• 35.0% minimum crude protein — 10 percentage points above the Maintenance formula, for turtles still growing
• Lower fibre at 5.0% maximum — against 8.0% in the adult food, so more of the pellet is usable nutrition
• Higher vitamin C — 110 mg/kg minimum, the highest of the three formulas
• Pellets float — easy for turtles to find at the surface, and easy for you to net out what is left
• Sized by shell length, not age — Zoo Med sets a clear 5–15 cm window for this formula
• Full declaration on the page — complete ingredient list and guaranteed analysis, not "see pack"
• No artificial colours or flavours — propionic acid is the only preservative in the declaration

As published by Zoo Med for the Growth Formula. Row labels reproduced as Zoo Med prints them.

Transcribed exactly as Zoo Med publishes them, in Zoo Med's order. Checked 7 August 2026.

Soybean Meal, Wheat Flour, Fish Meal, Wheat Mill Run, Corn Gluten Meal, Fish Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Kale, Lecithin, Calcium Carbonate, Dried Kelp, L-Lysine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of stabilised Vitamin C), Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese Sulphate, Zinc Sulphate, Ferrous Sulphate, Copper Sulphate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodate, Propionic Acid (preservative).

The Growth and Maintenance formulas share the same ingredient set but declare it in a different order. Here soybean meal leads and dicalcium phosphate ranks above calcium carbonate — consistent with the higher protein and lower calcium. Ethoxyquin, BHA and BHT are not named in the declaration.

Calcium to phosphorus ratio (Ca:P, the balance between the two minerals that build shell and bone) is the number that matters most in a growing turtle's diet, because this is exactly the life stage when a shortfall shows up as shell deformity.

Zoo Med guarantees calcium at 0.9% minimum to 1.3% maximum, and phosphorus at 1.0% minimum with no maximum stated. Zoo Med publishes no Ca:P ratio.

Calculated from those guarantees the ratio falls between 0.9:1 and 1.3:1. At the guaranteed floor, calcium is below phosphorus — an inverted ratio, against the better-than-1:1 that reptile keepers normally aim for. That is arithmetic on Zoo Med's published minimums, not a claim about any particular batch, and the real figure will usually sit higher. It is still worth knowing.

The practical response is not to avoid the food but to make sure calcium comes from somewhere else as well: a slow-release calcium block in the water, cuttlebone, and UVB lighting so the turtle can actually use the calcium it eats. For comparison, the adult Maintenance formula guarantees a higher 1.3–1.7% calcium.

All three formulas are one product line, differing in pellet size and protein level. Match the formula to shell length, not to age.

The formula, ingredient declaration and guaranteed analysis above apply to all three packs. Only the quantity differs.

Zoo Med's published directions for the Growth Formula are measured rather than eyeballed: spoon out one level teaspoon of food per turtle. Let the turtles feed for a minimum of one hour, then net out and discard anything uneaten.

If your turtles clear a teaspoon in a short time, Zoo Med suggests increasing to one level tablespoon or more per feeding.

Zoo Med does not publish a feeding frequency. Growing turtles are generally fed more often than adults, and uneaten pellets break down into nitrate, so netting out leftovers matters.

Suitable for: growing aquatic turtles with a shell length between 5 and 15 cm — sliders, cooters, and similar semi-aquatic species through their fastest growth period.

Not suitable for: hatchlings under 5 cm shell length, which Zoo Med directs to the Hatchling formula at 43.0% protein; and adults over 15 cm, which do better on the lower-protein Maintenance formula. It is not a land tortoise food, and it is not intended as the entire diet on its own.

• Dr. Turtle Slow Release Calcium Block — the direct answer to the calcium guarantee discussed above
• Turtle Dock — growing turtles need a dry basking site to digest and to use their calcium
• Economy Turtle Clean Filter — frequent feeding of a growing turtle means a heavier waste load
• Turtletherm — a turtle-specific aquarium heater for holding water temperature steady
• Turtle Matic Auto Feeder — portions floating pellets while you are away

Zoo Med publishes no warranty term for its turtle foods. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply in addition to any manufacturer term — goods must be of acceptable quality and fit for purpose, and those guarantees cannot be excluded.

Dry, shelf-stable pellet food. Ships as standard freight, with no cold-chain or dangerous-goods restriction. Zoo Med publishes no storage instructions or shelf life; keep it sealed, cool and dry.

What size turtle is Zoo Med Growth Formula for?

Zoo Med formulates it for turtles with a shell length of 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 inches). Below 5 cm the Hatchling formula applies, and at 15 cm and above the Maintenance formula takes over. The measure is shell length, not the turtle's age.

How much Growth Formula should I feed my turtle?

Zoo Med directs you to spoon out one level teaspoon per turtle, let them feed for a minimum of one hour, then net out and discard whatever is left. If the teaspoon disappears quickly, Zoo Med suggests increasing to one level tablespoon or more per feeding.

Why is the calcium lower in Growth Formula than in Maintenance Formula?

Zoo Med guarantees 0.9–1.3% calcium in the Growth Formula against 1.3–1.7% in Maintenance. The Growth formula instead prioritises protein at 35.0% minimum versus 25.0%. Because phosphorus is guaranteed at 1.0% minimum in both, growing turtles benefit from an additional calcium source such as a calcium block, cuttlebone, and correctly maintained UVB lighting.

What is the difference between Growth and Hatchling formula?

Protein level and pellet size. Hatchling Formula guarantees 43.0% minimum crude protein for turtles up to 5 cm shell length; Growth Formula guarantees 35.0% for turtles from 5 to 15 cm. Both float.

Do the pellets cloud the water?

Any pellet left uneaten will eventually break down and affect water quality. Because these float, leftovers stay at the surface where they are easy to see and net out, which is the main defence. Zoo Med's directions build removal of uneaten food into every feeding.

Can I feed Growth Formula to an adult turtle?

It will not harm an adult turtle, but at 35.0% protein it is more than a fully grown turtle needs, and its guaranteed calcium band is lower than the adult food's. Once shell length passes 15 cm, Zoo Med's own guidance is to move to the Maintenance formula.