I like to think how they would eat in nature. Of course they will love to eat insects or a dying baby bird, or a nest of baby mice, but those things don't come along every day. As hatchlings and yearlings, box turtles are pretty sedentary, but as they get older they start to move around a lot and need to eat more-so they begin to eat anything that is edible-fallen fruits, forbs, carrion, mushrooms, leaves, spiders.

If you feed meats/insects as 50% of their diet-they will still be hungry and will eat the fruits and veggies as well. Those fruits and veggies have nutrients that protein does not, so it's important they eat them as well. At 3-4 years old, yours can begin to eat an adult's diet. Just feed them every other day instead of every 3rd day.

I feed my adult turtles every 3rd day. The meal contains a protein, fruit, vegetable, greens and occasional mushrooms. For example-their last meal was cooked, lean ground beef (with added calcium), mulberries (they are ripe now in the Midwest), grated and steamed sweet potatoes and romaine lettuce. Their next meal is already planned-superworms, grated fresh carrots, apples and romaine. All summer long I vary the foods. I do this so hopefully they will get all they need to remain healthy. They seem healthy. They are always heavy going into hibernation and come out every year looking great.
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Tess Cook
www.boxturtlesite.info

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