At about what age do Box turtles start eating vegatbles and stray away from the live worms? I have a yearling and he seems to not be wanting to eat the live worms as much but doesn’t like the vegetables. At what age will he start to lean towards the vegetables? Thank you!
Eating vegetables
- Thread starter NikkiW18
- Start date
ColleenT
Well-Known Member
He will probably never just CHOOSE veg. You kind of have to mix your protein with your veg. That way they get a mouthful of everything.
http://www.boxturtlefacts.org/Feeding_North_American_Box_Turtles.pdf
http://www.boxturtlefacts.org/Feeding_North_American_Box_Turtles.pdf
Colleen is correct. And please don' think box turtles will ever stay away from worms, nor should they. Even older adults should have a diet of 50% protein which includes worms. The other 50% should be fruit/veggies/fungi. I so often see people think adult box turtles are strictly vegetarian and that is so far from true. For now though you need to find a protein food he loves...scrambled eggs, soaked turtle pellets, cooked chicken, etc. Then finely mince greens, veggies, fruits and mix it in there.
I feed him vegetables and he doesn’t touch them. I even tried to cut them into tiny pieces as well as cut the worms and put them on the veggies. He doesn’t touch the worms either if they aren’t in water. I’m not too sure why he isn’t eating the veggies.
ColleenT
Well-Known Member
That is why you need to mix it with the protein. You can even make scrambled egg, and mix that with veg.
I’ve gave him scrambled eggs and he doesn’t touch those either. I he doesn’t seem to touch anything I give him besides worms that i put in his water when he soaks and his cuttlebone.
Some box turtles do prefer to eat in water. If he's only a year old he' still quite young. Keep feeding him his worms but continue trying to get him to eat other things. Eventually he will. And you are definetely not alone with this!
Thank you!
