Can Red Eared Sliders Eat Watermelon?

red eared slider turtleYes, they can eat watermelon. There is no harm in feeding red-eared slider turtles with this type of fruit that has plenty of nutrients and minerals essential for the normal functioning of its body systems.

You can feed your loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) with peeled watermelon to keep it healthy and strong and can serve as a delicious dessert after every meal.

However, there are certain precautions that you should take while feeding turtles fruit like watermelons or anything else edible that can be found on a menu list for them. It is not advisable to feed them canned food since they can get sick from their excessive intake of salt content in such foods which can lead to dehydration in the body of the pet.

It can also cause dysentery to develop in the system of these aquatic turtles which can prove fatal for them if left untreated by you. Similarly, it is not advisable to feed them lettuce since there is a high amount of calcium present in it that can result in kidney problems due to the excessive hardness of the urinary calculi (mineral deposits) when they are excreted from their body systems via kidneys.

watermelon slicesWhen feeding watermelon off to your turtle, be sure first to peel off its outer shell and throw this part far away from where the turtle is kept so that it can’t get hurt while dragging or biting on this thick outer layer. Always ensure that you scrub well with a vegetable brush before cutting off the fruit into small pieces so that it can be easily consumed.

You can offer your pet turtle with a slice or two of this juicy and sweet fruit in order to make it feel energetic and active for the rest of the day to come. You can feed him with watermelon slices during summer season when there is an abundance of this type of fruit available on the market. Just ensure that you don’t overfeed him with too much food since he can get sick or even die from overeating.

There is no harm in feeding your turtle with any other type of high calorie fruits since they can also serve as a source of energy for these aquatic creatures which can keep them active throughout the day. Fruits like peaches, apples, and melons can also be fed to these creatures as a treat during their meal time.