African Mud Turtles

The African Mud Turtle (Peliosis subniger) is a mostly Aquatic species of turtle which requires basking facilities.
These are an omnivore in the wild eating all sorts of insects, fish, carrion and certain vegetation.
The diet of these turtles in the wild is naturally varied due to the opportunistic nature of its existence, and a high proportion of its calcium, vitamin D3 and protein requirements are obtained from the non vegetation portion of its diet.
It is therefore important to provide these turtles with a diet which does not consist exclusively of ‘turtle pellets’.
The diet which I am currently providing my Mud Turtles consists of a variety of makes of Turtle pellets ( T-rex, Nutrobal and Hikari – I will over time vary this to ensure as much variety as possible is obtained), small whole fish (such as whitebait), Earth worms, Crickets, a small number of blue bottles, small flies and opportunistic insects and re-hydrated low protein dog/cat food – and in the environment I have introduced a number of small floating plants to provide natural diet.
I again supplement the diet with Calcium and vitamin powders, and provide Basking and UVB lighting to ensure good calcium absorption and healthy bone and shell growth.