Painted turtles are omnivores with a diet that changes as they mature. Young painted turtles primarily eat animal protein such as aquatic insects, crustaceans, tadpoles, fish, snails, and other small aquatic animals. As they grow into adults, their diet shifts to include a larger proportion of plant matter, such as aquatic vegetation, algae, cattail seeds and stems, duckweed, dandelion greens, and other water plants. Adults also consume carrion occasionally. They feed mainly in water, using their sharp beak to bite food into smaller pieces and can forage both by hunting small prey and scavenging
. In captivity, a balanced diet for painted turtles includes commercial turtle pellets, leafy greens like collard greens or romaine lettuce, and occasional protein sources such as insects, small fish, or cooked meats. Calcium supplementation with cuttlebone is also recommended to maintain health
. Overall, painted turtles' diet consists of:
- Aquatic insects and larvae (e.g., dragonfly larvae, midges)
- Crustaceans and snails
- Small fish and fish eggs
- Tadpoles and frogs
- Aquatic plants and algae (e.g., duckweed, water lettuce, cattails)
- Carrion (dead animals)
- Terrestrial plants and greens (e.g., dandelion, collard greens)
They adapt their diet based on availability and age, with juveniles being more carnivorous and adults more herbivorous
. During winter, painted turtles hibernate and do not eat, surviving on stored energy while buried in mud at the bottom of water bodies
. This diverse omnivorous diet helps painted turtles thrive in various aquatic environments across North America.
