Red Eared Turtle
A red eared turtle, or a red eared slider, is
a semi-aquatic turtle that is a common household pet. They are not overly
demanding pets, but understanding their requirements will ensure that they do not die of
improper handling.
Providing a Habitat
You cannot just place the red eared slider in a plastic container and expect
it to live long. Like any other turtle, it needs a proper habitat to strive.
Give it a large-enough tank, with water and a land area where it can swim and
bask, respectively.
Clean out the tank water every 45 days and use a water filtration system so
the turtle will not be swimming in dirty water too long.
Red Eared Sliders are semi-aquatic. Meaning, they like to go on land and
swim in water. They spend most of their time in water and sleep
underwater. During sunny hot hours, Red Eared Sliders will crawl out of
the water to bask under the sun. They enjoy outdoor unfiltered sunlight
and soak up the heat. Being cold-blooded, if a Slider is not allowed to
leave the water to bask, his body temperature will be too cold, making
it difficult for him to sleep underwater at night. They can actually
move quite fast on land, and are absolutely fantastic swimmers. They
will hunt for prey that is easy to catch when opportunities arise, and
are very wary of predators including humans. If feeling threatened, they
will slide straight back into the water to take cover. Red Eared
Sliders MUST eat their food in water. They have fixed tongues, and have
no saliva and therefore require water to swallow their food. Without a
water supply, they will die of dehydration and starvation. Another thing
to note is, although some may be shy they can still bite. Anything with
a mouth, can bite. Adults have powerful jaws that will draw blood if
they bite hard. Chunks of flesh can be ripped by their sharp beaks. They
do not enjoy being handled at all.
Feeding
Red eared turtles are omnivorous. This means they eat both animals and
plants. Young red eared turtles eat more animal protein; adults eat more leaves
and greens. Because of this diet, the younger turtles should be fed every day
while the adults can be fed every 2-3 days.
The red eared turtles can be fed a mixture of commercial and natural food.
Commercial pellets are convenient and nutritious since they contain vitamins and
minerals.
However, commercial pellets are recommended to comprise only a small percent
of the turtle’s diet. Natural food and live prey offer variety, more nutrients,
and give the turtle a chance to exercise by hunting for its prey.
Live items you can feed to a red eared turtle include aquatic snails,
daphnia, earthworms, guppies, goldfish, krill, minnows, shrimp, silkworms, and
tadpoles. Large prey can be cut into smaller pieces for small turtles.
Leafy greens for turtles include bok choy, collard, kale, and mustard and
dandelion greens. Aquatic plants like anacharis, azolla, duckweed, water
hyacinth, and water lettuce are snacked on by turtles.
Make sure the animals and plants you feed to the turtle are
pesticide-free.
Reptile multivitamins that contain calcium and Vitamin D3 should be mixed
with the turtle food often. You can also mix crushed cuttlebone into the water
and provide calcium blocks for the turtle to nibble on.
Determining the Gender.
There are distinct differences between male and female red eared turtles, but
you can tell them only when they reach sexual maturity.
The males are sexually mature when they reach 4 inches in length, when they
are 2-5 years old. The females take a bit longer—6-7 inches in length, or when
they are 5-7 years old.
The male turtle also has longer claws on their front feet as compared to the
female’s. The male’s tail is also longer and thicker. The cloaca is father from
the body in males, and they have a slightly concave plastron.
A full-grown red eared turtle can reach 12 inches in length, and could carry
Salmonella. If you or a child play or touch a turtle that large, make sure to
always wash your hands afterwards to prevent risks of infections. Keeping a pet
turtle is a responsibility that you should be prepared for and aware of.
Very useful information. Thank You very much
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