Serving Food

Providing a balanced meal that fits the nutritional demands and promotes the health and well-being of Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) is an important part of feeding them. The proper way to feed Blanding's turtles is as follows:

Diversity in Food: As omnivores, Blanding's turtles eat both plants and animals. Turtles need a diversified diet, although commercial turtle pellets should be a mainstay. Essential vitamins and minerals are included in these pellets. Vegetables including carrots, squash, and leafy greens (such as kale and collard greens) should be a part of their daily diet. You may moderately serve fruits (e.g., berries) as occasional rewards.

Animal-Based Proteins: Offer mealworms, crickets, and other live or frozen-thawed insects, tiny fish like minnows and feeder fish, and unseasoned lean meats like cooked chicken or turkey as sources of protein. Incorporating these protein sources into the turtle's diet helps fulfill its development and maintenance needs. Two or three times each week, depending on the turtle's age and size, give it food that is high in protein.

Two or three times weekly, feed adult Blanding's turtles. To keep up with their fast development and growth, juvenile turtles may need to be fed more often, as often as once a day or even more frequently.

To avoid health problems associated with overfeeding or obesity, keep an eye on their hunger levels and make adjustments to their feeding schedule as necessary.

To feed a turtle, either put food in its designated feeding spot or use feeding tongs to deliver it. Substrate or tank detritus may be more easily avoided in this way. Keep an eye on the turtle as it eats to make sure it finishes its meal in an acceptable amount of time. To keep the water and habitat clean, remove any food that has not been consumed after feeding.

Vitamin and Calcium Supplements: To avoid calcium shortages and encourage proper shell growth, sprinkle vitamin D3-containing calcium powder on food items once or twice weekly. To make sure your turtle gets all the nutrients it needs, even while it's in confinement, give it a reptile multivitamin once a week.

Keep a close eye on the turtle's eating habits, hunger levels, and general well-being. A trip to the doctor may be in order if you notice any changes in your pet's eating, weight, energy levels, or demeanor. Write down what you give your turtle, how much of it, and how it reacts to each meal in a feeding log.

Make sure the turtle can drink and soak in clean, fresh water. On the ground level of the cage, place a small dish of water so the animals may easily drink from it. Soaking in water helps with digestion and keeps you hydrated.