Pet Turtle : Vegetarian Food

Turtles need veggies & fruits, but the young ones (just like kids) will be brats! And refuse to eat them, preferring non-vegetarian treats. However, tantrums aside� turtles of all ages MUST be provided vegetables & fruits as a staple food item, because they contain fiber, essential vitamins, nutrients and trace elements that your turtle requires.

Vegetables & fruits should form between 50 - 70% of mature turtles' diet.

But, don't get worried if the diet of your young turtle (due to its choice - not yours!) turns out to be 70% non-vegetarian! Just try to shift to a more vegetarian diet over the next 4-6 weeks. (Method outlined below)

While most vegetables & fruits that you consume will be fine for your turtles too, based on the vitamin (important ones are A, B types, D) and nutrient content the following are recommended:

VEGETABLES
� Spinach (hindi: palak) - not to be used as a regular green leafy vegetable
� Mustard leaves (hindi: sarson)
� Leaves of Radish (hindi: mooli), Spring Onion, Turnip
� Lettuce
� Cabbage (hindi: pata gobhi)
� Tomatoes (hindi: tamatar)
� Carrot (hindi: gajar)
� Beetroot (hindi: chukunder)
� Turnip (hindi: shalgam)
� Sweet Potato [cooked - boiled/ steamed/baked] (hindi: shakar kandi)
� Beans
� Peas (hindi: matar)
� Pumpkin (hindi:kadoo)
� Tinda
� Squashes (hindi: lauki/ghiya, torai)

FRUITS
� Papaya (hindi: papita)
� Mango (hindi: aam)
� Water Melon (hindi: tarbooz)
� Cantaloupe/Common Melon (hindi: kharbooza)
� Grapes (hindi: angoor)
� Apple (hindi: seb)
� Banana (hindi: kela)
� Pear (hindi: nashpati)
� Strawberry
� Figs

Vegetables & fruits should be shredded or cut into small sized chunks (less than your turtles' mouth) and given. Where possible serve with skins. Make sure your vegetables have been washed properly. We recommend that you boil some water, add turmeric (hindi : haldi) and dip the uncut vegetable or fruit in this boiling water for 10-30 seconds, and rinse with clean cool water. This helps in removing any sort of pests, insecticides, etc. on the skin of the vegetable or fruit.

Trying to shift your turtle to a vegetarian diet from a non-vegetarian one
If your turtle refuses to eat vegetables & fruits, cheat it! Mix some minced chicken or chicken broth with the shredded/cut vegetables & fruits. Mix well so that the smell and taste of chicken smears on to the fruit & vegetables. Start with a mix of 50% chicken & 50% vegetables & fruits, slowly increasing the vegetables & fruits share over a few weeks.

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