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What Do Land Turtles Eat?

Writer Sarah Silva

Find Out What Land Turtles Eat

Land turtles, often known as tortoises, are shelled reptiles that live on land rather than in the water. They are distinguished by a domed shell hinged at the bottom, enabling the animal to lower its head and legs and securely seal its shell to protect itself from predators. The majority of turtles are omnivores, consuming both animals and vegetation. Land turtles are primarily herbivores. However, some species might consume insects and worms. They mainly eat vegetation such as leafy greens, grass, weeds, flowers, and fruit.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around
An adult pet turtle’s diet consists of animal items, vegetables, and fruits. Younger turtles between the ages of 7 and 10 require a more significant proportion of animal-sourced meals. The percentage of animal and vegetable meals required by your pet turtle varies on its species.

Plants and Vegetables

The majority of tortoises will primarily eat grasses and weeds, however, for certain ones, this food source is only 1/3rd of what they eat. Land turtles can eat grass from your lawn and are also found eating natural grass they find in the field. 

Plant-based foods primarily consist of leafy greens such as collards, dandelions, and mustard greens. They also like non-toxic aquatic plants such as water hyacinth, water lettuce, and duckweed. Land turtles eat plants, carrots, cucumber, grass, apples, blueberries, melons, oranges, cantaloupe, bananas, berries, and mangoes in fruits.

Animals and Insects

Processed pet meals like drained sardines, turtle pellets, and trout chow are examples of animal-based food sources for turtles. Land turtles can eat insects, chicken, beef, turkey, moths, crickets, snails, shrimp, small fish, krill, feeder fish, and worms are examples of live prey.

What Land Turtles Do Not Eat

They are omnivores; however, they do not consume meat or blood. Certain vegetables, such as chives, parsley, and spinach, are high in oxalates and should be avoided.