While a turtle can live without encountering mice, they will eat them when the opportunity arises. That being said, pet owners should be careful about what their turtle eats. We’ll show you why turtles eat mice and what foods you can include in their diet.
Do Turtles Eat Mice
Yes! In the wild, turtles will eat dead mice as their bodies contain carrion. When in captivity, the turtles are more likely to attack and eat mice. You can feed them mice, but only do it sparingly and give them a balanced diet.
You can see turtle eating pinky mice in the video below.
Do Snapping Turtles Eat Mice?
Snapping turtles are large turtles that are common in the United States. While there is scarce data on the snapping turtles eating rodents, snapping turtles are omnivores that eat carrion.
Rodents that die and appear underwater will be consumed by snapping turtles. Also, rodents that are too close to the water’s edge will become prey. Pet snapping turtles eat rodents, even though they might be confused by their fur.
You can give your pet snapping turtles mice, but don’t get too carried away. Feeding them too many mice will lead to bloating and further problems down the line.
You can see snapping turtle eating mice in the video below. (Viewers discretion advised)
Can Box Turtles Eat Mice
Box turtles are semi-aquatic and spend their days searching for food. While they are a fearsome predator to worms, slugs, and insects, box turtles don’t have the agility or speed to catch rodents.
Despite this, captive box turtles early accepted pre-killed mice as food.
In the wild, box turtles eat any newborn or dead rodents they encounter.
Can Alligator Snapping Turtles Eat Mice
Did you know that alligator snapping turtles (Macroclemys temminckii) are the largest freshwater turtle species in the world?
Alligator snapping turtles rarely see mice due to their lifestyle.
They tend to inhabit deep water and rarely walk on dry land.
In reality, rodents are a key part of captive turtles in museums and zoos around the world.
Once the turtles reach 150 pounds, they are capable of eating adult rats.
Can Soft-Shell Turtles Eat Mice
Soft-Shell turtles can reach large sizes.
In some species, the females can reach up to 24 inches. When hunting for food, soft-shell turtles hide under the substrate and attempt to ambush them. While they might feed on rodents in captivity, soft-shell turtles rarely encounter them in the wild.
Since soft-shell turtles scavenge for carrion, they will consume an underwater mouse corpse if an opportunity arises.
Should You Feed Mice to Your Turtle as a Diet?
Check the mice before feeding them to your turtle. Some rodents have poisonous chemicals inside their body, so cleaning them is a must. Turtles eat rodents in the wild because it is a good source of protein.
Box turtles love eating the occasional pinky mouse. Thaw the mouse in warm water and use a sharp knife to dice them up to feed them. If you have a larger turtle, they can rip the mice apart. Just make sure the mice are cut to a reasonable size to prevent the turtle from choking.
Do Rats Eat Turtles?
Rats are a threat to hibernating turtles. For example, rodents will cause harm to turtles by biting their legs. The bites can become severe, leading to partial or full amputation. This results in extreme pain for you and your pet.
Hibernation is a vulnerable time for turtles. It’s good to do some research before buying a turtle before making any mistakes. It’s important to keep the tank’s temperature regulated. Doing so keeps the turtle safe and continues the hibernation phase.
How to Protect Your Baby Turtle From Mice?
Baby turtles are more vulnerable to mice. For instance, if a mouse attacks them, it can potentially stunt their growth. Here’s how you can protect your baby turtle so they can grow into healthy adults.
- Separation
Keep your baby turtle and mice completely separate. If you have a pet rodent, keep their cage away from the aquarium, or they will try to climb in. When your turtle goes on land for air, keep your mice away from them. Doing this will ensure that both species don’t encounter each other and attack each other.
- No Underwater Obstacles
Underwater obstacles or traps can be dangerous for your baby turtle. This makes it easier for rats to attack and injure your turtle. Take time to clean your tank from debris, excess food, or algae to keep the turtle safe.
What Should I Include in My Turtle’s Diet?
Mice is a great addition to a turtle’s diet, but it should not be the main focus. Remember, turtles are omnivores, so they’ll need a balanced diet between protein, fruit, and vegetables. Here’s what you should add to their diet:
Plant-Based Sources: Feed your turtle leafy greens such as mustard greens, dandelions, and collards. Some vegetables such as spinach, parsley, and chives, contain chemicals (oxalates), which you should avoid.
Animal Based Sources: You can feed your turtle processed food like trout chow, turtle pellets, and drained sardines. In addition, you can feed them beef, turkey, and cooked prey. Feed your turtle feeder fish, worms, and crickets since they like live prey. Make sure that you raise the insects yourself, undeveloped fields, or pet stores to ensure safety and quality.
Fruit: Feed your turtles bananas, cantaloupe, apples, mangoes, and berries. You can give them non-toxic aquatic plants such as duckweed, hyacinth, and water lettuce.
Don’t make the rookie mistake of overfeeding your turtle. Giving them too many mice will lead to digestive problems. On average, feed your turtles 1-2 mice a week. If they are baby turtles, reduce this number to 1 mouse. Make sure the mice are cut into small pieces to prevent choking.
Conclusion
Turtle’s can eat mice, but they’ll need multiple sources of nutrition to survive. Mice should be given to turtles as a snack, not as a full meal.
When hibernating, keep your turtles away from them to prevent severe injury.
Overall, feed your turtles mice and other foods so they can become healthy adults!
References
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/rats/diet
https://study.com/academy/lesson/snapping-turtles-diet-habitat.html
