Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

A question for those of you that have Three Toeds; do any of you have a problem getting them to eat something other than live food? I have tried a number of different "menu's" and some work for a while and then they won't eat. I have also been using Zoo Meds canned box turtle food and that has worked well until the last week of so. Now they are not as interested. Any idea's would be great. Thanks, Bosco

I seem to have this problem too, all my guys seem to only like snails and worms, I have had success with berries as of late especially strawberries.

-Tony C

Hello Tony,
Berries work for me as well...although the are soooo expensive here in Colorado!!!! I have not found a lot of the Greens that they will eat though!

I have a three toed hatchling and he (she) doesn't eat anything but red wigglers or wax worms. My Ornate, besides eating worms, and other live things loves strawberries and figs now. She used to eat only cantaloupe but now has moved on to other fruits.

In my experience, three-toeds have accepted more food items than other sub-species. My three-toeds eat nearly everything that I offer them, and I even catch them grazing on grass and weeds in their enclosure. My Floridas, on the other hand, eat live foods and only a few types of fruits and vegetables. I used to have a group of easterns, and their food acceptance was somewhere in between my three-toeds and Floridas.

I second that emotion...
My Three-toes are my "trash cans". If nobody else eats it, I know that they will. Mine even love collards and kale.

Same.. Worms, grubs, and snails... That's it. She will smell other things then not touch them. I gave her a small piece of pepperjack cheese once and she ate it until she ran into a pepper... I figure cheese probably isn't that great for them, but it does have calcium...

mine of course would like to eat nothing but nightcrawlers, but do love sweet corn, tomatoes, and will occationally eat strawberries and squash, but I have to dust the tomatoes and corn to improve the Ca/P, they won't touch any other veggies or greens or fruit, this year I have tried several various turtle foods ( box turtle foods, Maz tort, and aquatic turt) to try to add more balance, and the only one they like, which they both ate imediately and have continued to eat it regularly is the Wardley Aquatic turtle food that you can buy at Wal-Mart, it has corn in it that is probably why, but it's got Ca, and vits, and have gained weight really well since hibernation. I still mix up the variety as much as possible. I don't use crickets cause I think they are filthy and full of disease generally. That's just my oppinion, hope it gives you another option.

I am so happy to hear other 3 toed owners with the same issue!! I've had mine for about 3 weeks now and the only thing he will eat are kingworms. I have tried just about every type of vegatable and fruit you can imagine and he can't be bothered. He actually doesn't eat earthworms or crickets either....only the kingworms. I wasn't sure if I should be worried, but it sounds like this is somewhat normal for the 3-toed's....

Hello turtlegirl,

Picky picky!!! Mine will eat almost anything that moves but little else. Hard to get supplements on a worm!!

He is picky!! My mom always told me I was a picky eater and I need to eat more veggies...I guess this is my payback! Any suggestions on how to get him eating more variety? I've been hearing the mealworms are hard to digest, but I don't want him to starve!

You could try something different like minnow's crickets,grasshoppers,and crawfish. I have not tried the minnows or crawfish but hear the work??! I need to get more greens in to mine....hard to do because if they smell the food and don't like the smell the will not eat. I also heard that some good quality low fat dog food (canned) can be used. Although it make me almost vomit I may try it!!!

I have tried crickets & earmworms with no success. It is so odd....he'll gobble up those meal worms, but can't be bothered with anything else. I've been putting cod liver oil on the fruits & veggies and I think Freddie nibbled on the Kiwi a bit yesterday, but that is about it. I've been thinking about trying dog food, but I've been reading mixed feelings about that. HOw often do you feed dog food?

I have not tried the dog food...still debating that one!!! I hate to see them not eat but I guess if they are hungry enough they will!! I have an Ornate who will eat ANYTHING I give her...what a pig!!!
Still ned to figure out how to get the green's in the diet...who would have figured a turtle would be so picky!!??

It's funny you say that "if he get's hungry enough, he'll eat" I thought the same thing when Freddie wasn't eating anything, but then I read in a book that they would rather starve to death than eat if they don't want the food or like their surroundings! I got really scared after I read that....but luckily he started eating the mealworms. If you figure out a trick for the veggies, PLEASE let me know!

Have you tried superworms? They look close enough to meal worms that the turtle may be interested. They're a bit more nutritious and easier for herps to digest as well.

I've had luck with using colorful veggies mixed in with greens, and chopping the greens up very fine. Winter squashes are always a favorite, especially butternut. But then again, I have ornates that will gobble up anything too.