How to Care for a Red Eared Slider Turtle

One of the most common pet turtles available today is the Red Eared Slider. Readily available and of good temperament, Sliders are pet store favorites. However, before bringing any new pet into your home, be certain you understand the animal's needs. This helps ensure a good fit between pet and owner for many years to come.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Select a healthy, legal pet turtle. In the U.S., it is illegal to sell a turtle under 4 inches long, so measure to be certain you're not getting a baby. Search for signs of illness: Look for swollen or cloudy eyes, mucous around the nasal area or mouth, and runny excrement in the tank. A soft shell can be an indication of poor health, as can listlessness and lack of appetite.
2. Meet your Red Eared Slider's nutritional needs. All Sliders need a combination of vitamins, animal protein, commercial foods and plant matter. Juvenile pet turtles eat daily, and require more animal protein than adults, which eat every two or three days and require extra plant matter. Remove uneaten food from the tank promptly, as rotting food can make your Red Eared Slider ill.
3. Provide the right habitat. You will need a heated aquarium with enough water to swim, as well as a large, dry area for your new pet turtle to rest. The dry section should be smooth, rather than a rough rock, to keep the turtle from getting scratches that could possibly allow infection to set in. Pet turtles grow quickly, so buy a large enough aquarium to accommodate such growth. Even a very small turtle needs a 30 to 50 gallon tank for optimum health.
4. Handle your turtle with care. Pet turtles often carry bacterial and parasitic infections and they can transfer these to people. To keep bacteria to a minimum, clean the tank daily under adult supervision. Be prepared for the task. Teach your child to wash hands thoroughly after every encounter with the new Red Eared Slider or its habitat.

Tips & Warnings

• Adopt a turtle, rather than buy one. Many shelters have healthy animals that need good homes.
• Remember your turtle will grow quickly and live for many years. An adult Red Eared Slider can be the size of a large paper plate. It requires a tank 4 to 5 times its length, and that tanks width should also be 2 to 3 times the turtle's length wide. If you are unprepared to provide a habitat that large for such a long time, consider another type of pet.
• Turtles are living creatures with special needs. They can also make humans ill if not handled properly. Study turtle care and handling information before bringing a pet turtle home.