When feeding box turtles that are kept as pets, 50% of their diet should be composed of animal or high-protein foods. Box turtles are fond of crickets, slugs, snails, earthworms, grasshoppers, pinkies, and chopped mice with the skin still intact. Other viable protein sources include chows that are vitamin-fortified, however you should limit these type of food to less than 5% of the box turtle’s total diet because of the high amounts of vitamin, protein, and fats they contain. Dry kibble should be soaked in water for about 30 minutes so they will be softened when offered to your pet. Don’t offer cat food because the high amounts of fat and protein that these products contain are too much for reptiles.

There is no need to add multivitamins to food that are already fortified with vitamins. Feeding various types of animal and high-protein foods will help ensure that your pet’s dietary needs for protein and its components will be adequately met. 

Since insects are deficient of calcium, they should be fed with enriched diets and dusted with powdered calcium carbonate, citrate, lactate, or gluconate before they are offered to your turtle.  

Know more about your pet’s dietary needs by consulting with your Arlington, TX vet clinic. Check out more pet care tips here.