Having a pet turtle can be a fun and interesting journey. One of the coolest things is to give your turtle a treat and see just how happy it makes them. It’s a great way of showing your turtle you care. Unfortunately, not everything we see as a treat is safe for a turtle. One of the biggest questions asked by turtle owners is can turtles eat chocolate? It makes sense considering the human love of this sweet treat and our want to share tasty things with our pets. However, when it comes to chocolate and turtles, allowing them to indulge in a bit of chocolate is very dangerous. So, the answer to the question is no, turtles cannot eat chocolate. Read on to learn why it’s dangerous and how to avoid this risky food.

Why Is Chocolate Dangerous for Turtles?

If you’re a fan of chocolate, you most likely know it is made from cocoa beans. These beans are processed and ground before other ingredients like flavorings, sugar, and milk are added in. There are several reasons why this mixture is dangerous to your turtle so let’s take a look at them.

Caffeine and Theobromine

Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that is found in cocoa beans. While we humans may live on caffeine, turtles can suffer greatly from it. Caffeine can cause an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and even loss of sleep in turtles. Chocolate also contains theobromine, which is quite similar to caffeine. You’ll find that theobromine is toxic to turtles, especially if they have it in high amounts.

Sugar

There are several reasons why a turtle shouldn’t have sugar. One sugar issue is the dangerously high levels of energy it can give your turtle. 100 grams of milk chocolate contains 51.5 grams of sugar. That’s a lot for a turtle. This amount of sugar can also cause insulin resistance, cholesterol spikes, and obesity.

Dairy

Cocoa beans are mixed with milk when chocolate is created. Turtles don’t really need nutrients that are found in milk or other dairy products. Turtles are lactase deficient.  Allowing your turtle to have dairy can lead to a life of digestive issues for your little pal.

Artificial Ingredients

We all know artificial ingredients aren’t good for us. They’re also not good for your turtle. Chocolate is known to have a lot of these artificial ingredients. All the extra chemicals found in chocolate may not cause your turtle an issue immediately, but over time, they can attack your turtle’s digestive system, bones, and muscles.

Calcium Deficiency

Calcium is extremely important to a turtle. If your turtle lacks proper calcium, its bones may be brittle, the shell can be spongy, and the nerves and muscles work improperly. Chocolate is not good for your turtle’s calcium ratio. To avoid causing your turtle issues with this, don’t allow them to have chocolate or other foods with bad calcium ratios.

What Do I Do If My Turtle Ate Chocolate?

While chocolate is considered toxic for a turtle a small bit won’t instantly harm your pet. It’s best to keep chocolate away from your turtle, but if you drop a small bit and your turtle eats it, they should be fine. However, any time your turtle eats chocolate you should monitor them closely. If you notice no adverse reactions, your turtle is fine. If you do notice issues or changes in behavior, take your turtle to the veterinarian immediately.

Safe Snacks for Your Turtle

Instead of considering a dangerous snack like chocolate, here are a few safe alternatives for your turtle that they will really enjoy.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, chocolate is a dangerous snack to give your turtle. With so many issues that this food can potentially cause, it would be best to steer clear of this sweet treat whenever your turtle is out and about. This is the easiest way to keep your pal healthy. However, if your turtle gets hold of a small piece of chocolate, don’t panic. Reach out to your veterinarian and monitor the situation.

Featured Image Credit: Tetiana Bykovets, Unsplash

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