Feeding Your Red Eared Slider Turtle
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Feeding Your Red Eared Slider The Right Way
Feeding your red eared slider turtle doesn't have to be difficult or time consuming. Although your slider has specialized diet needs, once you know what they are, feeding it is a snap!
What To Feed Your Red Eared Slider
The Four Main Food Categories
Your red eared slider needs variety in its diet in order to be healthy and live a long life. There are four food categories that you should include when feeding your slider, and these are:
- Commercial Pellets
- Live Protein
- Greens and Vegetables
- Supplements
Pellets, while convenient and fairly nutritious, should not be the only food you feed your slider, although using them as part of a balanced diet is okay. Pellets are not a complete food, and your slider can suffer deficiencies if pellets are its sole diet.
Live protein is important for the proper growth of your silder. However, baby sliders tend to eat more protein than older ones, so adjust the diet with that in mind. Some food in this category that you can feed your turtle are: aquatic snails, mealworms, locusts, earthworms, crickets, and 'feeder' fish such as minnows and danios.
An adult slider loves greens & vegetables, and should be the main part of its diet. Aquatic plants such as Anacharis, Water Lettuce, Hornwort, and Duckweed are a very good choice. Other non-aquatic plants such as Dandelion leaves, Romaine lettuce, Kale, and shredded carrot are appreciated, as well. Additionally, fruits like melon, grapes, and strawberries can be fed, but only as an occasional treat.
Calcium is very important for preventing disease and allowing proper growth in your pet, and should be given regularly. The best way is through a cuttlefish bone, available in the bird section at most pet stores. Left floating in the tank, the slider will bite chunks off occasionally. A vitamin/mineral powder supplement can also be added to the slider's food.
What Not To Feed Your Red Eared Slider
Some Foods Can Do More Harm Than Good
There are some foods that generally should not be fed to your slider. Some are:- Dog And Cat Food
- Freeze Dried Food
- Cooked Meat
- Certain Vegetables
Some owners feed dog & cat food to their slider as part of the protein requirement; however, it's not the best idea, as the food is generally full of filler, is not part of a slider's natural diet, and can be quite messy to feed.
Freeze dried food, such as brine shrimp, may seem convenient, but it's best to avoid these, too, as it's usually just the 'husk' of the animal and is not very nutritious.
Try to avoid feeding meat such as chicken and beef. Chicken contains too much pure protein, and beef can be too fatty. Also, avoid tinned meats such as Spam and corned beef, as again, these contain too much fat.
Not all vegetables are good for your turtle to eat. Avoid feeding spinach and broccoli as they contain too much oxalic acid which can block the absorption of calcium. Also, do not feed iceberg lettuce as it has no nutritional value at all.
How To Feed Your Red Eared Slider
Helping Your Slider Eat
Interestingly, a slider requires water in its mouth to swallow, so it should be fed in the water. Another option when feeding your slider is to feed it in a separate, water-filled container. This helps in reducing waste and mess. However, it can be stressful to the turtle, so it's best to use this method when feeding messy foods.
How Much To Feed Your Red Eared Slider
How Much Is Too Much
A red eared slider should not be overfed. Generally, the amount fed should be equal to the size of the turtle's head. Also, as the slider grows older and larger, it should be fed less often. Feeding a baby slider daily is okay, but an adult should be fed once every 2-3 days. Great Video Of A Red Eared Slider Eating
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Turtle Guide Book
Find Out Everything You Need To Know About Red Eared Sliders
If you want to discover more about feeding your red eared slider, or about housing your turtle, caring for your pet should it ever get sick, and more, take a look at this Turtle Guide Book. It's a thorough guide that should answer all your questions on feeding your red eared slider. More Indepth Red Eared Slider Care
Caring For Red Eared Sliders
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Red eared sliders make wonderful pets. Taking proper care of them is rewarding for both you and your turtle.
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