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How much and how often should I feed my baby red eared slider turtle?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

I won my little turtle off a carnival game. She's still about the size of a thumb. The guys running the game gave her to us and a bag of food (ReptoMin) and said to feed her half a pellet in the morning and half a pellet at night. They didn't seem to be the most reliable people, they weren't even sure what kind of turtle she was. I wanted to know if this is right or not. How much and how often to eat a baby red eared slider turtle?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Rebecca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 2nd, 2017

Hi. I'm glad you checked. Red rated sliders can be fun pets but they also require specialized environment and care. She should eat some live feeder fish, some plant matter and only about 25% of her diet should be commercial pellets. Be sure she has an area to get out of the water in her tank, she needs a basking light for warmth and full spectrum UV lighting. Housing is the number one reason that sliders get sick or die in captivity so please take the time to get her set up correctly. Here is a great beginner article for RES care. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 27th, 2019
I hope you are feeding other foods and not just pellets. I suggest you refer to this guide on how, what and when you should feed her. As an adult most only need to be fed every 2 or 3 days.

( https://www.turtleholic.com/how-often-feed-red-eared-slider/ )
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Todd Cecil
Veterinarian
Published on December 6th, 2019
Thanks for reaching out about Xean and including photos. The amount will vary due to many factors including metabolism, activity, water and basking temperatures, sex, season and more. The best way to monitor appetite is by following a body score and appearance. Turtles tend to show fat in the armpit and proximal legs. Muscle mass loss on limbs can reflect nutritional deficiencies. Another good idea is to vary brands of turtle food as some have different levels of nutrients. Offering chopped vegetables are healthy and might need to coaxed or trained to eat. Live fish are also a good idea.
Good luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Rebecca, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 11th, 2017
A bit depends on how old Mika is but she appears young from your pictures. Feed every day and remove uneaten food after a few minutes that she doesn't eat. She should get about 45-50 veggies, 25% animal protein (feeder fish or worms) and 25% pelleted diet. If she is active and eating that is a good sign for health. Make sure no white patches or soft spots on her shell. Keep water quality good in her tank, make sure she has areas to get out of the water and bask and full spectrum UV lighting.
Here is a great article on RES care, with specific parameters. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html
6Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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What should I feed my red-eared slider? So much conflicting info!

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Why is my baby red eared slider not eating and looks exhausted?

Without an exam, it can be difficult to determine what may be wrong. Confirm proper environmental parameters, especially temperature. Low temps can affect appetite in reptiles. You can offer bits of raw beef heart to stimulate the appetite. Be sure to offer a balanced diet including protein (feeder fish, nightcrawlers, etc.) fresh greens and vegetables and a small amount of commercial pellets. A calcium supplement and a powdered multivitamin should also be used. You can review slider care at the links below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

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What kind of food and brand is best for my red eared slider?

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How many pellets daily for a red-eared slider that seems hungry?

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How do I get my red eared slider to eat pellets, not just treats?

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Red-eared slider: Is her weight healthy and how many pellets to feed?

Hello, It is impossible to assign a perfect numerical value to both weights and diets, as every animal, just like humans, will be different. We use a system called body condition scoring in veterinary medicine, which involves palpating the skeletal muscles and fat deposits to determine if the animal is an appropriate weight for their size. This would be impossible to do without a physical exam. I think you may find this care sheet helpful. It is good to feed a portion of pellets, but their diet should primarily be fresh produce. Lafeber is a wonderful resource for exotic pets. https://lafeber.com/vet/basic-information-red-eared-slider/ Cheers! I hope this is helpful.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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