Did you know that raspberries were once the symbol of kindness? Now, it has been replaced by the heart emoji.
But despite losing the battle to emojis, raspberries are still the healthiest fruits that prevent heart diseases and slow down aging.
So, enough about the perks of raspberries for humans. What about its benefits to our little reptile friends? Do raspberries nourish them too?
In this episode of turtles, we will explore whether raspberries are good for them. Or do they pose risks?
Let’s begin.
Can Turtles Eat Raspberries?
Yes, you can feed your turtles raspberries in moderate amounts. Although raspberries have oxalates and phosphorus, they are present in negligible quantities. So, you can provide your turtle with raspberries two to three times a week.
As for the taste preference, turtles will not think twice before gobbling up these delicious berries. So, you need to limit their intake.
Nutrition Content In One Cup (123 grams) Of Raspberries:
- Calories: 64
- Carbohydrates: 14.7 grams
- Fiber: 8 grams
- Protein: 1.5 grams
- Fat: 0.8 grams
- Vitamin C: 32.2 mg
- Vitamin A: 2 mcg
- Calcium: 31 mg
- IRON: 0.85 mg
- Potassium: 186 mg
- Ca:P ratio: 1:1.2
Calorie Breakdown:
- Total Calorie: 64
- Carbohydrate: 82%
- Fat: 10%
- Protein: 8%
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Benefits Of Feeding Raspberries To Turtles
To begin with, turtles find raspberries tasty. Try giving raspberries to lethargic turtles or those who aren’t showing any interest in their daily diet. Also, it is rich in micronutrients and antioxidants.
Let’s dive further.
Abundant In Micronutrients
Raspberries provide a slew of micronutrients to keep a turtle healthy.
Consuming raspberries helps turtles absorb calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, and potassium.
Manganese is beneficial for metabolism and maintains blood and sugar levels in turtles.
An iron deficit can inhibit the carrying of oxygen from your turtle’s heart to other parts of its body. So, consuming raspberries helps in oxygenating responsible organs.
Eating raspberries will supplement potassium, essential in regulating normal nerve function and blood pressure.
Raspberries Have Fiber, Carbohydrates, And Water.
Although raspberries aren’t the preferred food choice to fill your turtle’s appetite, they still bear a good amount of fiber, carbohydrates, and water.
Fiber helps smooth digestion, while the carbs boost the energy levels to sustain daily swimming.
Rich In Antioxidants
Raspberries are the healthiest food choice around to feed your turtles. High in antioxidants, they prevent cell oxidation and help your turtle’s body recuperate from the damage done by free radicals.
However, raspberries shouldn’t still be treated daily for turtles despite the benefits mentioned above.
Here’s why.
Three Risks Of Feeding Raspberries To Turtles
- Raspberries contain oxalates.
- Raspberries have more phosphorus than calcium.
- Raspberries have high sugar content.
Raspberries Contain Oxalates
A cup of 123 grams of raspberries contains about 48 mg of oxalates. So, although it isn’t a whopping amount to inflict harm to your turtle, it definitely can have a detrimental impact if fed in abundance.
Oxalates bind with calcium in a turtle’s body and hinder its system from absorbing necessary calcium.
So, when a turtle consumes too much oxalate-rich food, it suffers from metabolic bone disease.
Turtles suffering from the metabolic bone disease have weak bones, paralysis, growth deficiency, and lethargy. If medical attention isn’t provided swiftly, the turtle can lose its life.
Raspberries Have More Phosphorus Than Calcium
The ratio of phosphorus and calcium in raspberries is 1.2:1, which means that phosphorus concentration is higher than calcium.
This is similar to the effect of oxalates with calcium. If a turtle ingests more phosphorus than calcium, the phosphorus will prevent calcium absorption from food over time.
So, the turtle will have calcium deficiency and suffer from metabolic bone disease.
Raspberries Have High Sugar Content
Raspberries have high sugar content, just like most berries, though small in size. These sugar-packed berries can make turtles obese and cause fatty liver disease, diabetes, and other heart-related problems.
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How To Feed Raspberries To Your Turtles?
You can feed whole raspberries to your turtles. First, wash them thoroughly and remove leaves and stems. Do not serve ripe raspberries. Always opt for fresh ones, as aged raspberries can cause diarrhea and stomach problems.
If you have brought frozen raspberries from the store, make sure to thaw them first. Although frozen raspberries have the same amount of nutrients as fresh ones, it will be harder for the turtles to consume.
You can also mix raspberries with veggies to coax the turtles with small appetites to fill their stomachs. However, you should only do this sparingly, just like with strawberries.
Here are detailed instructions on how to feed raspberries to your turtles:
- Visual inspection is necessary for every kind of fruit and vegetable, so raspberries are no exception.
- Next, clean them thoroughly. You can also mash them if you want.
- Consider mixing raspberries with other fruits and veggies to discourage picking and eating only the preferred food from their bowl.
- If you are introducing this food to your turtle for the first time, you need to check for any adverse effects.
What To Do? My Turtles Ate Too Many Raspberries?
The initial reaction will be seen only after a couple of hours. Though it is uncertain, most turtles get diarrhea after consuming too many berries.
However, raspberries aren’t the only thing that could cause diarrhea in turtles. Vitamin A deficiency, parasites, and infection could also be the reason behind it.
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Can Baby Turtles Eat Raspberries?
Yes, you can treat baby turtles with raspberries but nominally. Unlike in adult turtles, there’s always the danger of choking hazards in baby turtles. So, make sure you slice and dice them into teensy pieces.
Baby turtles lean more towards a meat-based diet than fruits because meat contains protein necessary for the growth and development of muscles. Hence, baby turtles might not favor consuming raspberries.
Raspberries have a high content of phosphorus. And when consumed in high amounts, it can bind calcium and prevent calcium absorption. And, calcium at this stage is an irreplaceable nutrient for bone and shell development.
So, you should only provide raspberries to your baby turtles in moderate amounts to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Final Words On Can Turtles Eat Raspberries
It is a good thing to serve your turtle varieties of food. However, not all foods are safe for turtles. Some food can be provided daily, while some can’t.
Raspberries fall under the occasional treating category of fruits for turtles. Although it has an insignificant amount of oxalates, serving it daily can have repercussions.
Like with every other fruit and vegetable, make sure you inspect it and clean it thoroughly before presenting it to your turtle.
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