Baby painted turtles primarily eat a diet high in protein, consisting mostly of small aquatic animals. Their diet includes small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans, tadpoles, worms, and carrion (dead fish and insects). They are mainly carnivorous when young and gradually incorporate more plant matter as they mature

. In captivity, baby painted turtles can be fed a variety of protein-rich foods such as insects, small earthworms, and commercial turtle food supplemented with small pieces of meat and insects. It is important to provide them with some vegetables or greens as well, though protein should make up about 60-75% of their diet at this stage

. They require daily feeding with a varied diet to meet their nutritional needs, especially calcium, to prevent shell abnormalities. Painted turtles must eat in water because their mouths do not manipulate food well on land

Summary of Baby Painted Turtle Diet:

• Small fish (e.g., minnows, guppies)
• Aquatic insects and larvae
• Crustaceans (e.g., crayfish)
• Tadpoles and small amphibians
• Worms (earthworms, tubifex)
• Carrion (dead fish/insects)
• Some aquatic plants and greens (dandelion, duckweed, hornwort) as they grow

Feeding them a diet rich in animal protein with some plant matter and calcium supplementation is ideal for healthy growth