Red Eared Slider Care Sheet
The red eared slider is by far the most commonly kept water turtle in captivity. Their sleek looks combined with their characteristic red ears make them virtually irresistible to reptile enthusiasts.
HousingRed eared slider housing requirements are more complex than one might think, but not anywhere near unmanageable. Young red eared sliders will do great housed in a 10 gallon aquarium; I personally recommend a 20 gallon tank as being ideal. When the turtle, or turtles if you decide to keep more than one, are full grown then they will most likely require a tank as large as 40 gallons.As you can imagine, a turtle that can grow upwards of 10 to 12 inches will require quite a bit of space to move around. The enclosure should include an area to swim that is at least 6 inches in depth, and a dry area for the turtle to bask or walk around. Small baby red eared sliders would do fine in shallower water as long as they have room to flip over. Most pet stores will sell a floating turtle dock that will satisfy the dry land area requirement. This will provide your turtle with a place to rest, and bask to regulate body temperature. It is important that you have a powerful filtration system. Turtles in general tend to make a mess of things, and defecate fairly regularly. You can count on changing the water every week, or a percentage of the water every week depending on the type of filter you purchase. Talk with your pet store owner to see what would work best for you.
Heating / LightingTurtles do not have the ability to maintain their body temperature metabolically. Instead, they rely on the environment to provide the warmth they need to survive. Since most red eared slider owners keep their turtles indoors, it is their responsibility to provide adequate heating and lightning to keep their pet healthy.Temperatures can be kept constant by using a submersible water heater. If this is not enough to maintain an ambient temperature close to 70F plus or minus 10 degrees, then you might consider purchasing a basking light or ceramic heater. This species will also need some source of UV lightning, as it helps them metabolize vitamin D that helps fend off metabolic bone disease.
FeedingThese turtles will do very well on a varied diet consisting of approximately 25% commercial turtle pellets, 25% live feeder fish, and 50% fruits and vegetables.A few of the fruits and vegetables sliders thrive on are: Their food should also be supplemented one to two times weekly with an appropriate reptile multivitamin. It is a good idea to feed your turtle outside of his enclosure to keep the mess out of the aquarium. It translates into less work for you in the long run! ConclusionThe red eared slider despite its drawbacks, can be an enjoyable pet to keep. Care for a pet turtle can wear kids out as they get bored cleaning the tank out week after week. There is also an increased risk of contracting Salmonella when coming into contact with any reptile, but it seems to be magnified with the presence of water.With proper hygiene and washing of the hands, Salmonella should not even be an issue. For these reason I personally do not think they make great pets for children. The novelty of owning and caring for a turtle will soon wear off, and the parent will end up taking care of the reptile their child promised to look after. Sliders may have increased maintenance and health risk associated with it, but proper pet turtle care can make owning a water turtle very rewarding. Don't let these quirks throw put you off from keeping these fun and interested reptiles!
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