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From: wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin )
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: Re: What does a turtle eat?
Message-ID: <3053@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 19-Jun-84 14:11:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.3053
Posted: Tue Jun 19 14:11:22 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 21-Jun-84 05:43:22 EDT
References: <493@hou2h.UUCP>
Organization: Ballistics Research Lab
Lines: 36

Turtles (at least common box turtles) tend to be omnivores. My mother
feeds her turtle steak (raw, chopped fine) and various vegetables, but
she tends to such extremes. Seems to be a happy turtle (admittedly hard
to tell that...), though. Try the following, in any combination:

Earthworms (alive)
Strawberries (no cream...) and other berries
Various green vegetables (anything the turtle would be likely
   to run across in the wild or a garden - lettuce, broccoli, spinach, etc.)
Mushrooms
Chopped or ground raw beef
Tomatoes, cut into chunks
Insects, fairly large, juicy, & crunchy, like water bugs, crickets, or
   grasshoppers, but be careful not to get ones that have been 
   poisoned or sprayed
Fruit of various kinds

(Chop or cut any fruit or vegetables into pieces the turtle can chomp
onto; they get a little intimidated by a whole peach or whatever; it's
like you trying to eat a beachball, after all.)

You might try something like soft dog or cat food in small quantities,
   too, but that's a guess. Raw natural foods would be better.

Variety is important: a) gives the imprisoned turtle something to live
   for; b) more likely to supply needed vitamins, minerals, & trace
   elements; c) you can tell what it prefers by what is eaten and 
   what is left, so you can find out what to emphasize in the future.

Good luck!

Will 

PS - I've had several turtles, but have released back into the wild
all of them, except the one my mother kept when I moved away from
home 15-plus years ago, and who is still going strong. WM