Feeding your terrapin

Most terrapins are omnivores; this means that they eat a diet consisting of meat, vegetable material and specialized dried terrapin food.

Some terrapins like one food more than others. It  is important to make sure that your terrapin eats a varied diet.

In the wild, the terrapin would search and catch live food. Terrapins are true survivors and will eat a wide variety of food. In captivity, pinkies, earthworms and mealworms are readily available from pet shops. Fresh fish, prawns and leafy vegetable can also be bought from local shops. Make sure the food is chopped to the correct size for your terrapin and a good vitamin supplement is added to the food before feeding. But be careful not to over supplement as this can also cause health problems for your terrapin; always read manufacturer’s instructions. There are a number of commercially available dried pelleted diets. This type of food has all the correct vitamins and minerals already added to it.

Terrapins like to feed in the water so having a good filtration system in place is vital.

Alternatively feeding the terrapin out of the vivarium also helps to reduce contamination of the water by preventing old, uneaten food falling into the water and rotting. Most terrapins will go to the toilet after eating, and if trained to eat in a small container, this can help to reduce contamination in the main house.

A good source of calcium is essential; this can easily be added by sprinkling calcium powder over the food before feeding three times a week.

All terrapins need water to drink!

Terrapins are unusual because they are one of the few pet reptiles that live in water; water quality is important! The quality of water does not need to be to the exacting standard for keeping fish, but it is important that it is clean and regularly changed. A good quality under gravel filter can help to keep the water free of bacteria.

Feeding your terrapin in a separate container helps to reduce the amounts of waste food and feces that finds its way into the water. Remember your terrapin spends a lot of time in water, make sure it does not become a toilet!