Florida Box Turtle: Picky Eater

[Michael Naz]

My female Florida Box Turtle, Penny, was a turtle we found on the street. I know I'm not supposed to, but I live on a 40-acre horse ranch and see tortoises a lot, so I figured I would let it free on my property. While coming home, however, we figured out that she was accustomed to human care and started rubbing her head against my arm.

She will only eat lettuce. We have to literally mush up the turtle chow and mix it in with the lettuce. She will not eat a pellet unless we mush it up.

How do I get her to eat the pellets?

 

[lisa127]

She's a wild turtle and doesn't recognize it as food. It's not needed anyway. She needs worms, insects, berries, mushrooms, vegetation, etc.

 

[BrianWI]

First, mush up pellets and add to a healthy lettuce. Then decrease the amount of lettuce over time. Also, check the laws as you may (or not) be breaking them.

 

[Yvonne G]

Turtles don't need to eat pellets. Your box turtle needs fruits, vegetables and vegetation. You can also offer live food like crickets, super worms, garden worms, etc.

Where are you located? It may be against the law to pick up a turtle from the "wild."

 

[Gillian M]

My female Florida Box Turtle, Penny, was a turtle we found on the street. I know I'm not supposed to, but I live on a 40-acre horse ranch and see tortoises a lot, so I figured I would let it free on my property. While coming home, however, we figured out that she was accustomed to human care and started rubbing her head against my arm.

She will only eat lettuce. We have to literally mush up the turtle chow and mix it in with the lettuce. She will not eat a pellet unless we mush it up.

How do I get her to eat the pellets?

A very warm welcome to the forum!

Please post pics of your tort and her enclosure.

 

[PJay]

Welcome to the forum! Where is this little turtle living now?

 

[CharlieM]

Turtles don't need to eat pellets. Your box turtle needs fruits, vegetables and vegetation. You can also offer live food like crickets, super worms, garden worms, etc.

Where are you located? It may be against the law to pick up a turtle from the "wild."

Sadly the Florida laws allow you to take two from the wild but regulate the sale of captive raised.

 

[Michael Naz]

Yes, but I was trying to let her free, but she was definetly accustomed to humans and came out right away (and no, she didn't pee).

Here is Penny:

 

[Michael Naz]

First, mush up pellets and add to a healthy lettuce. Then decrease the amount of lettuce over time. Also, check the laws as you may (or not) be breaking them.

Yes, I tried this, but she simply won't eat a pellet or a plain mushed up pellet

 

[Michael Naz]

Turtles don't need to eat pellets. Your box turtle needs fruits, vegetables and vegetation. You can also offer live food like crickets, super worms, garden worms, etc.

Where are you located? It may be against the law to pick up a turtle from the "wild."

Where should I get "super worms"

 

[dmmj]

Where should I get "super worms"

any pet stores should sell various types of insects for food.

 

[CharlieM]

Banana and blueberries are also favorites. Most will readily attack earthworms or snails once they see them move.

 

[BrianWI]

Yes, I tried this, but she simply won't eat a pellet or a plain mushed up pellet

They will. Make the change very gradually, like over 60 days if needed.

 

[Eric Phillips]

Awesome Florida Box Turtle! I can tell u every box turtle I've encountered can't resist a boiled egg(shell and all), boiled or steamed sweet potato, butternut squash, or carrots. Any kind of berry is a little taste of heaven and sprinkle some cut up greens on top with a few things that move(worms, supers, Dubia's, rollies, calci-worms, slugs, snails, cicadas, etc. ........getcha some of that! If your feeding it iceberg lettuce stop and keep it for your salad or burger because it doesn't have much nutritional value for your box turtle. Some of my guys eat an occasional reptomin pellet when it's soaked on top of the food but if I give it to them by itself they don't dig it too much. Just my experience. Just remember, it's been removed from an area that its known, to now new surroundings. May take it a few days to adjust.

 

[itiswhatitis]

Eggs Or Strawberries For My Guy !!!!
He will not pass either up !!!

 

[Michael Naz]

Awesome Florida Box Turtle! I can tell u every box turtle I've encountered can't resist a boiled egg(shell and all), boiled or steamed sweet potato, butternut squash, or carrots. Any kind of berry is a little taste of heaven and sprinkle some cut up greens on top with a few things that move(worms, supers, Dubia's, rollies, calci-worms, slugs, snails, cicadas, etc. ........getcha some of that! If your feeding it iceberg lettuce stop and keep it for your salad or burger because it doesn't have much nutritional value for your box turtle. Some of my guys eat an occasional reptomin pellet when it's soaked on top of the food but if I give it to them by itself they don't dig it too much. Just my experience. Just remember, it's been removed from an area that its known, to now new surroundings. May take it a few days to adjust.

Just put a boiled egg in her food bowl. Ill see if she eats it tomorrow.

Gonna buy supers tomorrow. Ill see what she does.

 

[Michael Naz]

Awesome Florida Box Turtle! I can tell u every box turtle I've encountered can't resist a boiled egg(shell and all), boiled or steamed sweet potato, butternut squash, or carrots. Any kind of berry is a little taste of heaven and sprinkle some cut up greens on top with a few things that move(worms, supers, Dubia's, rollies, calci-worms, slugs, snails, cicadas, etc. ........getcha some of that! If your feeding it iceberg lettuce stop and keep it for your salad or burger because it doesn't have much nutritional value for your box turtle. Some of my guys eat an occasional reptomin pellet when it's soaked on top of the food but if I give it to them by itself they don't dig it too much. Just my experience. Just remember, it's been removed from an area that its known, to now new surroundings. May take it a few days to adjust.

Apparently, Penny's a vegan. She didnt touch the egg

 

[Eric Phillips]

Apparently, Penny's a vegan. She didnt touch the egg

Lol! No just give her time. New surroundings.

 

[Gillian M]

Yes, but I was trying to let her free, but she was definetly accustomed to humans and came out right away (and no, she didn't pee).

Here is Penny:


View attachment 183996

She's so cute!

 

[PJay]

Eric is right, give her time. Most of the time when someone brings me a turtle they won't eat at first, but once they get used to the new surroundings they will chow down. Keep offering earth worms and berries. That's usually the first things they begin to eat.