Chelonians, with their dome-shaped backs, slow-paced gait, and adorable beady eyes, make very popular pets.
Many animal lovers adopt and raise more than one species from the chelonians.
And, there’s no denying that turtles and tortoises have a look of the old-world about them that fascinates many people.
Now, when it comes to feeding a turtle, you have to understand that there are many species of turtles.
Some turtles are herbivores, while others keep to a strictly protein-based diet.
But the majority of turtles are omnivores.
So a question that some turtle parents may ask is – Can turtles eat wax worms?
In short, many species of turtles relish a meal of wax worms. Turtles can most certainly eat wax worms, and most turtles do seem to enjoy hogging on them. Yet, there are considerations that you must keep in mind if you want to provide a healthy diet to your pet turtle.
In this article you’re going to discover
- Do turtles eat wax worms?
- What kind of worms do box turtles eat?
- How to feed wax worms to your turtle?
In short this is the ultimate guide about wax worms and turtles!
Sound good?
Let’s get started!
Do Turtles Eat Wax Worms?
Yes, they do eat wax worms.
And, many pet parents vouch that their pet chelonians do enjoy a feast of wax worms.
But, when you speak of a healthy diet for your turtle, you have to keep in mind not just what your turtle loves to eat.
You have to feed your turtle whatever is healthy for it.
There isn’t any harm in feeding turtles wax worms.
In the wild, many turtles do eat wax worms too.
But, too much of a good thing can be bad.
Waxworms are young larva, and the larva of the wax moth is packed with healthy fatty proteins.
Therefore, if you want your skinny turtle to gain weight fast, wax worms will do the trick.
But, if you’re going to save your turtle friend from obesity, then it’s wiser to keep a gentle hand on the serving portions of wax worms you give to your turtle.
You see, your turtle needs to have a 50% plant-based diet with 50% protein.
So, yes, make it a point to give your turtle plenty of insects such as crickets, snails, and slugs.
Also, live feeder fish is a must-eat for your turtle.
And, an occasional treat of a live goldfish will provide your turtle with the thrill it seeks to catch and eat fish.
But, the remaining portion of the meal should include greens, fruits, legumes, and even eggs.
Most turtles appreciate leafy greens such as collard greens, mustard greens, kale, lettuce, or cabbage.
Fruits like watermelon, bananas, strawberries, and mangoes are considered a general favorite among the chelonian crowd.
You can check out my article – Can turtles eat watermelons?
What Kind Of Worms Do Box Turtles Eat?
You’d be surprised to learn that box turtles eat about every kind of worm you place before them.
The ornate box turtle will happily gobble down insects too.
Your pet box turtle can eat:-
- Earthworms
- Super worms
- Mealworms
- Waxworms
- Silkworms
- Blood worms
And, the reason why turtles might love their wormy-meals so much is that these worms are high in fat.
Hence, they appear to be more flavorful to chelonians.
Not to mention, high in fat means that these worms make for very fulfilling meals.
How To Feed Wax Worms To Your Turtle?
Turtles indeed eat many different kinds of worms.
But, you can’t just pick random worms from your garden and feed them to your pet turtle.
You see, turtles eat worms, but pet turtles can even get worms if you don’t feed them sterilized worms.
Basically, if you try to feed your turtle with worms from outside, these worms may have remnants of pesticides or chemicals that can endanger your pet’s life.
Therefore, you need to make sure you only buy worms from pet stores that have been cultivated in wormeries.
Hence, these worms do not carry any bacteria, parasites, or infections that may be harmful to your sliders.
Furthermore, when you are feeding a young turtle, you need to make sure that you make the meal an easy process for the little fellow.
Dicing up the worms into tiny bites is an intelligent move.
And, always bear in mind that too many worms in a turtle’s diet can cause calcium deficiency.
And that may prove fatal for your turtle in the long run.
Final Words
Turtles can definitely eat wax worms
It’s actually good for them
But make sure not to give your little buddy too much as it can be bad for them too
Always talk to the vets to make sure it’s okay to add any new food to your turtles diet
You see, Turtles make genuinely great pets.
And, once your turtle is used to your presence and its new environment, it will start to slowly bond with you.
You have to understand that these creatures move at a completely different pace from the rest of the world.
But, if you allow your slider the time and space it needs, and provide it with the loving home that it needs, then you will find a long-term friend in your beloved turtle.
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