Should my turtle eat sunflower seeds found in their mealworm food?

Make sure temps are high enough for him. Low temps can affect appetite and digestion in reptiles. Withhold mealworms for a day then offer bits of pellets. You can grind up mealworms and coat the pellets before feeding. Offer other prey as well. Make sure they aren't too big and gut load them for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value.

The pellets shown should not be fed to turtles for any length of time. Doing so may lead to nutritional deficiencies. If you feed a pelleted diet, choose one specifically for turtles. You can also offer feeder fish, nightcrawlers and freeze dried prey made for turtles. Turtles are omnivorous, so you should be offering chopped fresh greens and vegetables in addition to animal protein and a pelleted diet.

Offer a varied diet including pelleted food, fresh greens and prey such as tiny crickets or earthworms. You can get prey from the pet store, do not feed wild caught insects. It may take a day or two for him to acclimate to his new environment. Keep offering fresh food daily. Be sure environmental parameters are appropriate for the species of turtle you have. This includes adequate heat, UVB lighting and water quality. If you know the species, post it in a new question or request a consultation for more detailed care information.

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Juvenile RES should receive commercial aquatic turtle pellets, supplemented occasionally with live fish (guppies, goldfish), & earthworms. Make sure she gets at least 15 minutes of natural sunlight weekly. Adults need 30% of diet to be the pellets & some protein like mentioned above. The krill can be offered on occasion. 70% of the diet needs to be plants in the form of chopped leafy greens, kale, romaine, mustard greens, dandelion greens, watercress, parsley, shredded carrot, frozen (thawed) mixed veggies & squash, & occasional fruit. Take care.

Yes, you can give sunflower seeds. While there are not studies that I know of, you can give 10-15 per day. Do be careful though that Leah does not become heavy. Sunflower seeds are very tasty but also high in fat. You can also give small pieces of vegetables and fruit. Remember that all treats should be in moderation. I hope this helps.

Why change a working system? You are obviously doing very well in the way you keep your turtle. Since apparently your turtle is doing well, it is getting everything it needs with the Reptomin. You could try offering it leafy greens, freeze-dried shrimp or krill, crickets, superworms, rosy red minnows and even pinky mice as an occasional treat.

Thanks for reaching out about Tutu. Turtles should be fed only a few pellets 2-3 times daily. But chopped vegetables should also be offered daily. Whole prey, as in fish, are also part of the diet of aquatic turtles and can provide a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Good luck.