Can Turtles Eat Cheese? A Big No, Please!

Turtles don’t get access to cheese in the wild, and they are fine with that. But in captivity, some turtle owners tend to offer cheese to their pets. But can turtles eat cheese?

No, turtles can’t eat cheese. If you feed them cheese, they can’t digest it. Cheese and other dairy products aren’t suitable for the complex digestive system of these reptiles. So they are deprived of the necessary nutrients. Besides, cheese can cause indigestion, vomiting, and other health problems in turtles.

I will tell you why turtles shouldn’t eat cheese, the risks associated with it, and healthier food options for turtles. Read till the end.

Can Turtles Eat Cheese? What Are the Problems?

Turtles have a different digestive system than humans. They have adapted to an omnivorous diet pattern that includes meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. So, they will naturally eat these items without any problems.

But when it comes to processed dairy foods like cheese, turtles can’t handle them. Their digestive system can’t break down cheese or other dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, etc. They don’t have the enzyme responsible for breaking down dairy products. 

Cheese has a high fat content with a moderate amount of protein. It is also rich in minerals like Calcium, which improves bone health. But all these are applicable when the cheese is digested and the nutrients are absorbed in the body.

Even though cheese has high nutritional values, that is limited to creatures that can digest cheese. As turtles can’t digest it, cheese has no nutritional benefits for turtles. Instead, cheese causes many problems in turtles. The main problem is indigestion. 

Cheese actually reduces the space for other healthy foods. So, turtles shouldn’t eat cheese at all. But can turtles eat bread? Well, they can, but bread is not good for them either.

Alongside adult turtles, baby turtles also can’t eat cheese. Rather, the risk of feeding cheese to your baby turtle is more harmful since their digestive system is stronger than adults. I have discussed the risks of feeding cheese to your pet turtle in the following section. 

Risks of Feeding Cheese to Turtles

As turtles can’t digest cheese, it has fewer direct risks. Most of the risks associated with eating cheese are indirect. Check them below.

Cheese Causes Indigestion and Vomiting

As their stomachs can’t digest cheese, those blocks of cheese clog their digestive tract.

Even if you feed a small cube of cheese to your turtle, it will not be able to digest the cheese. Until the cheese is excreted from the body, your pet may continue to suffer from indigestion. 

Pain is the most common result of eating cheese. Sometimes, turtles can vomit after eating cheese or other dairy products.

Cheese Distracts Turtles from Eating Healthy Foods

If you keep several different foods in front of turtles, including cheese, chances are the turtle might approach the cheese. It is because they want to try various foods. 

And if the turtle is already familiar with the taste of cheese, it will surely pick the cheese. As a result, it might ignore other food options like fruits or vegetables.

Regular Cheese Eating Affects the Immune System

Turtles get their nutrients from a variety of food, both plant-based and animal-based. These nutrients keep their immune system strong to prevent diseases. But, if they intake cheese regularly, the lack of nutrients will be detrimental. As a result, your turtles will feel lethargic and can become sick frequently.

Cheese Residue Can Affect the Turtle Ecosystem

As turtles can’t digest cheese and typically vomit after eating it, they are most likely to litter their habitats. If it is an aquatic turtle, cheese residue and vomit can pollute the water in their tanks. The growth of microorganisms in the water tank may cause diseases in turtles. So, it is better not to give cheese to turtles at all.

So, I suggest not offering cheese or any kind of dairy products to your turtles. You should give them other healthy foods that actually benefit them. I will talk about those options later.

Do Turtles Like Cheese?

Of course. The delicious taste and soft, creamy texture of the cheese are something that no one can ignore. This is true for these cute reptiles as well. Turtles love to munch on different types of cheese, should they get access to that.

Here is a video of a turtle eating cheese happily. Check it out:

But don’t let this video fool you. Cheese isn’t a good food for turtles. In fact, cheese causes a lot of problems in turtles. So, you shouldn’t allow your pet turtles to eat cheese.

What Other Foods Turtles Shouldn’t Eat?

Besides different types of cheese, turtles should avoid some other risky foods. I am giving a list below for your consideration.

• Dairy foods (such as butter, milk, yogurt, cream, and so on)
• Chocolates, corn syrup, or any other processed food that contains too much sugar
• Foods that contain too much salt and preservatives (any processed food)
• Different types of breads (such as whole wheat breads, brown breads, etc.)

These foods have no nutritional benefits for turtles. So, you shouldn’t give them to your pet. Instead, I can suggest some healthy foods.

What Foods Can Turtles Eat Without Problems?

Turtles are generally omnivorous, which means they can eat animal-based and plant-based natural foods without risks. Below are some lists of healthy foods for them. 

For Protein, Vitamins, and Minerals

The following foods are high in protein, vitamins, and minerals that are actually beneficial to turtles.

• Small feeder fishes like guppies, killifish, crappies, etc.
• Fish eggs
• Live or dried insects, such as grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, etc.
• Worms such as earthworms, waxworms, and mealworms (yes, turtles can eat mealworms!)
• Live or dried shrimp
• Small mollusks

For Vitamins and Minerals

Fruits and vegetables are very good sources of the necessary vitamins and minerals for turtles. So, consider giving them the following items besides protein-based foods.

• Leafy greens like mustard greens, dandelion greens, kale, etc.
• Root vegetables, like carrots
• Cucumber
• Broccoli
• Green beans
• Bok choy
• Lettuce 
• Apples 
• Grapes
• Melons
• Strawberries
• Bananas

Conclusion

Cheese is, hands down, a delicious food. But that is to us, not our pet turtles. Before you give them cheese and cause problems, ask yourself, can turtles eat cheese?

The answer is a bit complex. Turtles can eat cheese, but that won’t benefit them in any way. Instead, cheese causes indigestion and loss of appetite in turtles. 

Eating cheese may also cause vomiting, lethargy, aggressiveness, etc. Most importantly, it prevents turtles from eating healthy foods. Make sure your turtle fills its stomach with some nutrition-dense foods, not these fancy dairy items.