The nest area should have easy access for turtles. Nest area containers can be made from a large plastic trash can cut in half or a variety of smaller plastic containers. The nesting area can also serve as the basking area. Diet and Nutrition A balanced diet is very important for good health. A wide variety of foods should be fed.
Whole fish are better than gutted fish, and can be fed chopped or whole.
Most suppliers of feeder fish minimize their feeding to insure good water quality in overcrowded setups. Ideally, fish should be well fed prior to being fed to turtles. Freezing for more than 3 days may eliminate transfer of parasites. Goldfish can be frozen in water in ice cube trays to reduce freezer burn. Wild caught sticklebacks and mosquito fish should not be fed because they are natural vectors for several serious parasites.