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In Memory Of my pet Red-Eared Slider Turtle : 1999 to 2020-06-18
If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For
health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have
examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best
recommendations for your pet.
The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), also known as the red-eared terrapin, red-eared slider turtle, red-eared turtle, slider turtle, and water slider turtle, is a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is a subspecies of the pond slider.
The carapace of this species can reach more than 40 cm (16 in) in length, but the average length ranges from 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in).The females of the species are usually larger than the males. They
typically live between 20 and 30 years, although some individuals have
lived for more than 40 years. Their life expectancy is shorter when they are kept in captivity. The quality of their living environment has a strong influence on their lifespans and well being.
Red-eared sliders are almost entirely aquatic, but as they are
cold-blooded, they leave the water to sunbathe to regulate their
temperature.
These turtles are poikilotherms,
meaning they are unable to regulate their body temperatures
independently; they are completely dependent on the temperature of their
environment. For this reason, they need to sunbathe frequently to warm themselves and maintain their body temperatures.
Hibernation
Red-eared sliders do not hibernate, but actually brumate;
while they become less active, they do occasionally rise to the surface
for food or air. Brumation can occur to varying degrees. In the wild,
red-eared sliders brumate over the winter at the bottoms of ponds or
shallow lakes. They generally become inactive in October, when
temperatures fall below 10 °C (50 °F). During this time, the turtles enter a state of sopor,
during which they do not eat or defecate, they remain nearly
motionless, and the frequency of their breathing falls. Individuals
usually brumate underwater, but they have also been found under banks
and rocks, and in hollow stumps. In warmer winter climates, they can
become active and come to the surface for basking. When the temperature
begins to drop again, however, they quickly return to a brumation state. Red-eared
Sliders generally come up for food in early March to as late as the end
of April.
During brumation, T. s. elegans can survive anaerobically for weeks, producing ATP from glycolysis.
The turtle's metabolic rate drops dramatically, with heart rate and
cardiac output dropping by 80% to minimise energy requirements. The lactic acid produced is buffered by minerals in the shell, preventing acidosis. Red-eared sliders kept captive indoors should not brumate.
Sexual dimorphism
Some dimorphism exists between males and females.
Red-eared slider young look practically identical regardless of
their sex, making it difficult to distinguish them. One useful method,
however, is to inspect the markings under their carapace, which fade as
the turtles age. It is much easier to distinguish the sex of adults, as
the shells of mature males are smaller than those of females.
Male red-eared sliders reach sexual maturity when their carapaces'
diameters measure 10 cm (3.9 in) and females reach maturity when their
carapaces measure 15 cm. Both male and females reach sexual maturity at
five to six years. The male is normally smaller than the female,
although this parameter is sometimes difficult to apply as individuals
being compared could be of different ages.
Males have longer claws on their front feet than the females; this helps them to hold on to a female during mating and is used during courtship displays.
The male's tail is thicker and longer. Typically, the cloacal opening
of the female is at or under the rear edge of the carapace, while the
male's opening occurs beyond the edge of the carapace.
The male's
plastron is slightly concave,
while that of the female is completely flat. The male's concave
plastron also helps to stabilize the male on the female's carapace
during mating. Older males can sometimes have a dark greyish-olive green melanistic
coloration, with very subdued markings. The red stripe on the sides of
the head may be difficult to see or be absent. The female's appearance
is substantially the same throughout her life.
Female turtle's foot: Note the short claws.
Male red-eared slider: Note the large claws on the front foot
Native to North America, red-eared slider turtles
can be rewarding pets. They sport attractive yellow and green markings,
along with distinctive red patches behind their eyes. And they often
are quite sociable with their owners. However, they are a fairly
substantial undertaking when it comes to their care. Those cute little
turtle hatchlings you see for sale will grow into large, long-lived, and
somewhat messy aquatic turtles. Be prepared for how much space and
cleaning they will need.
Species Overview
Common Names: Red-eared slider turtle, red-eared slider, red-eared terrapin, red-eared turtle, slider turtle, water slider turtle Scientific Name: Trachemys scripta elegans Adult Size: Around 12 inches long Life Expectancy: 20 to 30 years
Red-Eared Slider Turtle Behavior and Temperament
Red-eared slider turtles are active pets that enjoy swimming and
diving. Captive-born red-eared sliders tend to be friendlier and more
outgoing than those born in the wild. In fact, wild turtles are likely
to disappear into their shells or underwater when they hear or see
anything (or anyone) approaching, while captive-bred sliders might
actually swim up to you expecting a treat. Avoid purchasing wild turtles
that make it into the pet trade, as the stress of the lifestyle change
for them can result in serious health problems and even premature death.
While it's possible to find a red-eared slider that's eager to
interact with you when you pick it up, it's more likely that your pet
will feel nervous and either disappear into its shell or nip. In
general, it's best to respect your turtle's space and simply watch it
rather than handling it.
Housing the Red-Eared Slider Turtle
Setting up appropriate housing for a red-eared slider turtle is not
cheap, so be prepared to spend a couple hundred dollars on a proper
habitat. No matter what a pet store sales associate claims, your
hatchling turtle will not thrive in a small plastic container. Get an aquarium,
even for the smallest of hatchlings. Start with a 10-gallon tank if you
must (though a 20-gallon tank is better), but be aware that your turtle
will grow and need a larger tank pretty quickly.
In addition, you will need to provide full-spectrum UV lighting, a basking heat light, and a dry docking area.
The docking area should include an easily accessible ramp out of the
water and a stable area where the turtle can bask in the light to absorb
heat and UV rays.
Furthermore, red-eared sliders can be pretty messy because they both
eat and produce waste in their aquatic home. For optimal cleanliness,
install a tank filter that is rated for two to three times the amount of
water you have in your tank. Canister filters and submersible filters
are both used for aquatic turtles. If you don't have a filter, you will
need to do weekly partial water changes and water quality testing,
something that is both time-consuming and messy. But if you allow the
water to stay dirty, your turtle can develop various health issues.
Some red-eared slider turtles can live year-round in an outdoor pond
in warm climates. However, creating a healthy pond environment and
protecting your turtle from predators, cold spells, and pesticides must
all be taken into consideration.
Heat
Turtles' health can suffer if they are not warm enough, so it's
important to provide an environment between 75 and 80 degrees
Fahrenheit. The turtle's basking dock should be between 85 and 95
degrees Fahrenheit. Use a water thermometer to keep an eye on water
temperature. If it falls too low, add a basking light or other heating
device.
Light
Full-spectrum UV lighting is necessary over your turtle's aquarium to
mimic the benefits the turtle would get from natural sunlight. Leave
the light on for 10 to 12 hours per day.
Substrate
Substrate is the material used on the bottom of your turtle's
aquarium. Not only does it have an aesthetic factor, often mimicking the
animal’s natural environment, but it also can give your animal
something to burrow into. You can leave the bottom of your tank bare if
you wish to make cleaning the water
easier. But if you want to use a substrate, pick gravel or rocks that
are too large for the turtle to ingest to line the tank bottom.
Red-eared sliders eat both animal protein and vegetables, including
leafy greens, dried shrimp, krill, and crickets. It's fine to feed your
pet a commercial brand of turtle food, most of which are specifically
formulated for complete nutrition. Follow your veterinarian's
recommendations on feeding to maintain a healthy weight for your
turtle's size. There is no need to provide water beyond what's in the
aquarium.
Many owners opt to feed their red-eared sliders
in a container of water outside their regular tank. In addition to
proper filtration, this practice can help keep the water clean.
Common Health and Behavior Problems
Turtles and many other animals, such as hedgehogs, often carry salmonella
and other pathogens that can spread to humans. This shouldn't
necessarily stop you from getting a turtle (unless perhaps you have
young children or immunocompromised people in your house), but you
should be aware of the risks and take proper hygiene precautions.
Washing your hands before and after touching your turtle or its habitat
is key.
Moreover, watch out for gastrointestinal parasites in your red-eared
slider. Symptoms include poor appetite and abnormal feces. These turtles
also are prone to respiratory infections, especially if their habitat
is too cold. Some signs of an infection are open-mouth breathing,
sneezing, and excess mucus. Plus, like many turtles and tortoises, they
might come down with shell rot or ulcers. This often occurs due to an
unsanitary habitat or improper diet and shows up as abnormal or
foul-smelling patches on their shell.
As for behavior, these turtles are generally friendly once they get
comfortable in their environment. However, if you must handle them, do
so slowly and gently to limit their stress and minimize the potential
for aggressive behavior, such as biting.
The Spruce/Nusha Ashjaee
Choosing Your Red-Eared Slider Turtle
Red-eared sliders are widely available at pet stores, though it's
best to look for a turtle at a reputable breeder or rescue group that
can give you comprehensive information on the animal's history and
health. The average price for a red-eared slider in pet stores is around
$20, but a quality breeder will likely charge a little more.
Choose a turtle that is active and alert, and make sure it is eating.
Look for any red flags, such as lethargy, abnormal feces, shell
discoloration, swelling, or excess mucus. Also, note the environment in
which the turtles are kept at the pet store, breeder, or rescue. If the
water isn't clean or the temperature is too cool, there's a chance the
turtles will have health issues.
If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For
health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have
examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best
recommendations for your pet.
It is often difficult to determine the gender of a pet turtle,
especially if you did not purchase it from a breeder that hatched them
from controlled temperature environments. The temperature during egg
incubation is what determines whether an embryo will become a male or
female; cooler incubation temperatures produce males and females develop
in warmer temperatures.1
Thankfully there are some types of turtles that make it easier than
others to distinguish a male from a female without knowing their
incubation temperature. Red-eared sliders, for example, demonstrate sexual dimorphism and have distinct differences in size and appearance between the sexes.
Using Shell Size and Shape to Determine Gender
The size differences between most male and female turtles may not be
obvious until the turtles reach sexual maturity (and the diet can also
play a role in the size of a turtle). For male red-eared sliders,
sexual maturity is about the time they reach 4 inches in length (and at
about two to five years old). Females are sexually mature when they
reach 6 to 7 inches in length (which may take five to seven years).
Females will grow larger than males in red-eared sliders and many other
turtle species, but the size difference between males and females varies
by species. For example, in sulcata tortoises the females can reach 100
pounds and the males can grow to 200 pounds or more. In sea turtles,
the male and females can both grow to the same size. To reliably use
shell size as a factor in determining the gender of a turtle, the turtle
must have reached its adult size.
The bottom of a turtle's shell
(called the plastron) is also used as an indicator for determining
gender in turtles. Male turtles have a concave (curved in) plastron
while females have a flat one.2
These shapes enable male turtles to more easily mount a female during
mating, and they give females more room to hold eggs internally.
Using Claw Length to Determine Gender
Female turtles often have claws on their front feet that are short
and stubby. Males (and specifically red-eared sliders and other aquatic turtles) have much longer claws on their front feet than females. This is because males utilize their claws
when they are attempting to woo females to breed. During mating, the
males will also grab the female's upper shells by using their long
claws.
Using Tails to Determine Gender
The most common way to determine gender in a turtle is to look at the length of its tail.3
Female turtles have short and skinny tails while males sport long,
thick tails, with their vent (cloaca) positioned closer to the end of
the tail when compared to a female. It is, of course, easiest to
determine the gender of a turtle when looking at its tail length if you
have multiple turtles of both sexes to compare.
Using Markings and Coloration to Determine Gender
All red-eared sliders have predominantly green bodies suffused with
bright yellow streaking, which won't help distinguish males from
females. But other color indicators may. The plastron is yellow with
uneven, dark markings that are paired while the tail, legs, and head are
green with thick yellow stripes. As red-eared sliders get older, many
turn to a dark, almost black color and may obscure some or all of their
yellow markings. This darker coloration is more common in male red-eared
sliders.
Ornate box turtles
are another kind of turtle that is sexually dimorphic. Mature male
ornate box turtles have red eyes while female eyes are brown or yellow.4
The males also have greenish colored heads with red or orange leg scales and females have brown heads with yellow leg scales.
Interested in bringing home a red eared slider? These little guys can
live up to 20 years in captivity, which means they're a serious
commitment. If you want to keep a red eared slider, you have to be
prepared to give it the quality of life it deserves, which may not be
apparent at first glance. You need lots of resources and space, so make
sure you're ready for this big life change.
Caring for a red eared slider properly requires more than just a bowl with a little bit of water and a rock. Aquatic turtles, including red eared sliders,
need much more in the way of housing and lighting. In order for your
red eared slider to live as many years as possible, you'll need to buy
the correct UVB lighting, a diet balanced between animal-based and
plant-based foods, and a big tank for when your red eared
slider becomes an adult. Read more below about how to properly care for a
red eared slider, what kind of supplies and food to buy, and everything
else they need to thrive in your care.
Illustration: The Spruce / Katie Kerpel
Take a look at what you need before acquiring a turtle and your new pet slider will be sure to thank you.
Red eared sliders require more work than many people think. They also
get much larger and need more room than is often implied by pet stores
and other vendors. A large tank, special reptile lighting, and an
appropriate diet are just a few things you'll want to make sure you
provide to your red eared slider.
Before you bring home a red eared slider there are a few things to check out to increase the odds that you are bringing home a healthy turtle.
Learn where to get a red eared slider (including possibly rescuing one)
and how to tell whether or not your turtle of choice is healthy.
Look at their eyes, shell, how they swim, and whether or not they
seem very active. There are some key indicators to help you determine
whether or not a red eared slider is healthy.
Small aquariums are good for young turtles but as red eared sliders
mature they will require a tank that can hold well over 100 gallons of
water. Creative turtle owners use all sorts of novel housing ideas to
meet the roomy requirements of their red eared sliders using things like
pre-formed plastic pond liners to make homes more like indoor ponds.
And, if you have an outdoor pond, and a securely fenced yard to keep
your turtle in and predators out, you might consider putting your turtle outdoors for at least part of the year.
Water quality must be maintained no matter where you house your
turtle and both supplemental heat and UVB lighting should be provided.
Setting all of this up is the hardest part but once your tank or pond is
established the maintenance isn't all that bad.
Though red eared slider's tastes tend to change as they mature,
(shifting to a more herbivorous diet as they get older) turtles of all
ages should be offered a wide variety of both animal and plant based
items. Commercial turtle pellets can make up a good base for the diet
but they should be supplemented with a variety of other items.
There are a few basic things you can do to ensure easy cleanup and a
healthy turtle. Feeding your turtle outside of their home is a bit more
work for you at feeding time but it will make it easier to keep the
tank clean and the overall water quality good in the long run (which is
best for your turtle to avoid ear infections, shell problems, etc.).
Also, avoid overfeeding your turtle to prevent obesity and excessive
waste matter.
05 of 08
Red Eared Slider Behavior
Salvator Barki / Getty Images
Whether it is making sure red eared sliders are free to perform behaviors that are necessary for their well-being (such as basking
and swimming) or just trying to figure out what your turtle is doing,
understanding normal red eared slider behavior can help you provide
optimal care for your turtle. Claw fluttering and not wanting to bask outside of the water are just two behaviors that may mean your turtle is trying to tell you something.
06 of 08
Red Eared Slider Health
Stacey Udstuen / EyeEm / Getty Images
Improper environmental conditions and diet are among the most common
culprits when it comes to health problems in red eared sliders. Diseases
such as metabolic bone disease (MBD) and vitamin A deficiency are seen
in many kinds of reptiles including red eared sliders.
07 of 08
Sexing Red Eared Sliders and Reproduction
Darrin Klimek / Getty Images
Red eared sliders are not easy to sex until they reach sexual
maturity. Adult male turtles will have a long tail and long front claws
while adult female turtles will have short front claws and short tails.
Some people don't find out they have a female until she starts laying
eggs (females will lay infertile eggs without a male present). Casual
breeding of red eared sliders isn't recommended but it is important to
provide a nesting area for egg-laying females. Although they will drop
them in the water, this is not a red eared slider's preferred way to lay
eggs. Some females will retain their eggs rather than dropping them in
water if they do not have a nest and will become egg bound (a serious problem).
Every so often, you will hear from the media about the risks of
salmonella from pet turtles (and sometimes the warnings sound scary).
However, the risks of salmonella from pet turtles is nothing new and can
be managed quite easily. Many kinds of pets (including all reptiles,
amphibians, hedgehogs, and more) carry salmonella and most people should
have little reason to worry about contracting the bacteria. A simple
hand washing is all it takes to drastically reduce your risk of getting
infected.
If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For
health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have
examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best
recommendations for your pet.
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