Larger and adult turtles can be offered larger items like tadpoles or feeder fish, though some experts warn that feeder fish may be carrying parasites, etc. Meat should be given raw and in small chunks. Food can be placed into a plastic bag together with a little mineral powder before being shaken vigorously. Lv 7. What do Diamondback Terrapins eat? Terrapins prefer to eat oily fish such as tuna, shellfish, sardines and mackerel whenever they can find them in the wild. 1 decade ago. They grow up to 9 inches in length, with females significantly larger than males. All Rights Reserved. 8 Years. This can include items such as chicken, pork and beef. Terrapins need to be provided a nutritious well-balanced diet and not rely too much on a single food type. Diamondback terrapins are almost strictly carnivorous but sometimes ingest small amounts of plant material. i have just bought a terrapin and it wont eat the food i give it please tell me what they eat asap!! Read more about food and essential supplements in our Terrapin care sheet (PDF 326KB). Feeding A Pet Turtle the Same? Turtles do not like to eat the wrong type of food so mixing it up will help. Terrapins are vegetarian, so, yes, they do eat lettuce. In captivity, you can feed them whatever they will eat of a mix of turtle pellets, dried shrimp, smelt, snails, and other accessible seafood over a 20 minute period. The first thing that you have to do is to determinate the cause. For more advice on feeding terrapins check out my terrapin guide review. In this guide we’re going to look at both what to feed your terrapin, as well as how best to feed him or her. fruitcake. They also eat carrion, fish, worms and insects. i was just wondering what kind of food they eat and if its live bait or not. The diamondback terrapin or simply terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is a species of turtle native to the brackish coastal tidal marshes of the eastern and southern United States, and in Bermuda. The coated food can then be carefully fed to your terrapin using tweezers to prevent you getting accidentally bitten. Turtles do not like to eat as much of it as they like to eat their other foods. As omnivores, terrapins will take a variety of foods, from water snails and earthworms to fruit and vegetables. As such, aside from dried commercial terrapin food, you may provide them with a good meal of water snails, earthworms, fruits, and vegetables. Pac. Adult male terrapins are significantly smaller than … These foods should be given to provide a good base and not replace your terrapin’s diet. October 6, 2014 0. It also keeps the water in your terrapin’s main tank fresher and cleaner for longer. as well as the occasional bite of fruit. In freshwater, turtles will eat plants, insects, and even small fish. Diamondback terrapins live in brackish water habitats state-wide, including salt marshes, barrier islands, mangrove swamps, tidal creeks and rivers. Thus hatchling terrapins should be fed daily, providing just what they eat in a short space of time to minimize mess. Anonymous. Having said that, the diet can vary depending on what kind of terrapin you have. Diets rich in meats are invariably also high in phosphates and low in calcium. 4). While terrapins feed mostly on mollusks, including clams, snails and mussels, they will also eat fish, worms, insects and crustaceans. In the 1900s, Diamondback terrapins were once considered a delicacy to eat and were hunted almost to extinction. Terrapin have webbed feet with claws, which they use to catch and eat mollusks, snails, small crabs, and other critters. As a result it isn’t enough to provide just a commercial diet; ideally this should be supplemented with a range of other food stuffs to maximize the range of vitamins and minerals your terrapin receives. turtles & terrapins eat differnt food depending on what sex they are & what stage of life they are in. What kinds of food do terrapins eat? This can include … So that’s basically all the main types of turtles. 6 Answers. You can find diamondback terrapins from Texas to Massachusetts, usually in the brackish waters of salt marshes, lagoons, or mangroves.