There’s no telling what your turtle may or may not eat.
You see, turtles aren’t discerning eaters.
But, they too have preferences.
Every little or big chelonian is unique.
So, while Thorin, your male pet turtle, may like strawberries, Black Widow, your female turtle might be revolted by them.
When it comes to broccoli, the same rule applies to all chelonians.
Some turtles love to eat broccoli, and some don’t.
Yet, the question isn’t whether your turtle will eat broccoli; the more relevant question is should your turtle eat broccoli.
Turtles do eat broccoli.
And, most turtles like to eat broccoli.
Broccoli is a very nutrient-laden vegetable that most pet parents feel should be on the list of veggies that ought to be fed to your turtle.
But, that is not even remotely true.
Broccoli isn’t healthy for turtles.
And, even if your chelonian loves to eat this delicious baby tree, you should try not to make it a part of your turtle’s meal.
In this article you’re going to discover
- Is broccoli good for turtles?
- Benefits of broccoli for turtles
- How to feed your turtle broccoli
- Can turtles eat broccoli stems?
- Can turtles eat broccoli leaves?
So if you’re interested in everything about broccoli and giving it to your turtle you’re going to love this article!
Sound good?
Let’s get started!
Is Broccoli Good For Turtles?
Broccoli belongs to the brassica family of vegetables such as bok choy, Brussel sprouts, and cabbage.
Broccoli contains compounds called goitrogens.
These compounds are detrimental to the thyroid activity in turtles.
And, it also interferes with the uptake of iodine.
And, in the long run, broccoli can lead to kidney damage in turtles.
It can spell sure death for your tiny chelonian.
You can feed your turtle broccoli on occasion.
Yet, it isn’t a superfood for your turtle and should be avoided as a meal regularly.
However, it is suggested that the addition of kelp in a turtle’s diet can counteract the goitrogenic impact of the brassica family in your turtle’s meals.
Benefits Of Broccoli For Turtles?
Broccoli is a vegetable well-known as a superfood, packed with nutrients, low calories, and antioxidants.
Yet, for your turtle, this very vegetable becomes a potential threat.
You see, broccoli contains glucosinolate and riboflavin.
These elements convert into goitrogenic when your tiny friend chews and swallows the vegetable.
Sure, your turtle may relish the taste of broccoli.
But, if you are looking to feed nutritious vegetables to your turtle, then it’s best to stay away from broccoli.
How To Feed Your Turtle Broccoli?
It isn’t a vegetable that makes it to the ‘must-feed’ list of veggies for your turtle.
If you feel that broccoli is a vegetable that your turtle enjoys, you can provide it to your turtle once in a while.
But, broccoli only becomes dangerous if you feed your turtle broccoli regularly.
And, if you make it a point to boil the vegetable before you feed your turtle, then the goitrogenic effect of the vegetable will be considerably less.
Overall it’s best to NOT give your turtle any broccoli at all
They are plenty of other vegetables and fruits your turtle would love
Here’s some related articles which I have written you may find helpful
Can Turtles Eat Broccoli Stems?
Broccoli stems are also full of goitrogens.
Hence, thinking that the stems may be less harmful to your turtle is foolish.
Moreover, you have to understand that broccoli has many nutrients that are simply missing in the stems.
So, if you want to share a bite or two of your broccoli with your turtle, avoid the stems altogether.
Can Turtles Eat Broccoli Leaves?
Broccoli leaves are dark, green, and leafy.
And, if you go through the list of recommended vegetables for turtles, you’ll notice that broccoli leaves resemble the other leafy goodness that is super nutritious for your pet.
But, broccoli leaves do contain goitrogens.
Another thing to mention is broccoli leaves are high in purine which leads to increased production of uric acid.
And, high uric acid in the body causes excessive stress on the kidneys.
Additionally, broccoli is high in Oxalic acid.
Oxalic acid is terrible for turtles as it inhibits the absorption of calcium in your turtle’s body.
And, your turtles need calcium for their bones and muscular function.
Now, broccoli has many benefits when you consider it a vegetable to be consumed by humans.
Broccoli is high in fiber, low in calories, low in protein, and high in vitamin A.
As mentioned earlier, it is incredibly wholesome for humans.
But, the damaging impact of broccoli is too high to fall into the list of superfoods that should be a part of your turtle’s diet.
Yes you can eat broccoli but don’t give it to your little buddy
If you feel bad not sharing it then best to eat it alone and away from your turtle
It’s just not worth the risk of your turtles health even though he may enjoy it
Final Words
Turtles make fantastic pets.
And, they are low maintenance which means that all you need to do to ensure that your pet lives a long and happy life is to care for its diet and habitat.
In short, regular visits to the vet for medical checks, a consistent and nutritional diet, and a clean habitat are pretty much everything that your turtle needs.
But, when you speak of a turtle’s diet, you need to understand that your pet should not be given everything that you believe to be healthy for it such as broccolis!
Your local vet can help you a great deal in that too.
So, be wary of what you feed your little friend.
And, if you do feel that something new may be suitable for your turtle, discuss it with the vet before feeding it to your turtle.
