. Most turtle species will eat almost any kind of organic matter, plant, or animal. Vegetables are a good source of fiber and vitamins for your turtle, and they can be fresh, frozen, or canned. Other than these, you can feed many more different vegetables to a turtle. So keep pasta away from your turtles. Carrot tops, cabbage, romaine lettuce, and water lettuce are all good choices. Make sure the pieces are Turtles need protein but too much of it can also be bad. A healthy diet must contain both types of foods. Turtles can eat them, but they shouldnt. Potato leaves. This is why baby slider turtles are carnivores or insectivores when they are babies and they will become omnivorous when they are older. Yes, turtles can eat grass. So, while you can put shrimp in a turtle tank, it isnt really recommended. A turtle should eat or be fed at least once a day. These turtles will thrive off of things like fish, crickets, minnows, crayfish, and cockroaches. Lambsquarters. Dandelion Greens. Bean sprouts Bean sprouts Turtles can safely eat both mung bean sprouts and soybean sprouts. Younger turtles need more meat while older ones need more vegetables. For carnivorous turtles, go for. Below that, they cant move their bodies and may drown. It can be found in a lot of foods that we eat daily, but these doses are really small. Turtles do not have teeth and they are unable to chew food in a conventional manner. If you have the time you should also do this experiment, it can be really fun to see how your turtle reacts and you will also learn more about your turtle. The shrimp wont last for long. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/turtles-box-feeding, https://turtleinformation.com/can-turtles-eat-flies/. So when we feel cold, we can use clothes, heaters (or goosebumps) to warm ourselves up. They may have parasites or bacteria. Not only will your turtle love these, but theyre also filled with important vitamins and minerals. I hope that now you know everything that you wanted to know when you asked yourself this question. Feeding greens provides your turtle with necessary calcium. To avoid overfeeding, make sure your turtle lives in a big enough space to move freely. If you are considering keeping ducks and turtles together, you may be wondering if this is a We are a passionate group of writers and researchers who write about pet turtles and tortoises. Offer them to the turtle uncooked and in small bits. A 1:1 ratio means that the amount of calcium is equal, or almost equal to the amount of phosphorus. After a couple of weeks or a month of using this method, your box turtle will start eating vegetables soon enough, and in the end, it will also start to enjoy some of them. So, itll be like 1-day vegetable, the next day other foods, after that day, itll be vegetable again. If your turtle eats bread there is no problem, but try to avoid this in the future, bread has no benefits for your turtle. We hope you will enjoy the site and that you will find what youre looking for.. You can also feed them non-toxic aquatic plants like water hyacinth, water lettuce, and duckweed. And well be going to talk about it too. These should all be washed thoroughly before feeding them to your turtle. Popular foods for pet turtles, depending on the species, include: Protein: Boiled eggs, mealworms, snails, crickets, earthworms Vegetables: Corn, beans, beets, carrots, peas, squash, yams Greens: Carrot tops, lettuce, collard greens, kale, mustard greens Fruits: Apples, grapes, strawberries, cantaloupe, banana, kiwi, mango, tomato [14], If your turtle hasnt eaten in a week or if you notice signs of illness coupled with a lack of appetite sooner than a weeks passing, its time to get your turtle to a reptile veterinarian. I also did my experiment with one of my turtles. It needs meat-based food too. All rights reserved. And If you happen to have a hatchling, only vegetables cant give them proper growth nutrition. Oxalic acid is a very toxic acid in high concentration. And some of them apply to tortoises as well. Turtles are prone to vitamin A deficiency if their diet isnt right. lettuce (romaine, red leaf, and green leaf) Aloe vera. And as a result, most of them have a calcium to phosphorus ratio. But theres much more to consider whether youre keeping turtles for science or companionship. If you want to do this experiment please share the results in the comment section.