Can Turtles Eat Potatoes? All You Need to Know Before Feeding

If you have a pet turtle, I bet you’ve wanted to share your food with your little friend. I know I have! It’s just like when we share food with our dogs and cats. But wait – can we give potatoes to our turtle friends? Let me tell you everything you need to know about turtles and potatoes.

So, can turtles eat potatoes? The answer is – it depends on how we prepare them. Raw potatoes are not good for turtles. But small pieces of cooked potatoes can be okay sometimes. However, potatoes are not the best food choice for your turtle friend.

In this article, I’m going to tell you why potatoes can be tricky for turtles. I’ll also share what happens if your turtle eats potatoes. Keep reading if you want to learn more about keeping your turtle safe and happy!

Can You Feed Potatoes To Your Pet Turtle?

The short answer is – be very careful! Since potatoes are vegetables, many people think they must be good for turtles. But potatoes are different from other vegetables that turtles love to eat.

Turtles have very sensitive tummies that cannot handle some foods well. Let me show you what’s inside 100 grams of potatoes:

• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Sugar: 0.8 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Calcium: 12 mg
• Phosphorus: 57 mg
• Vitamin C: 19.7 mg
• Potassium: 421 mg
• Magnesium: 23 mg
• Iron: 0.8 mg
• Fiber: 2.2 g
• Starch: 15.3 g

Looking at this list, I can see some problems for our turtle friends. Potatoes have way too much phosphorus compared to calcium. This creates a bad ratio that can hurt your turtle’s health.

Potatoes also have a lot of starch and carbohydrates. Turtles don’t need this much starchy food. Too much starch can make their tummies upset and cause other health problems.

Raw potatoes have something called solanine. This is like poison for many animals, including turtles. That’s why we should never give raw potatoes to our turtle friends.

Do Turtles Like Potatoes?

Most turtles don’t really love potatoes. They prefer leafy greens and other vegetables that are better for them. If you give your turtle a piece of cooked potato, they might eat it. But they usually like other foods much better.

I’ve noticed that turtles are smart about food. They often know what’s good for them and what’s not so good. If your turtle doesn’t want to eat potatoes, listen to your turtle!

Health Risks for Turtles Eating Potatoes

Even though potatoes might seem harmless, they can cause problems for turtles. Let me tell you about the biggest health risks:

Tummy Problems

Potatoes have a lot of starch and carbohydrates. Turtle tummies are not made to digest so much starchy food. This can cause:

• Upset stomach
• Diarrhea
• Gas and bloating
• Loss of appetite

When turtles eat too many potatoes, their digestive system gets confused. It’s like giving them food that their bodies don’t understand how to handle properly.

Calcium Problems

This is a big problem! Turtles need much more calcium than phosphorus in their food. The perfect ratio is 2:1 – that means two parts calcium to one part phosphorus.

But potatoes have way more phosphorus than calcium. When turtles eat foods with bad calcium-phosphorus ratios, the phosphorus stops their bodies from using calcium properly. This can cause:

• Weak shells
• Soft, bendy shells
• Broken bones
• A scary disease called Metabolic Bone Disease

Solanine Poisoning (From Raw Potatoes)

Raw potatoes contain solanine, especially green potatoes or potatoes with eyes growing on them. Solanine is very dangerous for turtles and can cause:

• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Confusion
• Serious illness
• In bad cases, it can even cause death

This is why I always tell people to never, ever give raw potatoes to turtles!

Too Many Calories

Potatoes have a lot of calories but not many of the good nutrients that turtles need. If turtles eat too many potatoes, they might:

• Gain too much weight
• Become lazy and not want to swim or move around
• Get sick from being overweight

How Much Potatoes Should Turtles Eat?

Here’s my advice: if you really want to give your turtle some potato, make it a very small treat. Here’s what I recommend:

• Only give cooked potato (never raw!)
• Make the piece very tiny – about the size of your pinky nail
• Only give potato once in a while – maybe once a month
• Make sure the potato has no salt, butter, or seasonings

But honestly, I think there are much better treats for your turtle. Leafy greens, squash, and turtle-safe fruits are much better choices.

Can You Feed Potatoes to Baby Turtles?

No, no, no! Please don’t give potatoes to baby turtles. Baby turtles have even more sensitive tummies than grown-up turtles. Their little bodies are still learning how to digest food properly.

Baby turtles need special foods that help them grow strong shells and healthy bodies. Potatoes don’t give them what they need and might make them sick.

If you have a baby turtle, stick to foods that are made just for young turtles. Ask your vet what’s best for your little friend.

What About Different Types of Potatoes?

You might wonder if some potatoes are better than others. Let me tell you about different types:

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are actually better for turtles than regular potatoes! They have more vitamins and are easier to digest. But they should still only be a small treat, not a main food.

White Potatoes

Regular white potatoes are the ones I’ve been talking about in this article. They’re not the best choice for turtles.

Purple Potatoes

Purple potatoes have some good things in them, but they still have the same problems as white potatoes – too much starch and bad calcium-phosphorus ratio.

Potato Skins

Never give potato skins to turtles! The skins can have more solanine and are hard for turtles to digest.

Better Food Choices for Your Turtle

Instead of potatoes, here are some foods that are much better for your turtle friend:

Leafy Greens (The Best!)

• Collard greens
• Dandelion greens
• Mustard greens
• Kale (small amounts)

Other Good Vegetables

• Squash
• Bell peppers
• Carrots (small amounts)
• Green beans

Safe Fruits (As Treats)

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Melon
• Grapes (cut in small pieces)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can Box Turtles Eat Potatoes?

Box turtles can eat many different foods, but potatoes are still not a good choice for them. They have the same problems with potatoes as other turtles do. It’s better to give them foods that are made for their bodies.

Can Red Eared Slider Turtles Eat Potatoes?

Red eared slider turtles have very sensitive tummies. Even a small piece of potato might give them diarrhea or make them sick. I don’t recommend giving potatoes to red eared sliders at all.

Can Painted Turtles Eat Potatoes?

Painted turtles are water turtles who like to eat plants and small animals. Potatoes are not part of their natural diet. It’s better to give them foods they would find in their natural home, like water plants and small fish.

What Should I Do If My Turtle Ate a Potato?

Don’t panic! If your turtle ate a small piece of cooked potato, they will probably be okay. Watch them for a few days to make sure they’re acting normal, eating well, and going to the bathroom normally.

But if your turtle ate raw potato or a lot of potato, call your vet right away. And if your turtle seems sick after eating potato – like throwing up, not eating, or acting strange – get help from a vet quickly.

Are Potato Chips Okay for Turtles?

Absolutely not! Potato chips have salt, oil, and other things that are very bad for turtles. Never give your turtle any kind of processed potato food like chips, fries, or mashed potatoes with butter.

Signs Your Turtle Might Be Sick From Food

If your turtle eats something that doesn’t agree with them, here are signs to watch for:

• Not wanting to eat their regular food
• Sleeping more than usual
• Not swimming or moving around normally
• Runny or strange-colored poop
• Throwing up
• Acting scared or hiding more than usual

If you see any of these signs, it’s time to call your vet.

Creating a Healthy Diet for Your Turtle

The best way to keep your turtle healthy is to give them a balanced diet. Here’s what I recommend:

Daily Foods (80% of Diet)

• Leafy greens
• Turtle pellets (good quality ones)
• Water plants (for aquatic turtles)

Weekly Foods (15% of Diet)

• Other vegetables like squash and bell peppers
• Small amounts of protein (for omnivorous turtles)

Treats (5% of Diet)

• Small pieces of fruit
• Special turtle treats from the pet store

Notice that potatoes don’t fit anywhere in this healthy diet plan!

Conclusion

I know you love your turtle and want to share your food with them. It’s sweet that you care so much! But when it comes to potatoes, it’s better to find other treats that are safer and healthier for your shelled friend.

Remember, raw potatoes are never okay for turtles. Cooked potatoes might be okay as a tiny treat once in a while, but they’re not good regular food. There are so many better choices that your turtle will love more and that will keep them healthy and happy.

Your turtle depends on you to make good food choices for them. By choosing the right foods, you’re showing your turtle how much you love them. And trust me, a healthy, happy turtle is the best kind of pet to have!

If you’re ever unsure about what to feed your turtle, ask your vet. They know all about turtle nutrition and can help you make the best choices for your special friend. Your turtle is lucky to have someone who cares enough to learn about proper nutrition!