Once you get the hang of things, keeping your turtle healthy should be no problem! Tank Size Luckily, there are some established care guidelines to follow. They require a lot of space and a well-maintained environment to stay healthy. Red-Eared Slider CareĬaring for a red-eared slider can be a real joy! However, it’s also a lot of work.Īs a semi-aquatic species, you must provide both land and water for this turtle to thrive. For this reason, many novice reptile-keepers are unprepared for the needs of a mature red-eared slider. Unfortunately, not all vendors provide enough information about the maximum size that these turtles can get. Make no mistake: red-eared sliders get much bigger than that!Įxpert Tip: It’s illegal to sell babies with carapaces smaller than four inches. When you see these turtles in stores, they’re usually only about four inches in size. In rare cases, red-eared sliders can grow a bit bigger. The average size of a red-eared slider is roughly 12 inches in length. If you don’t cater to those needs, your turtle can suffer from disease and overall poor health. Many factors contribute to lifespan, with the biggest being the quality of care they receive. With great care and lucky genetics, specimens living to around 30 are more reasonable (although it’s still uncommon). These turtles are said to live well into their 60s and 70s in the wild, but there isn’t any evidence of that long lifespan being found in captivity. The average red-eared slider lifespan is around 20 years with proper care. Males have larger tails and claws on their webbed front feet. But at maturity, the differences are more obvious. Bright yellow at birth, these turtles mature to a nice tan hue.Įxpert Tip: As juveniles, it’s nearly impossible to differentiate between males and females. Typically, they have hues of yellow and red rather than dark green.Īlbino red-eared sliders are very popular as well. Pastel red-eared sliders are much lighter in color. Some specimens even have some red on the top of their head as well! It’s what gives the turtle its common name! The patch can stretch several inches behind the head. The most defining trait of the red-eared slider is the patch of red behind the eye. This makes it look more uniform in color from afar. As the turtle ages, the colors on the carapace darken. You might see shades of white, yellow, or even red. However, the lines are more varied and subtle. The lined skin pattern is distinct and usually gets bolder as the turtle matures. Bright yellow stripes add some beautiful contrast. The skin of this turtle is dark olive green. When kept in the right environment, they’re more than ready to put on a show! Appearance & Colors While somewhat skittish by nature, the red-eared slider is a fantastic pet to own. You can find them occupying warm streams and lakes from New Mexico all the way to Georgia. They have a relatively wide distribution. These turtles are endemic to the southeastern United States.
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