The 5 Best Turtle Foods

The 5 Best Turtle Foods

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Turtles are not your typical pet. They don’t have a fur coat like cats and dogs, and they have very different care requirements than small furry pets. Though they can sometimes be more of a challenge to keep, turtles are unique and beautiful in many ways, which makes the effort well worth it.

To make sure your pet turtle stays healthy, however, you need to understand and provide for its needs, including its need for a healthy and balanced diet.

In this article, we’ll talk about tips for feeding pet turtles and provide some insight into choosing the right turtle food. We’ll also show you our top 5 picks for the very best turtle foods.

At a Glance: Best Turtle Foods To Buy

We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

Compare Best Turtle Foods

Overall Best 1. Tetra ReptoMin Floating Sticks Turtle & Amphibian Food View on Chewy Read Review	Budget Pick 2. Fluker's Turtle Diet Aquatic Turtle Food View on Chewy Read Review	Best For Aquatic Turtles 3. Zoo Med Natural Aquatic Maintenance Formula Turtle Food View on Chewy Read Review	Best For Box Turtles 4. Rep-Cal Maintenance Formula Box Turtle Food Fruit View on Amazon Read Review	Best Treats 5. Fluker's Aquatic Turtle Medley Treat Food View on Amazon Read Review
Type Pellet	Type Pellet	Type Pellet	Type Pellet	Type Insects
Amount 10.59 ounces	Amount 8 ounces	Amount 45 ounces	Amount 24 ounces	Amount 2.9 ounces
Key Ingredients Fish meal, shrimp meal	Key Ingredients Fish meal, poultry meal, corn	Key Ingredients Wheat, soybean, fish meal, spirulina	Key Ingredients Vegetables, insects, fruit	Key Ingredients Insects

What To Look For In Turtle Food?

Turtles are reptiles, but they are not all the same. Some turtles are aquatic while others are terrestrial – you need to know what type of turtle you have in order to determine how best to care for it. Generally speaking, pet turtles are omnivorous, but you should do your own research to make sure you provide the ideal diet for the type of turtle you have.

Here are some important things to look for in turtle food:

• High-quality natural ingredients. Look for a turtle food that contains real ingredients like fish, insects, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid anything that contains artificial additives like color and flavoring.
• Plenty of protein. Protein is the most important nutrient for pet turtles and should come from a variety of sources, including insects, fish, seafood, and leafy greens. Young turtles need higher levels of protein than older turtles.
• Rich in calcium. Adequate calcium is required for a strong, hard shell and should come from your turtle’s diet. In addition to a balanced turtle food, consider a calcium powder supplement on any insect prey items in the diet as well as UV lighting for the species that require it.
• Complete and balanced. If you’re feeding your turtle commercial pellets, make sure they are complete and balanced to meet your turtle’s needs. If you feed your turtle a mixed diet, you’ll need to provide variety to ensure balanced nutrition.

Our Top Picks For The Best Turtle Foods

Now that you have a better idea what to look for in turtle food, it’s time to start shopping! Keep reading to see our top 5 picks for the best food for turtles.

The best turtle food for one species may not be the best for another. It is your job to research the type of turtle you have in order to learn what its nutritional requirements are and how best to provide for them. Below you’ll find a collection of the 5 best turtle foods we’ve chosen in different categories.

Here are our top 5 picks for the best turtle foods:

Overall Best

1.

Tetra ReptoMin Floating Sticks Turtle & Amphibian Food

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Product Info

• Type: Pellet
• Amount: 10.59 ounces
• Key Ingredients: Fish meal, shrimp meal

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 42.5%

Crude Fat: 8.5%

Crude Fiber: 2%

Moisture: 8%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 46.2%

Fat: 9.24%

Fiber: 2.17%

Carbs: 42.39%

Pros

• Scientifically formulated for turtles
• Enriched with vitamin C and calcium
• High-quality, natural ingredients

Cons

• May make the water dirty as it breaks down
• Not ideally suited to terrestrial turtles
• Higher protein levels may be excessive for adults
• Relies on beta-carotene for vitamin A, which may not work for all species

A complete and balanced diet is the perfect recipe for health for your pet turtle. If you want your turtle to have the best of the best, we recommend Tetra ReptoMin Floating Food Sticks for Turtles.

This recipe is scientifically formulated for pet turtles to provide complete and balanced nutrition. It is made with high-quality ingredients and fortified with vitamin C, calcium, and other nutrients.

Budget Pick

2.

Fluker's Turtle Diet Aquatic Turtle Food

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Product Info

• Type: Pellet
• Amount: 8 ounces
• Key Ingredients: Fish meal, poultry meal, corn

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 40%

Crude Fat: 8.25%

Crude Fiber: 2.5%

Moisture: 5.5%

Ash: 13.5%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 42.33%

Fat: 8.73%

Fiber: 2.65%

Carbs: 32.01%

Pros

• Blend of high-quality ingredients for healthy growth
• Enriched with vitamins and minerals for balance
• Floating pellets easy for feeding

Cons

• Not designed for terrestrial turtles
• May make the water dirty as they break down

You should never shop for pet food by price alone because cheap food is rarely good. There is nothing wrong, however, with choosing a turtle food that you can consistently afford.

If you’re looking for a good option at a moderate price, try Fluker Aquatic Turtle Diet. This recipe features a rich blend of natural ingredients and is fortified for balance, plus the pellets float for easy feeding.

Best For Aquatic Turtles

3.

Zoo Med Natural Aquatic Maintenance Formula Turtle Food

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Product Info

• Type: Pellet
• Amount: 45 ounces
• Key Ingredients: Wheat, soybean, fish meal, spirulina

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 25%

Crude Fat: 5%

Crude Fiber: 8%

Moisture: 11%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 28.09%

Fat: 5.62%

Fiber: 8.99%

Carbs: 57.3%

Pros

• Maintenance formula contains 25% protein
• No artificial additives like colors/flavors
• Fortified with vitamins and minerals for balance

Cons

• May make the water cloudy as it breaks down
• Sometimes clogs the filter if big pieces don’t get eaten

Many pet turtles are aquatic, which simply means that they spend a great deal of their time in the water, though not all of it. Painted turtles are some of the most commonly kept aquatic turtles, and they generally eat high-protein foods like insects, snails, and fish.

They will eat vegetable matter as they get older and do well with a balanced commercial diet like Zoo Med Natural Aquatic Turtle Food. This recipe features 25% crude protein from a variety of high-quality, natural sources with added vitamins and minerals to ensure nutritional balance.

Best For Box Turtles

4.

Rep-Cal Maintenance Formula Box Turtle Food Fruit

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Product Info

• Type: Pellet
• Amount: 24 ounces
• Key Ingredients: Vegetables, insects, fruit

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 28%

Crude Fat: 2%

Crude Fiber: 12%

Moisture: 12%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 31.82%

Fat: 2.27%

Fiber: 13.64%

Carbs: 52.27%

Pros

• Formulated for growth
• Fortified with essential nutrients for balance

Cons

• Heavy on animal protein which can be tough on kidneys long term
• Heavy on fruits which are dense in simple sugars

One of the most commonly kept types of terrestrial turtle is the box turtle. Box turtles follow a similar diet to aquatic turtles, but they generally eat more plant matter along with their insects. Our pick for the best turtle food for box turtles is Rep-Cal Maintenance Formula Box Turtle Food.

This recipe features a wide variety of dried fruits to appeal to your box turtle’s tastes and provide for its nutritional needs.

Best Treats

5.

Fluker's Aquatic Turtle Medley Treat Food

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Product Info

• Type: Insects
• Amount: 2.9 ounces
• Key Ingredients: Insects

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein: 58%

Crude Fat: 12%

Crude Fiber: 7%

Moisture: 8.75%

Ash: 10%

Dry Matter Basis

Protein: 63.56%

Fat: 13.15%

Fiber: 7.67%

Carbs: 4.66%

Pros

• Contains a blend of different insects
• Freeze-dried to preserve nutrition

Cons

• Some turtles won’t eat dried insects
• Not complete and balanced for a staple diet
• No vitamin supplementation, good as a treat

To keep your pet turtle healthy and happy, you need to provide it with a complete and balanced diet. It never hurts, however, to offer the occasional treat. If you’re looking for a tasty (and healthy) treat for your pet turtles, we recommend Fluker Labs Turtle Medley Treat.

This medley features a blend of river shrimp, mealworms, and crickets that have been freeze-dried to preserve their natural nutritional content. Plus, it is enriched with essential vitamins.

Tips For Feeding And Caring For Turtles

Though each species of pet turtle is unique, there is one key thing you need to remember. Most turtles are omnivores. Many turtles primarily eat small fish, insects, and tadpoles while they are young but eventually come to eat vegetable matter and fruits.

Here are some general tips for feeding and caring for pet turtles:

• Provide a mixed diet of insects, small fish, and leafy vegetables to ensure that your turtle gets a variety of nutrients. The ratios of these items vary greatly with the type of turtle, so make sure you understand the needs of your turtle.
• Consider feeding your turtle a commercial diet as 25-50% of the total diet because it is formulated to provide the optimal blend of nutrients with balanced nutrition in each bite.
• Always feed your turtle on land when feeding insects – don’t place the insects in the water.
• Offer your turtle food based on size and the recommendations on the label daily and adjust the amount as needed depending on how quickly your turtle eats the food and how active it is.
• Dust your turtle’s insects with calcium powder for every feeding – this nutrient is important for a strong, healthy shell and strong bones. Insects have insufficient calcium on their own.
• Use commercial diets within 3 months after opening to ensure the vitamins are still good. Discard any unused food after that time.

Remember, each species of turtle is unique, so you need to do some research to determine the ideal diet for the type of turtle you have. Some turtles prefer a more carnivorous diet, while others seem to thrive best on a mixture of fruits and vegetables.

Final Remarks

The best turtle food is the one that provides for your turtle’s individual needs. Not all pet turtles and tortoises follow the same diet, so take the time to learn everything you can about your pet turtle and then choose the right turtle food to provide for its unique needs.

If you’re still not sure where to start in looking for turtle food, try out one of the top 5 best turtle foods we’ve reviewed above. Good luck!