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Red Eared Slider Turtle
The red-eared slider is a semi-aquatic turtle and is the most popular pet turtle in the United States. They are a type of pond slider and are relatively easy to take care of as pets.
433 Questions
What are predators of the red eared slider turtle?
Painted turtles are enormously vulnerable to a wide variety of predators. Nest predators include raccoons, foxes and skunks. Painted Turtles have many predators which include raccoons, foxes, skunks, gulls, crows, ravens, herons, weasels and snapping turtles.
What turtle is better a red eared slider or a yellow bellied slider?
Actually, nobody really knows which one is better:a red eared or a snake neck turtle. But they do have opinions. Somebody can say that a red eared turtle is better than a snake neck turtle and somebody else might say tha a snake neck turtle is better than a red eeared turtle. We have different thoughts and opinions. I hope this helped. If you need any more advice on turtles, feel free to email me and I will send you one back quickly. My email is: kate216@hanmail.net
How do you care for a red eared slider?
Keep the water crystal clear by using a filer. You'll need a filter, heater, 20 gallon tank or more, basking area, basking lamp, basking bulb, gravel, and rocks. I know it's a lot. The total would proobably come out to be 200 dollars. If it lives to its expected age (which is 40 years) you'll use up about 3,000 dollars in food and supplies. And that's if you're lucky!!!
Can red eared slider turtles eat spiders?
If they were feeder roaches (not just normal house roaches) and small/soft enough, I suppose you could feed them to a red eared slider.
How much does a red eared slider turtle weigh?
Red eared sliders live for around 40 years and get to be 10-12 inches.
When red eared sliders are young are the males usually smaller than the females?
the only non surgical way to tell turtle sex is by their front claws and tail, I found the fron t claws are the easiest why Males have longer front claws, wear females have stubby claws. Males Tail is wider
Can red eared slider turtles live in a pond?
Yes - provided they will encounter the same temperature range as if they were in their native country. Additionally the enclosure should be animal-proofed against possible predators (local cats, dogs etc) I recently had to treat a neighbours injured slider that she kept in an outside pond. She wrongly assumed it would be safe to leave it unattended in her pond. It ended up being attacked by a cat, and now has one foot missing and a cracked shell !
Why is your red eared slider aggressive?
Almost all Red Eared Sliders are aggressive. It's normal. They are frightened and it shows in return as them being aggressive. Wouldn't you be a little scared and defensive of a hand came out of the sky and tried to pick you up?
What kind of water do red eared slider turtles need salt or fresh?
Fresh water, with a strong filter. Change water once every month.
other red eared sliders and mayby goldfish.but 1 thing i know that live with red eared sliders are betta fish.becuse ive kept them together before several times.becuse i have ared eared slider and a male betta.
How do you tell how old a red eared slider turtle is?
a dangerous way is to put your hand in front of it. if it pulls its head back it can see you. that's why it pulls its head back. no guarentee if this will work though
Whats the size for a full grown red eared slider?
A red eared slider turtle grow to be about the size of a plate. Females - 25 cm Males - 15 cm
Can red eared slider turtle stay in water all day and night?
No they need sun to survive because there shell and scine will get MST
How do you take care of a sick baby red eared slider turtle?
That would depend on what is wrong with it. Keep it warm, keep the water clean, make sure there is a fresh supply of food. If there is inflammation to the eyes, drops can be purchased over the counter at a pet supply. There are also water additives that can be purchased for various minor ailments. If it is lethargic or it last more than just a day or two, than consider taking it to the vet.
Always remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling any reptile, healthy or not. They are known to sometimes carry salmonella bacteria.
Why do red eared slider turtles skin turn pink?
That is a sign of septicemia (blood poisoning) Take RES to qualified Vet for treatment
What do baby red-eared slider turtles love to eat?
In the wild, baby red-eared slider turtles are more carnivorous than their adult counterparts. They need animal protein, so they feed on invertebrates such as earthworms, crickets,, aquatic snails, bloodworms, shrimp, krill and mealworms. In captivity, this need for animal protein can be met by these foods, or even fish foods which contain these items, while commercial pellets will also offer them the nutrients they need. Vegetation should be introduced while the turtle is young, even though it may not initially eat it, as it will make the transition to a herbivorous diet easier later on.
How do red eared sliders have babies?
Removing the eggs or
not?Some keepers prefer to leave the eggs where they were laid. A good point of doing so is that they do not need to handle the eggs, digging them out could dammage some of them. A bad point is that monitoring buried eggs could be a bit difficult. The worst that could happen is that one egg goes bad, gets fungi that then spreads to the other eggs... or some of the hatchilings might have a problem digging their way out. Incubation box If you decide to remove the eggs to incubate them, you will need to prepare an incubation box. You can use a large plastic sweater box or a plastic shoebox. ( Plastic boxes are good since they can be throughly cleaned and keeps well the moisture.) Drill a series of small holes into the lid for ventilation. (Make no more than a dozen holes of about a quarter of an inch in diameter). Then, set up a bedding in the container of about 2 inches of vermiculite. Use the heavy grain rather than the fine one. Moisten the vermiculite evenly. Make sure it is DAMP and not WET. Removing the eggs This process has to be done very carefully. Scoop back small sections of the substrate around the next, very slowly and carefully, trying to feel the eggs with your fingers at the same time. Once you find an egg, before removing it, get a water based felt-tipped marker and make a small mark on the top of the shell. This is important since you need to place the eggs in the same position the turtle layed them. Once you have transfered all the eggs to the incubation box, set it somewhere where it will not be disturbed . Check the eggs a few days after by just removing the lid, but don't handle them! Check for rotten eggs, which you should throuw away immediately. If you see that an egg is developing fungi, you can remove the fungi with a 50/50 solution of antiseptic mouthwash and water, which you should apply carefully with a paintbrush. Hatching You should start to observe the eggs more carefully about 80 to 85 days after they had been laid. Hatching time is comming! Once the time comes, the hatchings will cut the egg shell with something called the egg tooth, which falls out about an hour later and never grows back. If they don't feel secure, they will remain inside their shells. Do not try to take them out until they have come out on their own. (they might not come out until the following day). Once they come out, you will notice a small sack hanging out of their bellies. This is the yolk sac that fed them while they were incubating. DO NOT try to remove this sac, trying to remove it can kill the baby turtle. It is better to wait that it drops on its own. Once it drops, you will notice a split in the plastron. This will heal by itself too, you don't need to treat it. Care of the hatchlings Set them on a 20 gallon tank per dozen. Provide them with a dry land area and a shallow water area. Newborns need to master the art of floating and staying underwater for long periods of time. Don't assume that they will survive only with water. Newborn red-eared sliders can actually drown if you neglect them a dry land area. Once they are set up in their tank start feeding them. It is important to get them to eat. Start by offering them one by one all items on the proper slider diet. Note: You might have to 'chop' all of the food you offer since they are small babies. This includes choping earthworms, mealworms, crickets. I know, this sounds disgusting but believe me, you will get used to after a while and it won't bother you anymore. As with addult sliders, newborns need to have their full spectrum light. So don't forget to include that in the tank. The full spectrum light will help the newborn shells to harden. Keep the water neatly clean. If you don't have a filter change the water every two days. This is very important since baby sliders are more prone to getting eye infecitions (that can leave them blind for life or even kill them) than adult sliders.
Maturity ageRed-Eared sliders will be mature enough for breeding at about 5 years of age, this is when the female shell size is about 15 cms (about 6 inches). Mating dance The mating dance of this species is very elaborated and interesting to observe. The male swims towards the female and starts caressing her face with his long front claws. He might also swim around her in circles. He might also strike her front shell lightly with his claws (this looks as if his front leggs are trembling). If she is receptive, she will accept him, otherwise, a fight might start. If after 45 minutes, the female is not receptive to the male's dance, you should remove her from the tank and try again in about two days. The mating itself takes about 15 minutes. Mating tank size Use a 30 gallon tank. Keep the water warm but shallow (About 5 inches), since during the mating the male might get so concentrated that he might forget that the female has to go out for breathing!. After mating It is advisable during pregnancy to keep the female separate from the male, so that she will not get disturbed so much. You should handle her ONLY when absolutely necessary. Keep the water very clean and give her enough space. Heating is also very important as they will spend a lot of time basking to warm themselves and the eggs inside. You might notice a change in the appetite of the female, she might refuse to eat. This is normal. Nevertheless, continue offering her food and consider a dietary change, she might feel inclined to eat certain things only. Nesting quartersPrepare a 20 gallon tank with about 4 inches of potting soil or soil/vermiculite mixture. Laying eggs The average gestation period is two months, but if she doesn't find a suitable place for laying her eggs, she might retain them inside. During the last two weeks you will notice that she will want to spend more time on land, sniffing and digging around in order to find a proper place for laying her leggs. At this point, you need to place the female in the nesting quarters. Try to watch her as much as you can to see where she lays the eggs. She might lay from 2 to 20 eggs.Removing the eggs or
not?Some keepers prefer to leave the eggs where they were laid. A good point of doing so is that they do not need to handle the eggs, digging them out could dammage some of them. A bad point is that monitoring buried eggs could be a bit difficult. The worst that could happen is that one egg goes bad, gets fungi that then spreads to the other eggs... or some of the hatchilings might have a problem digging their way out. Incubation box If you decide to remove the eggs to incubate them, you will need to prepare an incubation box. You can use a large plastic sweater box or a plastic shoebox. ( Plastic boxes are good since they can be throughly cleaned and keeps well the moisture.) Drill a series of small holes into the lid for ventilation. (Make no more than a dozen holes of about a quarter of an inch in diameter). Then, set up a bedding in the container of about 2 inches of vermiculite. Use the heavy grain rather than the fine one. Moisten the vermiculite evenly. Make sure it is DAMP and not WET. Removing the eggs This process has to be done very carefully. Scoop back small sections of the substrate around the next, very slowly and carefully, trying to feel the eggs with your fingers at the same time. Once you find an egg, before removing it, get a water based felt-tipped marker and make a small mark on the top of the shell. This is important since you need to place the eggs in the same position the turtle layed them. Once you have transfered all the eggs to the incubation box, set it somewhere where it will not be disturbed . Check the eggs a few days after by just removing the lid, but don't handle them! Check for rotten eggs, which you should throuw away immediately. If you see that an egg is developing fungi, you can remove the fungi with a 50/50 solution of antiseptic mouthwash and water, which you should apply carefully with a paintbrush. Hatching You should start to observe the eggs more carefully about 80 to 85 days after they had been laid. Hatching time is comming! Once the time comes, the hatchings will cut the egg shell with something called the egg tooth, which falls out about an hour later and never grows back. If they don't feel secure, they will remain inside their shells. Do not try to take them out until they have come out on their own. (they might not come out until the following day). Once they come out, you will notice a small sack hanging out of their bellies. This is the yolk sac that fed them while they were incubating. DO NOT try to remove this sac, trying to remove it can kill the baby turtle. It is better to wait that it drops on its own. Once it drops, you will notice a split in the plastron. This will heal by itself too, you don't need to treat it. Care of the hatchlings Set them on a 20 gallon tank per dozen. Provide them with a dry land area and a shallow water area. Newborns need to master the art of floating and staying underwater for long periods of time. Don't assume that they will survive only with water. Newborn red-eared sliders can actually drown if you neglect them a dry land area. Once they are set up in their tank start feeding them. It is important to get them to eat. Start by offering them one by one all items on the proper slider diet. Note: You might have to 'chop' all of the food you offer since they are small babies. This includes choping earthworms, mealworms, crickets. I know, this sounds disgusting but believe me, you will get used to after a while and it won't bother you anymore. As with addult sliders, newborns need to have their full spectrum light. So don't forget to include that in the tank. The full spectrum light will help the newborn shells to harden. Keep the water neatly clean. If you don't have a filter change the water every two days. This is very important since baby sliders are more prone to getting eye infecitions (that can leave them blind for life or even kill them) than adult sliders.
What do I do if my red-eared aquatic turtle's eye is closed shut?
The most common problem in slider hatchlings are eye infections. These infections develop due to dirty water and lack of vitamin A. The treatment is easy: Change the water more often (get a filter if you can), add higher doses of vitamin A to her diet. Ask your pharmacist to prepare you a solution of 97% distilled water and 3% boric acid. Clean the turtles eyes with this solution twice a day. If the eyes are totally closed, try to open them so that the solution gets inside. Raise temperature at 85 degrees F. If the infection is severe take the turtle to a vet since she will need to be injected with vitamin A.
ALSO:
- TAKE YOUR TURTLE TO THE VET
- She may have ammonia burns
- You should definitely have a filter
- Do a 30-50% water change every few days, or at least a full water changes every week
- It is ESSENTIAL you change the tank water frequently, as visible algae and invisible toxins can build up to harmful levels
How does a female red eared slider turtle look like?
Olive to brown with yellow stripes or spots.
Distinctive red stripe behind ear.
Here's a picture:
Do baby red eared slider turtles have to have a heat lamp?
Yes, all captive turtles, especially babies, need lamps that provide both heat, and UVA and UVB rays. It is very important that you have both. If you don't have these lamps, your turtles may develop shell rot, which causes discoloration and the shell to become "squishy".
The heat lamp can be just a standard incandescent bulb, as long as it heats up the basking area enough. The UVA/UVB lamp isn't as important as heat, but both are necessary for the turtle.
Is there a Picture of a red eared slider turtle?
Females and males look nearly the same. The only real difference is a slight variation in tail length and the plastron (under shell) is convex in females and concave in males. If you needed one for a presentation, find any picture of a red eared slider and call it female.
How do tell if your red eared slider is a boy or a girl?
Male Red eared sliders have a thicker tail base and long claws used to help in mating also they have a slight indent on their tummies to again help with mating. Females lack these attributes, therefor they have smaller claws tails tend to be thinner at the base of their tail and no concave to belly. Obviously it is easier to tell if you have several to compare :). If there is any doubt be sure to supply an area where the turtle can haul out and lay eggs in subtrate or they may hold the eggs and suffer from egg binding a potentially fatal condition.
Does the red eared sliders carry salmonella?
Yes, they can carry salmonella. This is much more common with baby turtles than it is with adult ones, but you should still wash your hands after touching the turtle, and for heaven's sake, don't kiss it.
However, turtles are also in danger of catching diseases from us, so you should also wash your hands before touching your turtle.
Can red eared sliders eat potatoes?
no and yes. Red Eared Sliders can eat corn but it is better if they eat greens.
