Zoo database

Diamondback terrapin

Malaclemmys terrapin

Natural diet Diamondback terrapin

Algae
Invertebrates / crustaceans
Leaves

Diamondback terrapins are omnivorous feeders that opportunistically consume a variety of prey items, including small fish, crustaceans and shellfish. Next to this, they consume vegetation such as sea grasses and marsh plants.

Feeding advice Diamondback terrapin

Feed quantity per day

2-5% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 0.3 kg and eats 4% of its body weight, it will get

0.3 x 0.04 = 0.012 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

60% Insects and other invertebrates
10% Concentrates
30% Leafy and cabbage vegetables

Proportions (fresh product)

0.6 x 0.012 kg = 7.2 g insects and other invertebrates
0.1 x 0.012 kg = 1.2 g concentrates
0.3 x 0.012 kg = 3.6 g leafy and cabbage vegetables

Diet suggestions

Not recommended

Fruits

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over one feeding moment per day.
Although diamondback terrapins live in brackish water, they require fresh water to stay hydrated.
Place food outside of the water, as their messy eating-style can affect water quality.
Feeding fruits might lead to might lead to gastro-intestinal disturbances because of the high sugar level and low fiber level in cultivated fruits compared to wild fruits (read more about nutritional values of (wild) fruits and vegetables).
Provide feed enrichment by placing food on logs and/or rocks (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

Vitamin E deficiency
Obesity
Shell deformities
Fatty liver disease
Bloating

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

DK Aquatic Carnivore Gel

DK Aquatic Herbivore Gel

Smelt IQF - 10 kg box

Cockles meat

Whole shrimp

Mussel meat IQF - 10 kg box

Hennie de Boer