Pet turtles are well known for eating all kinds of food. They typically prefer to feed on pellet food, fish feeder, leafy greens, and various fruit from time to time. Though many of these fruits and vegetables are healthy, they can become unhealthy for your turtle if fed in excess. Pet turtles will eat just about any food you throw at them, and this renders many to wonder, can turtles eat corn? Is corn safe for my pet turtle, and if so, how often should I feed it to them? What counts as a healthy amount?
Yes! Corn is a beautiful vegetable and can undoubtedly provide diversity in a turtle’s diet; however, it would be best to treat corn as if it were some fruit. Never too much, and only small quantities. Preferably only once a month. It is not uncommon for a turtle to eat corn; however, corn is also high in potassium, protein, and sugar content. Too much high sugar, protein, and potassium content are never a good thing for your pet turtle in the long run. Eating corn too much could eventually lead to health issues such as acidosis, a condition causing severe intestinal problems and possibly, death.
Further Reading: “Can Turtles Eat Strawberries?“
Table of Contents
Can Turtles Eat Corn Safely [In More Detail..]
Turtles are more than capable of eating corn. They quite enjoy it! Though this vegetable is not recommended daily, pet turtles are famous for eating anything you give them, and corn is no different! Due to the high protein, potassium, and sugar in corn, this vegetable can quickly become unhealthy to a pet turtle, resulting in acidosis conditions. Acidosis is a condition in which a turtle’s cardiac functions become depleted. This condition can densely affect their daily routines and could even lead to death.
Too much of a good thing is never a good thing. While proteins and potassium may be healthy for aquatic reptiles, it is essential to know your pet turtle well and know their diet limits. Simple pellet food or leafy greens will do a turtle’s body fine. However, corn is not a terrible idea, so long as it’s fed rarely and in small portions.
Further Reading: “Can Turtles Eat Apples?“
What Should I Feed My Turtle?
Turtles are quite like humans when it comes to what they need. Protein and nutrients are an essential part of this reptile’s diet. It is crucial to understand what foods your pet turtle should eat to ensure your aquatic friend’s health and well-being. Their diets will vary depending on whether they are omnivore (plants and meat), carnivore (only meat), or herbivore (only plants) turtles.
Most pet turtles will be omnivores, meaning they can eat both plants and meat. This gives pet turtles a wide range of food to eat, although certain foods a turtle should eat regularly to ensure good health. Though pet stores will often sell healthy pellet food and formulated turtle food, no pet food store food can beat the protein, nutrients, and taste of fresh food.
Some fresh foods that your turtle should eat are –
- Boiled Eggs (Protein)
- Corn (Vegetables)
- Beans (Vegetables)
- Carrots (Vegetables)
- Lettuce (Greens)
- Apples (Fruit)
- Tomatoes (Fruit)
- Banana (Fruit)
- Crickets (Protein)
- Crushed Eggshells (Calcium)
All these foods are incredibly healthy for your turtle. However, you should never feed these foods to your turtle on a regular and consistent basis. Professionals suggest that you only provide your pet turtle fresh foods once every 3-4 days, and in small quantities. As we mentioned earlier, too much of a good thing is never a good thing.
Further Reading: “Can Turtles Eat Grapes?“
What Food Can Kill Your Turtle?
While there is a wide range of fresh foods you are allowed to feed your pet turtle, it also essential we mention the foods that could kill or harm your hard-shelled friend. Though there are not many foods pet turtles should not eat, it is still vital to note them, as it could be the difference between a healthy turtle or an at-risk one.
These foods will typically include poisonous plants such as poison ivy, tomato leaves, avocado peels and seeds, and potato or tobacco plants. All of these hold some form of the toxic compound for a turtle’s body. Turtles have been recorded eating poison mushrooms and remaining healthy in the past, but no one knows the long-term effects or limits on these plants, so it is best to steer clear.
As you were able to see, there are many fresh foods that your pet turtle can eat, so stay in the realm of these options to ensure a safe and healthy pet turtle.
PetSmart recommends some special diet. I recommend going over it but in general, if you have a new turtle pet, the best is to get a professional diet from your local vet.
Further Reading: “Can Turtles Eat Tomatoes?“
Related Questions
Can Turtles Eat Corn On The Cob?
Unlike small corn kernels, you should never feed corn on the cob to your pet turtle. The corn on the cob plant is generally okay to provide; however, feeding them corn on a cob would overload their guts with potassium and sugars, resulting in acidosis. As a daily diet, you should look to other forms of nutrients and protein for your pet turtle.
Can Turtles Eat Carrots?
Yes! Carrots are incredibly healthy for your pet turtle to consume, given they’re loaded with vitamins and nutrients that a turtle’s body desperately needs. Many pet stores would suggest carrots as a part of your turtles’ daily diet, giving great reassurance that carrots are plenty safe and healthy for your turtle to eat! Carrots are, however, are ones you should refrain from feeding to your pet turtle constantly, mix it up!
For further reading I recommend you to read this article where I explain if your pet turtle can eat watermelon.
Can Turtles Eat Bread?
No! Turtles should stay far away from bread as their stomachs are unable to digest it. A turtle’s stomach cannot digest any dairy product, leading to significant health issues. This food should not be considered a joke when analyzing feeding it to your turtle, as it can cause serious health problems, as well as possible death if your pet turtle were to choke.
Further Reading: “Do Turtles Sleep At Night?“
Conclusion
It is okay to feed corn to your pet turtle only in small quantities on occasion, and never any more. It is also important to remember that corn holds a lot of potassium, protein, and sugars that will quickly build up and cause health issues if fed in excess. Corn on the cob, however, is entirely off-limits and should never be provided to your turtle off the cob as they will likely eat way too much in one sitting and run the risk of harm.
Pet turtles are amazing creatures to own, considering their relatively low maintenance; however, always be sure to monitor everything your pet turtle eats. They are remarkably like humans and will eat just about anything you throw their way. Though, given their size relative to a human, they must be monitored and never overfed.
