The other day I was watching YouTube videos of a guy named “fish whisperer.” Actually, I stumbled upon his videos when searching for my last blog post on can turtles eat bananas. And for the next 1 and half hours, I watched him feed all kinds of food to his turtles. One particular video that caught my attention was his turtle eating strawberries. Never before had I thought can turtles eat strawberries or not – which made me write this blog today.
So, can turtles eat strawberries? Yes, turtles can eat strawberries and other berries edible for humans but very sparingly. Although strawberries have high amounts of vitamin C and manganese, they are not the primary vitamins turtles need. Also, the strawberries you bought at your local supermarket could have preservatives added to them. So, wash them properly before feeding.
Do Turtles Like Strawberries?
Most turtles like strawberries. Though strawberries don’t fall under their foraging category, turtles will devour them in an instant. However, like with any other fruit, turtles have to acquire a taste for strawberries.
Some may like it, and some won’t. But the sheer number of videos of turtles feeding on strawberries suggests most turtles like strawberries.
Watch this interesting video of a red-eared slider eating strawberries for the first time!
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Can You Give Strawberries To Baby Turtles?
Veggies and fruits are seldom good choices for baby turtles. Most of their diet should include protein-filled foods such as meat and worms. So, though you can give strawberries to your baby turtles, it isn’t their required diet at this stage.
If you have decided to give one as a treat anyway, make sure you wash them first. Washing correctly will remove the preservatives which are often added to fruits and veggies to increase shelf life.
How Much Strawberry Can You Give To A Turtle?
You can provide your turtle with 100 grams of strawberries in a month. Most turtles love strawberries and will devour them in an instant.
So only give them a moderate amount. Do not mistake it as a replacement for the daily food you give to your turtle.
Calorie Count in Strawberries
Here’s a table on how many calories do 100 grams of strawberries have:
| Nutrient | Amount |
| Calorie | 32 |
| Water | 91% |
| Protein | 0.7% |
| Carbs | 7.7 grams |
| Sugar | 4.9 grams |
| Fiber | 2 grams |
| Fat | 0.3 grams |
Vitamins And Minerals In Strawberries
Vitamin C
Strawberries are rich in vitamin C. However, they do not have significant involvement in the growth of baby turtles. Research has found out that turtles mostly require vitamin A and Vitamin D to grow and remain healthy.
Essential Minerals
Other minerals found in strawberries are Manganese, Folate (Vitamin B9), and Potassium. They also have sparse traces of iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamins B6, K, and E.
These vitamins and nutrients are super valuable for humans. Turtles, on the other hand, have very few requirements for these contents.
Pros And Cons Of Strawberries For Your Turtle
| Pros |
|---|
| First of all, they love it! |
| The calories present in strawberries can give an instant energy boost for lethargic turtles. |
| They can stimulate hunger in turtles who are suffering from loss of appetite. |
| Cons |
|---|
| Turtles do not require most of the vitamins strawberries offer. |
| Too much strawberry increases sugar levels in turtles, causing obesity. |
| They can stimulate hunger in turtles who are suffering from loss of appetite. |
Strawberries Serving Ideas For Turtles
You can either give raw strawberries or prepare a special strawberry pudding for your turtle. However, make sure to wash them properly before offering your turtle. If the strawberries in question are big in size, you can cut them into medium-sized slices.
Strawberry Pudding Recipe For Turtles
Although the chances of your turtle not liking strawberry is slim, there could be few exceptions. So you need to be creative while catering your turtle with strawberries. Here is a strawberry pudding recipe that I am sure your turtle will love to devour.
| Ingredients |
|---|
| 100 grams strawberry |
| 40 grams pellets |
| 1 can of feeder fish |
| 1 can of blood worms & krills |
Follow this recipe, and you will create a tasty treat for your turtle.
- Carefully wash the strawberries with cold water
- If the strawberries are smaller in size, you can halve them and keep them in the bowl. For the larger ones, you can slice them into quarter pieces
- Add regular turtle pellets to the bowl
- Pour the canned feeder fish onto the bowl
- Next, add a whole can of blood worms and krills for protein.
- Put the mix into the food blender
- Add 50ml of water to the mixture and start blending
- Add the mixture to a tray and refrigerate overnight
- Add gelatin powder to get that jelly-like texture to the mix. This will complete the process of making strawberry pudding
- Finally, chop and keep them refrigerated. You can treat your turtle with this delicious relish once a week or so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Box Turtles Eat Strawberries?
Strawberries aren’t the preferred replacement for a box turtle’s regular diet but can be fed as a treat once in a while. They love eating strawberries.
Though strawberries themselves don’t harm box turtles, artificial preservatives present in them can have severe impacts. Make sure to wash them before feeding your box turtles.
Can Red-Eared Slider Turtles Eat Strawberries?
Yes, red-eared slider turtles can eat strawberries once in a while. However, smaller sliders could have problems nibbling on strawberries.
Clean properly and slice into tiny pieces before feeding strawberries to your red-eared slider turtles.
And if you think, your red-eared slider has lost his appetite, check out this article to know why!
Can Tortoises Eat Strawberries?
Most tortoise species love strawberries. These berries don’t pose any harm to them when given in moderation. Make sure you clean them before feeding your tortoise.
Strawberries bought commercially might have preservatives and pesticides added to them. So, cleaning is recommended before providing.
Conclusion On Can Turtles Eat Strawberries
Strawberries are sweet and have a high content of sugar. Too much consumption leads to obesity in your turtle. They will devour them instantly. So, feed them in moderate amounts. If you want to be creative with the palate, you can try the strawberry pudding recipe I provided above. Have fun feeding strawberries to your turtle! But don’t ever go overboard!
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