Box turtles are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal-based foods. Their diet varies with age and species, but generally:
- Juvenile box turtles primarily eat animal material such as slugs, worms, insects, larvae, and other small invertebrates
- Adult box turtles shift to eating more plant material including seeds, fruits, roots, fungi, grasses, and vegetables, but they also consume animal protein like carrion, fish, amphibians, eggs, and insects
- A balanced diet for captive box turtles typically consists of about 50% protein (animal-based foods), 20% fruits, and 30% vegetables
Common foods for box turtles include:
- Animal-based: earthworms, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, mealworms, waxworms, snails, slugs, boiled eggs, small fish, and occasional cooked meats like chicken or beef heart
- Plant-based: dark leafy greens (collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, parsley), vegetables (broccoli, carrots, squash, green beans), and fruits (apples, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, melons) with fruit making up less than 10-15% of their diet due to sugar content
- Flowers such as dandelions, hibiscus, nasturtiums, and roses can also be offered as treats
Box turtles need fresh, clean water available at all times, and they enjoy soaking in shallow water dishes
. In summary, box turtles thrive on a varied diet combining insects and other animal protein with a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens to meet their nutritional needs
