{"id":434,"date":"2021-11-17T22:08:10","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T22:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/?p=434"},"modified":"2023-10-25T12:12:06","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T12:12:06","slug":"do-painted-turtles-eat-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/do-painted-turtles-eat-fish\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Painted Turtles Eat Fish? Can They Live Together?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Painted Turtles are omnivores and will eat many different types of food. This includes live food, fruits, and vegetation. However, does the live food include eating fish? In this article, we\u2019ll answer the question, do painted turtles eat fish and more? First, we\u2019ll share a brief overview of the Painted Turtle and share some fish Painted Turtles can and cannot eat. In addition, we\u2019ll discuss some problems that might arise while feeding fish to your turtle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/painted-turtle-and-fish.jpg\" alt=\"do painted turtles eat fish - painted turtle and fish\" class=\"wp-image-1209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/painted-turtle-and-fish.jpg 800w, https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/painted-turtle-and-fish-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/painted-turtle-and-fish-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, we\u2019ll share a quick list of food that you can give your Painted Turtle so that they thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li ><a href=\"#faq-question-1673062032123\">What Are Painted Turtles?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#can-baby-painted-turtles-eat-fish\">Can Baby Painted Turtles Eat Fish?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1673062032123\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>What Are Painted Turtles?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Painted Turtles are a type of aquatic turtle native to North America. They have a unique look about them. For instance, their bottom shell is flat, with their top shell being long, smooth, and oval.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Also, they reside mostly in ponds and have webbed feet to help them swim around. They enjoy freshwater with soft, sandy bottoms. In addition,<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Painted_turtle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5176\"> Painted Turtles prefer a basking spot with plenty of aquatic vegetation<\/a> to munch on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They can grow three to ten inches long, weighing about 300 to 500 grams. Painted Turtles have an average lifespan of about 20 to 30 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Painted Turtles are social creatures and don\u2019t mind the company of other Painted Turtles or humans if in captivity. They\u2019re also diurnal, so they\u2019re most active during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, they hibernate in the colder months and become more inactive between October and March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, Painted Turtles are omnivores. They enjoy eating live food and vegetation like aquatic plants or algae. Live food includes aquatic insects and even fish.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out this video: <strong>Do Turtles Eat Fish? Unraveling the Aquatic Mystery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Do Turtles Eat Fish? Unraveling the Aquatic Mystery\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dVsXtDw3wm4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"do-painted-turtles-eat-fish\"><strong>Do Painted Turtles Eat Fish?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Believe it or not, many types of fish Painted Turtles can and will eat. However, like most turtles, Painted Turtles won\u2019t know if a certain fish is good or bad for them. So, if it moves and they can catch it, the turtle will eat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, Painted Turtles tend to go for smaller fish that are easier to catch and won\u2019t put up too much of a fight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, here are some fish that are safe for your Painted Turtles to eat:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Bass<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bluegills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Crappies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guppies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Killifish<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Platies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These fish are all small enough and native to ponds, lakes, and other bodies of fresh water. So, they\u2019re easy for wild turtles to catch and eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, there are some types of fish that you should not feed your Painted Turtle. For instance, they shouldn\u2019t eat the following fish:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Carp<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Goldfish<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gizzard Shad<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feathered Minnows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rosy Red Minnows<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For a quick look to see which fish are safe for your Painted Turtle, take a look at the chart below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Fish Safe For Painted Turtles To Eat<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Fish Not Safe For Painted Turtles To Eat<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bass<\/td><td>Carp<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bluegill<\/td><td>Goldfish<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Crappy<\/td><td>Gizzard Shad<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Guppy<\/td><td>Feathered Minnows<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Killifish<\/td><td>Rosy Red Minnows<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Platy<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"can-baby-painted-turtles-eat-fish\">Can Baby Painted Turtles Eat Fish?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, baby Painted Turtles do eat fish. In fact, their diet is richer in animal protein than adults. They\u2019ll add vegetation to their diet as they get older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, while baby Painted Turtles are still growing, most of their diet will be small fish and other live food since it will help them grow and develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"painted-turtles-and-fish-when-can-problems-happen\"><strong>Painted Turtles And Fish &#8211; When Can Problems Happen?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though feeding fish to your Painted Turtle allows them animal protein, there are some drawbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, never catch fish from the wild and feed them to your Painted Turtle. These fish might carry parasites and other bad bacteria that could make your turtle sick. Buying feeder fish from a reliable pet store is a better option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, even feeder fish can have problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, feeder fish might cause throat or internal blockages due to their spiny bones. In addition, some fish species are too fatty for Painted Turtles to consume (especially often). Also, if eaten too often, some feeder fish will cause a thiamine deficiency in your turtle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-fish-can-live-with-painted-turtles\"><strong>What Fish Can Live With Painted Turtles?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since Painted Turtles are aquatic animals and social creatures, can you have certain fish live with them? The answer is yes, you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, you don\u2019t want to add any fish that your Painted Turtle will be tempted to eat (or add fish that\u2019s unsafe for your turtle to eat, just in case). So, let\u2019s take a look at some fish tank mates that will be ideal for your Painted Turtle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, Zebras and Tetras are great choices. These fish are small, but they\u2019re fast swimmers. So, if your Painted Turtle is tempted, they won\u2019t bother giving chase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sucker fish are another option. Unfortunately, they tend to stick to the bottom of the tank while Painted Turtles enjoy swimming near the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, these bottom feeders or algae eaters will help keep your tank clean. So, it\u2019s a win-win for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yellow Cichlids are also a good choice. These fish are fast, so your Painted Turtle won\u2019t give chase. Also, they\u2019re aggressive, so they\u2019ll be able to stand up for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, you don\u2019t want to add too many Yellow Cichlids, or they might attack your Painted Turtle. Then your turtle might end up getting hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, you want to ensure that the fish and the Painted Turtle have similar habitats. For example, they should both be fresh water and need similar water temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Otherwise, your fish or turtle will get sick and be unhappy in their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that said, here are some fish that you should avoid putting in your Painted Turtle\u2019s tank:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Goldfish<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Koi fish<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tropical fish<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-should-your-painted-turtle-eat\"><strong>What Should Your Painted Turtle Eat?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Painted Turtles should eat a varied diet of live food, fruits, and vegetables. In addition, they\u2019re omnivores and will need a diet that\u2019s rich in calcium. With all of these foods combined, they can get the nutrients they need to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to vegetation, Painted Turtles can eat vegetables like land turtles. However, they\u2019re used to aquatic vegetation. So, some options are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Duckweed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water Lilies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Red-leaf Lettuce<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kale<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anacharis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, they need plenty of protein from live animals. So, you can feed them the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Crickets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mealworms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feeder fish<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ghost Shrimp<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Fruits are not part of their staple diet in the wild. So, they won\u2019t appreciate it much in captivity. However, fruit can be given sparingly if you add a little extra flavor to their meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be mindful that fruit does not float to the water\u2019s surface and will break down and dissolve quickly under the water. So if your Painted Turtle doesn\u2019t see it right away or doesn\u2019t eat it, the water quality will quickly go down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you decide to add some fruit to your Painted Turtle\u2019s diet, leave a little bit on their basking log. Then, if they don\u2019t eat it within an hour or two, take it out and throw it away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some fruit you can give as an occasional treat may be shredded apple pieces, cut-up melon, or cut-up berries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, Painted Turtles can eat fish, but you\u2019ll want to be careful about which fish you choose to feed them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fish is a great snack for them, allowing them to get plenty of protein. However, they should be fed in moderation and always supervised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Want to know more about what <a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/can-turtles-eat-mealworms-guide\/\" data-lasso-id=\"5177\">turtles eat<\/a>? Read our full guide to what painted turtles eat <a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/what-do-painted-turtles-eat-in-the-wild\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"445\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5178\">here<\/a>, whether they eat mealworms <a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/can-turtles-eat-mealworms\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"408\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5179\">here<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/turtles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5180\">find all our turtle guides here.<\/a><\/em> <em>You can also find out what eats painted turtles <a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/what-eats-painted-turtles\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"440\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5181\">here.<\/a> Or if box turtles can eat grapes <a href=\"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/can-box-turtles-eat-grapes\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1038\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"5182\">here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yes they do! Complete guide to when painted turtles will eat fish including what fish can live with painted turtles and whether fish are good for your turtle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":7,"label":"Turtles"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/painted-turtle-and-fish.jpg",800,534,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Frank Kane","author_link":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/author\/frank-kane\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":7,"name":"Turtles","slug":"turtles","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Turtle Care and Health: Tips and advice on how to keep your turtles healthy, including information on diet, habitat setup, temperature, and common health concerns.","parent":0,"count":20,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":7,"category_count":20,"category_description":"Turtle Care and Health: Tips and advice on how to keep your turtles healthy, including information on diet, habitat setup, temperature, and common health concerns.","cat_name":"Turtles","category_nicename":"turtles","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=434"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11330,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434\/revisions\/11330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allourcreatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}