Can Turtles Eat Carrots? Benefits & How to Feed Carrots

The shelly amphibians are known for their slow movements. Turtles seem easy to take care of. But they are harder to look after than other animals like dogs, cats, etc. As turtles have sensitive body functions, not all foods, suit them. Young turtles need more protein for overall growth. 

Contactually, feeding 25% commercial pellets to omnivorous turtles in their total diet is fine. You can keep 25% insects and 50% fruit and vegetables in your pet’s diet. However, herbivorous turtles’ diet should be divided into 80% vegetables and 20% fruits. But when it comes to carrots, can turtles eat carrots? Let’s understand whether carrots are good for turtles or not.

Can Turtles Eat Carrots?

Yes, turtles can eat carrots. They get beneficial vitamins and minerals from the orange crunchy veggie. Most turtles love to munch on carrots and find them tasty. Even, often they prefer cooked carrots more. As vegetables are a staple meal for turtles, carrots could be a great choice. It contains numerous nutrients like vitamins A and K, Calcium, fiber, etc. 

How Often Can Turtles Eat carrots?

Carrots can be a staple food for tortoises, and feeding 1 to 2 sticks daily is fine for the shelly little creatures. Although, red-eared sliders should consume carrots in moderation due to safety precautions. It has plenty of vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy lifestyle. You can feed the vegetable daily to your pet. Though, for red-eared sliders, an occasional feeding of carrots is good for your little pet. 

Notably, the younger tortoise needs more protein than vegetables or fruits, and they should eat more insects for growth and development. But for mature turtles, veggies could be their staple food. 

6 Benefits of Feeding Carrots to Turtles

Carrots are nutritious and tasty vegetables for both humans and animals. The vitamins which turtles need daily are available in this orange veggie. After all, there is no harm in everyday feeding carrots to the little pet every day! 

1: Turtles Store Vitamin A for Growth & Development 

Vitamin A is crucial for growth and development. The vitamin A present in carrots aids in turtles’ proper internal and external growth. Turtles store vitamin A in the liver to grow and develop themselves. Apart from protein, the younger turtles also need vitamin A. So, they also can eat carrots in small quantities. 

Furthermore, the vitamin helps improve eyesight, reproduction, and the immune system. The vitamin also maintains its epithelial tissues. Vitamin A deficiency could lead turtles to health issues like  Hypervitaminosis A, ear and aural abscesses, squamous metaplasia, vision problems, etc. 

2: Calcium & Phosphorus Look After Bone & Shell Health 

Carrots contain plenty of calcium and phosphorus, which are essential for bone and overall skeleton health. Turtles’ shells are their protective body parts; they feel secure beneath the shell if any danger occurs. Calcium and phosphorus provide a solid shell for tortoises. Also, these two minerals help in maintaining muscle functions.

Moreover, due to the lack of calcium, their shells can grow soft and rubbery and suffer from shell pyramiding. Calcium deficiency can also lead to swollen head lumps and a lack of appetite. Remember, veggies like cabbage could harm turtles due to high phosphorus level.

3: Fibre Promotes Smooth Digestion 

Carrots are filled with a good amount of fiber. Fibre always works in promoting digestive health. Like humans, animals also get constipated. During that time, they need fiber-based food to get loose stools. If your turtle consumes foods containing fiber, it will get smooth digestion. Due to unhealthy digestive function, turtles may get infected with gut impaction, and it leads your turtle to severe irritation. 

4: Low Calorie Cannot Obese Your Pet 

Carrots are low-calorie vegetables that do not lead turtles to obesity. Food with low calories fills the turtles’ stomachs, but it does not play a role in increasing weight. If turtles get obese, they get slower in activity, and will be unable to roam or swim in their territory. But carrots do not harm in that way, and it is fully safe for tortoises.  

5: Vitamin K Helps in Blood Clotting  

Most vegetables include vitamin K. Carrots also have the vitamin, which helps in blood clotting. The vitamin helps to stop blood flow during any injury. If your pet gets any cut, unfortunately, vitamin K is the element that helps to cure the injury. Moreover, vitamin K also plays a role in bone formation. Tomatoes contain a high amount of vitamin K and it’s one of the most favorite foods for tortoises.

6: Carbohydrates Provide Energy 

Carbohydrates include both starch and sugars. Carrots contain mainly sugars like glucose and sucrose. 

The carbohydrates present in carrots provide energy to turtles, and they can roam around the whole day with full energy. After all, like carrots, carbs are present in numerous food items, including vegetables. Carrots are mainly contained in carbohydrates and water. These two elements help to hydrate and energize your little pet.  

How to Feed Carrots to Turtles?

Get Fresh Organic Carrots 

Humans can tolerate a certain amount of processed food. But small creatures like turtles cannot digest a small number of harmful elements. So, you have to get fresh and organic foods for your tortoise. You should purchase fresh carrots from the market. But if you have carrots in your garden, nothing is better than that. 

Wash the Veggie Thoroughly 

After getting the carrots, do not forget to wash them thoroughly with clean water. Luke’s warm water can work well to clean the dirt. As some shopkeepers use pesticide spray, the veggies should be washed well. 

Chopped the Carrots 

After washing the carrots, cut them into small pieces or chopped well. Small pieces will not take them into a choking hazard. As turtles do not have teeth like humans, you have to cut them small so that they would not face trouble during eating. 

Boiled Carrots Are More Nutritious

As carrots have fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, E, and K, they are heat-stable, so boiling doesn’t affect them. The cooking process breaks down carrots’ cell walls and helps free up more nutrients. It raises the calcium level, which is another beneficial compound for turtles. 

Carrot Juice Soak is Beneficial 

Carrot juice soak works well if turtles have eye irritation or have lost their appetite. To make the juice soak, take some carrots and wash them well. Grind the orange veggie in a mixer grinder and sieve the juice. The juice soak should contain about ¾ portions of carrot juice and the rest of the water. Then, heat the mixture passively at 80˚F to get the final product. 

Conclusion 

So, when it comes to can turtles eat carrots? Yes, the veggie is absolutely fine for turtles. Not only raw carrots but also boiled carrots and their juice is a safe food for little creatures. Although, you have to maintain their diet with proper vitamin and mineral-rich foods. As shelly reptile needs more calcium for their bone and shell, you should focus on calcium-rich foods with the right ratio of calcium and phosphorus. 

However, turtles are fond of insects. You can feed insects to them as a staple food. As insects are rich in protein, it helps in their overall growth and development. 

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