Can Turtles Eat Bananas? Bananas are a pretty common fruit to see in most grocery stores. They are sweet, tasty, and very healthy to us humans, “but” have you ever seen one in a turtle’s food bowl? Most people would think not because they believe that the fruit is poisonous to reptiles.
However, this assumption needs to be challenged because there are many different types of bananas that have varying levels of potassium which basically helps maintain fluid levels in the body.
The levels of potassium in bananas are not poisonous, but it could cause some problems for your turtle!
So, if you’re wondering whether or not your turtle can eat a banana then read on! We will break down the types of bananas and how safe they may be for your pet to enjoy.
If you do decide to let your turtle eat a banana make sure it isn’t too ripe because this causes more of the starch instead of sugar which is not good for reptiles’ digestive systems.
Can Baby Turtles Eat Bananas?
Yes, baby turtles can eat bananas! However, they shouldn’t eat them on a daily basis. If they do then the turtle can suffer from constipation.
Bananas need to be fed to your baby turtle in moderation and you should make sure that the banana isn’t overripe because this could cause some problems with digestion later on down the road.
Baby turtles are even more sensitive than adult reptiles so you should monitor their banana intake very closely because it could cause some digestive issues.
It is safe for your turtle if given occasionally but too many of the fruit will cause problems with their health later on down the road.
Can Turtles Eat Unripe Bananas?
Yes! If your turtle is a fruit-eater then you will want to feed them an unripe banana because they are still sweet and full of nutrients that turtles need.
Unripe bananas also have probiotic bacteria that can aid in your turtle’s digestive process. They also absorb nutrients better than ripe bananas so it’s a great food for them to eat!
However, if the bananas start turning brown this means that they have begun to ferment which means it has started going bad so stop feeding those types of bananas or any spoiled fruits at all for that matter.
Benefits:
- High Resistant Starch Content
- Absorbs Nutrients Better
- Low In Sugar
Disadvantages:
- Low Levels Of Antioxidants
- Can Cause Bloating And Gas
What About Ripe Bananas?
Bananas that have turned a yellowish color are still good for your turtles to eat. After all, they won’t be eating the skin so it shouldn’t matter if the outside of the fruit has started to go bad.
Just make sure that there are no brown spots or any fuzzy growths on the peel because this is a sign that your turtle shouldn’t eat it.
This type of fruit offers different nutrients than those found in an unripe one, but just like any other food for your turtle, they should only be given as treats and not on a daily basis.
Benefits:
- Higher Levels Of Antioxidants
- Easier To Digest
Disadvantages:
- Contants Less Vitamins & Minerals
- High In Sugar Content
- Some Micronutrient Loss
So as you can see, there are in fact benefits on both sides when feeding bananas to your turtles and although overripe bananas do have less to offer health-wise they are much easier to digest than ones that are unripe.
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Can They Eat Cooked Bananas?
Yes, you can feed your turtle-cooked bananas if that is all that they will eat. As long as it isn’t spoiled then cooking shouldn’t change the food too much and it should be safe for them to eat!
Just keep in mind that cooked bananas might become a bit mushy and will be easier for your turtle to digest.
However, depending on where you live in the world, bananas like the (Saba banana) that need to be cooked before consuming because they contain the toxin hypoglycin which isn’t good especially for turtles.
Just remember bananas should never make up an entire meal for your turtle because it’s still high in sugar and carbs so this could lead to obesity problems in the long run.
Can Turtles Eat Banana Skins?
No! If you feed your turtles banana skins then it can cause some issues with their health including gut obstruction because the fruit’s thick peel isn’t easy to break down inside of them which could lead to problems later on if not properly digested right away by the reptile.
If they do eat a large piece of skin then this can also cause an intestinal blockage as well even though it’s soft enough for them to pass through without too much trouble.
This is why we don’t recommend feeding any part of the peel at all. However, there are ways to make the peels easier for turtles to digest without having too many issues.
One way is by boiling them in water as we mentioned above, but another one is making sure they are very well cooked before giving them to your turtle which will break down their indigestible fiber into something that’s not only edible but also absorbable!
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How Many Bananas Can Turtles Eat?
If they are healthy then you shouldn’t be feeding your turtle more than one banana every other day or even once per week depending on the size/age of your turtle.
A good way around this issue is by cutting half a peeled banana into small pieces so that they don’t eat too much at any one time but also give them enough food to keep their natural instincts satisfied.
Turtles need lots of fiber in their diet, but they also need to eat a lot of veggies and some fruit is ok if it’s done right.
You also need to consider the levels of potassium in each banana! The more bananas you feed your turtle the more potassium they will ingest.
This is why it’s very important to keep the number of bananas you’re feeding your turtle to a bare minimum.
Potassium Levels
Potassium is extremely important for many different things in the body, but it’s also one of those nutrients that can be dangerous if you have too much or too little.
When your turtle has an excess amount of potassium then this leads to Hyperkalemia which causes their muscles and nerves to not function as they should leading to paralysis throughout the reptiles’ entire body!
A medium-sized banana typically contains 422 mg or 9% (AI) of potassium per banana!
However, it is important to note that the adequate intake (AI) of calcium and magnesium are also high in each serving of bananas so you need to be careful when feeding them this fruit!
Benefits of Feeding Turtles Bananas
Using bananas as a healthy treat for your turtle is ok to do, but it’s usually used as a supplement to their diet rather than the base of it.
A medium-sized banana typically contains 422 mg or 12% of the daily value for vitamin C which isn’t too bad but can still cause problems if they have a lot more than just one banana.
Bananas also contain lots of sugar even though they’re technically an excellent source for manganese, dietary fiber, Vitamin B-12, copper, biotin as well as other nutrients like niacin (vitamin B) thiamine (vitamin B), phosphorus.
The vitamin B-complex found inside of each banana will help improve memory, increase energy levels, and even lower stress while increasing mood!
So if your turtles seem sluggish then adding some extra vitamins into their diets might be something worth trying out especially since bananas work well for most reptiles.
| Nutritions | 1 Medium-Sized Banana |
|---|---|
| Water | 75% |
| Calories | 89 |
| Protein | 1.1 grams |
| Potassium | 422 mg |
| Sugar | 12.2 grams |
| Carbs | 22.8 grams |
| Fiber | 2.6 grams |
| Fat | 0.3 grams |
Type Of Bananas Can They Can Eat
There are many different types of bananas out there to choose from, so it’s important you know ones are safe for your turtle before feeding them.
You should also stick to organic bananas because anything that has been exposed to pesticides or other chemicals could be potentially harmful to the turtle especially if they are still young.
Cavendish Bananas
The Cavendish banana is the most common type of banana that is found in most grocery stores, and it’s also the one that is typically used for human consumption.
This variety of bananas has a smooth texture and a sweet taste which makes them perfect for feeding turtles. If you’re looking for a healthy snack option then the Cavendish banana should be your first choice!
Lady’s Finger Bananas
The Ladyfinger bananas are smaller than the average Cavendish bananas, but they are packed with flavor. They also have a creamier texture than other types of bananas which some people say tastes like vanilla or even strawberries!
These bananas can be eaten raw or cooked depending on what you want to do with them, but either way, it’s safe to feed them to your turtle.
Cooking Bananas
Bananas are one of the only fruits that you can successfully cook, and they make a great alternative to feeding your turtle normal feeder insects.
Although they don’t have as much nutrition compared to uncooked bananas, cooked bananas are still a great way to get your turtle to eat their vegetables.
Apple Bananas
Apple bananas are a type of banana that is typically found in tropical climates, and they have a sweet and tart taste. This variety of bananas is perfect for feeding your turtle because it’s low in potassium levels.
They are also high in other nutrients that your reptile needs like vitamin C and fiber. If you’re looking for a new type of banana to try then the apple banana should be at the top of your list!
Papaya Bananas
Papaya bananas are a unique type of banana that is known for being one of the only ones to be eaten both raw and cooked.
They have a sweet flavor which makes them perfect for feeding turtles, but they are also incredibly high in potassium so you don’t want to feed your turtle too much!
How To Feed Bananas To Your Turtle?
There’s actually more than one way to go about it but here is what we recommend… Start by cutting up half a peeled banana into small pieces and let them try some on their own before giving it as a whole.
If they eat it then you can give more whole pieces of the banana to them for a treat, but be careful because too much fruit will cause digestive problems.
However, you can also give them banana puree especially if you have a baby turtle just not too much because of how high in sugar they actually are!
Try mixing their normal food with this fruit instead for an extra boost of vitamins throughout the day without causing any digestive issues.
You should also monitor how many bananas your turtle is eating and make sure that their diet isn’t being made up entirely on this fruit.
Remember, Just feeding them bananas could lead to malnutrition or obesity due to all those carbs which can be very dangerous for turtles!
Conclusion
So there you have it, folks! We hope that you have a better understanding of whether or not turtles can eat bananas and the different types of bananas that are safe for them to consume.
If you’re wondering whether or not your reptile pet can eat bananas then we hope that this article has helped answer some questions for you today.
There are many types of bananas that have varying amounts of potassium, as mentioned in this article, so it is up to you if you’d like your turtle to eat one.
Always keep in mind that bananas are high sugar fruits, which raises the blood glucose levels often causing hyperglycemia.
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