What to Feed Baby Turtles: Complete Feeding Guide for Hatchlings
What to Feed Baby Turtles: Hatchling Diet, Feeding Chart & Schedule
What do baby turtles eat? Most hatchlings eat a mix of commercial hatchling pellets, small live or whole prey (bloodworms, earthworms, pinhead crickets), and a little leafy greens or aquatic plants. Hatchlings lean carnivorous, then eat more plants as they grow.
- How often: once or twice a day for most hatchlings (see the chart below).
- How much: about what the turtle can finish in 10-15 minutes, or roughly the size of its head.
- Must-haves: calcium, UVB light and correct water temperature, not just food.
- Species matter: box turtles and aquatic turtles eat differently (see the species sections).
Getting the first months right prevents most shell and bone problems. This guide keeps it simple: what to feed, how often, how much, and what to skip. For adult turtles and all species, see our broader guide on what do turtles eat.
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Baby Turtle Feeding Chart by Age
Use this as a starting point for aquatic hatchlings such as sliders and painted turtles. Land turtles like box turtles need more plant matter (see below).
| Age stage | Diet focus | Food types | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchling (0-6 months) | Protein-rich, calcium-rich | Hatchling pellets, bloodworms, small earthworms, duckweed | Daily (some keepers split into 2 small meals) |
| Juvenile (6-18 months) | More plants, still protein-rich | Pellets, crickets, earthworms, leafy greens | Daily |
| Young adult (18+ months) | Omnivore balance | Adult pellets, occasional insects, plenty of greens | Every other day to 3-4 times a week |
Infographic: Typical Diet Mix by Age (Aquatic Turtles)
A general starting point, not an official standard. Ask a reptile vet to tailor it to your species.
Best Foods for Baby Turtles
In the wild, hatchlings hunt small prey like insects, larvae and tiny fish, then add plants as they grow. Captive diets copy that variety with three food groups.
1. Hatchling Pellets (the base)
Choose a pellet made for aquatic hatchlings. Small pieces are easy to bite and swallow. Pick a brand that lists fish or shrimp meal first, not corn or wheat filler.
2. Live or Whole Prey (the protein boost)
Good options include bloodworms, small earthworms, black soldier fly larvae and pinhead crickets. “Gut-load” insects with vegetables 24 hours before feeding. See our list of the best feeder insects for reptiles.
3. Greens and Aquatic Plants (the fiber)
Offer finely chopped dandelion, turnip or mustard greens, plus duckweed or anacharis. Many hatchlings ignore plants at first, so keep offering them. Go easy on spinach and kale, which are high in oxalates that can bind calcium.
Calcium, D3 and UVB: Not Optional
Calcium builds the shell, but turtles need vitamin D3 to use it, and UVB light helps them make D3. VCA veterinarians explain that metabolic bone disease (MBD) comes from an improper diet, too little UV light, or both. Signs include a misshapen shell and deformed legs.
- Dust insects with a calcium + D3 powder a few times a week, or as your vet directs.
- Provide a reptile UVB bulb and a dry basking spot. Check your species’ needs in our temperature and lighting guide.
What Can I Feed a Baby Turtle at Home?
If you run out of pellets or find a hatchling, these are short-term options:
- Earthworms from a pesticide-free source, chopped small.
- Plain cooked chicken or fish, no salt, oil or spices, as an occasional treat.
- Shredded carrot, zucchini or sweet potato, blanched until soft.
- Fruit only rarely, such as a small piece of berry or banana.
Get proper pellets as soon as you can. Household foods don’t have balanced calcium and vitamins. For more on safe portions, see how much you should feed a turtle.
How Often Should You Feed a Baby Turtle?
Hatchlings grow fast, so most keepers feed them daily. Many switch to every other day as turtles near adulthood. Species and size matter, so follow your vet’s advice.
- Warm first: turtles digest properly only when warm. Keep water and basking temperatures in the range your species needs before feeding.
- Feed early: morning or midday gives time to bask and digest before lights go out.
- Be consistent: turtles learn routines quickly.
How Much Should You Feed a Baby Turtle?
Two easy rules keep portions right:
- Head-size rule: offer a total amount about the size of your turtle’s head.
- 15-minute rule: let your turtle eat for up to 15 minutes, then net out leftovers.
Overfeeding is a common cause of obesity and uneven shell growth. A smooth, evenly rounded shell is a good sign. Begging is normal, so don’t treat it as hunger. See our full guide on how much to feed a turtle for adult portions.
Sample Daily Feeding Schedule
| Time | What to do | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Turn on heat and UVB. Let the turtle warm up. | Check water temperature first. |
| Mid-morning | Main meal: pellets plus a few worms or greens. | Feed in a small tub for aquatic turtles to keep the tank clean. |
| Afternoon | Basking and activity time. | Net out any leftover food. |
| Early evening (optional) | Small second meal for very young hatchlings, or a few leaves. | Finish well before lights go out so food can digest. |
| 2-3 times a week | Dust live food with calcium (+ D3 as directed). | Keep a feeding log to spot trends. |
Foods to Avoid for Baby Turtles
- Bread, crackers, cheese, processed or salty meats: they can cause digestive and kidney problems.
- Iceberg lettuce and celery: mostly water, little nutrition.
- Heavy spinach, cabbage or rhubarb: oxalates and goitrogens can interfere with calcium.
- Wild-caught insects from treated lawns, plus fireflies, which are toxic to reptiles.
- Raw store-bought meat: bacteria risk for you and the turtle.
- Goldfish and rosy red minnows as a staple: they can contain thiaminase, which breaks down vitamin B1.
If your turtle seems sick after eating, use our reptile health symptom checker and call an exotic vet.
What to Feed Baby Turtles by Species
Baby Red-Eared Sliders
Sliders eat pellets, small live prey and greens, and tend to overeat. Vitamin A deficiency is common if the diet is poor. Read our red-eared slider feeding guide for details.
Baby Painted Turtles
Hatchlings eat floating pellets, small aquatic prey and duckweed, fed in the water. Keep water warm and clean. See what painted turtles eat.
Baby Snapping Turtles
They are heavy carnivores that eat earthworms, small fish and sinking pellets. Use tongs, since even babies bite. See what snapping turtles eat.
Baby Box Turtles
Box turtles are land omnivores. They need small crawling prey (earthworms, pillbugs) and finely chopped colorful vegetables, served in a shallow dish. See what to feed a box turtle.
Best Food Products for Baby Turtles
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, PetMealGuide earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Zoo Med Hatchling Formula
High-protein micro pellets specially designed for baby turtles.
View ProductSkip brightly colored “turtle sticks” with fillers. Calcium powder sticks to insects, but washes off in water, so many keepers use a separate feeding tub. More picks are in our reptile nutrition product guide. Feeding tongs also help protect fingers and keep hands out of the water.
Video: How to Feed a Baby Turtle
What Vets and Official Sources Say
- VCA Animal Hospitals (Drs. Rich, Hess and Axelson): metabolic bone disease results from an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus due to an improper diet, too little UV light, or both. Vitamin A deficiency is also tied to inappropriate diets. Affected turtles may grow slowly and not reach full size. Read VCA’s guide to aquatic turtle diseases.
- MSD Veterinary Manual: manufactured reptile diets can be a simpler alternative to fresh produce or live prey, and temperature, lighting and stress can affect how well reptiles eat. Read the manual’s reptile nutrition section.
- Find a vet: the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians lists vets who treat reptiles.
These are summaries in our own words with links to the originals. They are not a vet’s review of this page.
Baby Turtle Feeding FAQ
What can I feed a baby turtle if I don’t have pellets?
For a day or two, offer chopped earthworms, plain cooked chicken or fish, or shredded carrot. Avoid anything seasoned. Buy hatchling pellets as soon as you can.
What do baby turtles eat in the wild?
Hatchlings eat small insects, larvae, worms and tiny fish or tadpoles, and later add aquatic plants.
How often should I feed a baby turtle?
Most hatchlings are fed daily, in small amounts. Older turtles are fed less often. Follow your species’ needs and your vet’s advice.
How much should I feed a baby turtle?
About what it can finish in 10-15 minutes, or a total amount near the size of its head. Remove leftovers.
What do you feed baby turtles to make their shells hard?
Calcium-rich foods plus vitamin D3 and UVB light. Without UVB, a turtle can’t use dietary calcium well, which can lead to soft or deformed shells.
What should I feed a newborn turtle that won’t eat?
Check water and basking temperatures first, since cold turtles often stop eating. Then try live bloodworms or a scented food. If it refuses food for more than a few days, see an exotic vet.
Can baby turtles eat fruit?
Only as a rare treat. Fruit is high in sugar and can upset the gut. Greens and protein should come first.
Can baby turtles eat lettuce?
Romaine is okay in small amounts, but dandelion and other dark greens are better. Avoid iceberg, which has little nutrition.
How long can a baby turtle go without eating?
Hatchlings have small reserves, so don’t leave a healthy baby without food for long. If your turtle stops eating for more than a few days, check its temperatures and call a vet.
Why does my baby turtle only eat on land or only in water?
Aquatic turtles need water to swallow, so feed them in the water. Land turtles like box turtles eat from a shallow dish on land.
Important Disclaimer
This article is for education only and is not veterinary advice. Baby turtles have different needs by species, age and health. Always consult a qualified exotic or reptile veterinarian before changing diet or treating illness.
Do not feed your turtle bread, dairy, processed meats or salted food. Wash your hands after every contact with your turtle or its habitat.