Most of the turtles are omnivores because they eat plants, insects, eggs, and all sorts of other insects their entire life. However, some species of turtles start out as omnivores when they’re hatchlings and then change to either pure herbivores or carnivores, depending on the turtle species.
In addition to this, there are also gelatinivores and spongivores among the turtle species. We cover these in more detail further below. However, almost all turtles start out as omnivores as they eat tiny pieces of broken plants and fish in the early stages of their lives. So if most turtles are omnivores, which ones are herbivores?
Are Land Turtles Omnivores?
Land turtles are not omnivores.
Land turtles are usually herbivores, although some species of land turtles also eat insects and worms.
For the most part, land turtles eat only plants like leafy greens, grass, weeds, flowers, and fruit.
Even for the few land turtles that do eat worms and insects, too much protein can negatively impact their health, resulting in shell deformities.
What Is The Best Diet For Pet Land Turtles?
A healthy diet for pet land turtles should include the following foods:
- Fresh Vegetables: Kale, dandelions, mustard, and collard greens are suitable for your land turtle’s diet. Vegetables with a high-water content like iceberg lettuce should only be fed occasionally as they don’t add much in terms of nutrition.
- Fruits: Melons, pears, apples, berries, oranges, and kiwis are just some of the fruits you can safely feed your land turtle.
- Commercial Turtle Food: There are a lot of high-quality turtle pellets on the market that you can buy to supplement your turtle’s diet.
- Insects and Worms: Land turtles don’t need a lot of this type of food, but you can certainly offer some of it occasionally.
Which Plants Are Toxic For Land Turtles?
Given below are some of the most toxic plants for land turtles.
If you suspect that your turtle has eaten any of these plants, it’s best to have it checked by your veterinarian.
| Low Toxicity Plants | Medium Toxicity Plants | High Toxicity Plants |
|---|---|---|
| Arrowhead Vine | Amaryllis | Candytuft |
| Begonia | Avocado (leaves, seeds) | All types of Ficus |
| Boston Ivy | Azalea | Primrose |
| Calla Lily | Bird of Paradise | Gardenia |
| Chinese Evergreen | Carolina Jessamine | Grape Ivy |
| Dumb cane | Castor Bean | Poinsettia |
| Split leaf Philodendron | Chinaberry | Sweet Pea (seeds) |
| Columbine | Elephant’s Ear | |
| Creeping Charlie | Firethorn | |
| Cyclamen | Pothos | |
| Daffodil | Umbrella Tree | |
| Delphinium, Larkspur | Asparagus Fern | |
| Dianthus, Carnation | Boxwood | |
| Foxglove | Buttercup family | |
| Heavenly Bamboo | Crowfoot | |
| Holly | Ivy | |
| Hyacinth | Iris (esp. rhizome) | |
| Hydrangea | Lantana | |
| Jerusalem Cherry | Lily of the Nile |
Is A Pond Turtle A Herbivore, Carnivore, Or Omnivore?
Pond turtles are omnivores, from hatchlings to adults.
They enjoy eating tadpoles, frog eggs, snails, leeches, aquatic beetles, dragonfly larvae, and more.
They also eat lily pods, algae, tule, and cattail roots. A pond turtle is the prime example of an omnivore turtle.
What Is The Best Diet For A Pet Pond Turtle?
A healthy diet for your pet turtle includes the following:
- Mostly dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and mustard greens.
- Finely chopped carrots and squash are also healthy.
- Shredded fruits like apples, berries, and melons can be fed a couple of times a week.
The foods mentioned above should contribute at least 50% of your turtle diet.
The remainder of the diet can consist of feeder fish and insects.
Commercial pelleted food can also contribute to a healthy turtle diet, but not more than 20% to 25% of its total diet.
Are Box Turtles Omnivores?
Box turtles have the same eating habits as pond turtles.
This is because box turtles are members of the American pond turtle family!
So make sure to feed your box turtle plenty of leafy greens, protein-filled insects, and worms.
Which Turtles Are Gelatinivores And Spongivores?
Did you know there’s more than just omnivores, carnivores, and herbivores?
The leatherback turtle is a sea turtle that eats mostly jellyfish and other soft-bodied invertebrates such as squids.
This is why the leatherback turtle is also sometimes referred to as a gelatinivore.
The hawksbill turtle also has a very different diet compared to other turtles.
It eats mainly sea sponges and is therefore categorized as a spongivore.
Are Sea Turtles Omnivores?
There are so many different types of sea turtles, and they all have their own dietary preference.
Most of them are born as omnivore hatchlings and then gravitate towards their desired diet as they grow older.
Given below a helpful table of the most common sea turtles and what they primarily eat.
| Type of Sea Turtle | Classification | Examples of Food |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Herbivore | Adults eat seaweed, seagrasses, and algae. Hatchlings are omnivores as they eat small fish, eggs, etc. |
| Loggerhead | Carnivore | Eats conchs, crabs, whelks, and horseshoe crabs. Hatchlings are omnivores. |
| Kemp’s Ridley | Carnivore | This turtle eats crab, fish, jellies, shrimp, and different mollusks. |
| Olive Ridley | Omnivore | These omnivores eat fish, crabs, algae, lobster, urchins, and many other plants. |
| Hawksbill | Spongivore | These turtles eat almost only sponges of the sea. |
| Flatback | Omnivore | Consumes sea cucumbers, soft corals, shrimp, crab, fish, mollusks, and fish. |
| Leatherback | Gelatinivore | Eats gelatinous prey like jellyfish and other soft-bodied invertebrates. |
Turtles With Different Types Of Mouths Have Different Diets?
The shape of the turtle mouth plays a big role in how the turtle selects its food.
Green sea turtles have beak-like mouths with serrated edges to help them easily tear and chew seaweed and grass.
This is the mouth type of an omnivore. This is also very similar to the mouth of a herbivores turtle.
Other carnivores turtles have massive jaws and hard mouths to easily bite into hard sea life like crabs and lobsters.
Leatherbacks have sharp pointy teeth on their jaws so that they can easily capture and eat jellyfish and other soft-bodied ocean life.
Interesting Facts
Green sea turtles keep coral reefs clean from algae that would otherwise overgrow.
Many turtles who hunt jellyfish will accidentally try to consume plastic bags, which can lead to death in most cases.
Turtles are known to travel great distances when hunting for food, from Asia to the US West coast in some instances.
