4.2. Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles

Spotted pond turtles (Geoclemys hamiltonii) are some of the prettiest semi-aquatic turtles. Due in part to uncontrolled and illegal trade, this species is threatened with extinction in the wild

Most popular species kept in terraria include ornamental turtles (in Poland recognized as an invasive species for several years – more information before the introduction), Chinese turtles, river cooters, northern red-bellied cooters, common musk turtles, African helmeted turtles, West African mud turtles and softshell turtles. Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles are omnivorous or carnivorous. Their basic food is all kinds of molluscs, crustaceans, insects, fish, amphibians and their larvae as well as algae and aquatic plants. To satisfy their nutritional needs, we have developed Biorept W – a multi-ingredient food in the form of

Did you know that

predatory aquatic turtles have a sharp horny ridges instead of teeth, which they use to grab prey and cut off bites of food? An exception is the secretive mata mata tortoise (Chelus fimbriata), which has neither teeth nor any sharp horny ridges. It hunts prey from its hidden place, and when any fish comes near its mouth it opens it and sucks in huge quantities of water along with the prey, thanks to the negative pressure created by the rapid expansion of its mouth and neck.

Mata mata (Chelus fimbriata)

sticks for everyday feeding. It contains the addition of crustaceans, including gammarus, enriching the food with valuable protein, chitin and unsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6). The food has been enriched with Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) larvae. It is a valuable raw material rich in essential amino acids, fatty acids, macronutrients and trace elements. It contains highly digestible calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, which play an important role in the development and maintenance of bones. It has a favorable ratio of calcium to phosphorus, rarely observed in other insects. The calcium concentration in Hermetia illucens is much higher than in milk. Excellent flavor of extruded sticks encourages animals to feed. Vitamins and trace elements ensure proper development of the skeleton and shell of turtles, preventing deformations and other serious health problems. Turtles fed regularly with Biorept W develop properly and stay in excellent condition. Intended for feeding the following species: Apalone, Chrysemys, Clemmys, Deirochelys, Glyptemys, Graptemys, Kinosternon, Malaclemys, Mauremys, Pelodiscus, Trachemys, Sternotherus.

The menu of semi-aquatic turtles and aquatic turtles can be varied with dried or freezedried foods for reptiles from Natural Line (see table on page 26).