I just got a "red eared slider" turtle. I need tips on how to take good care of it. Help!!!?

Question

Hi,
I just got this red eared slider turtle. I love it! I'v had them for a few days. one is larger and loves to walk around and swim. The other is smaller and just floats in the water...(don't worry its alive!) Anyways, the smaller one has a brown bump on its neck...
But i have no clue about how to care for it.

*what do i feed it aside from turtle food
*how much food do i feed it
*how many times a day do i feed it
*does it need to stay in water or land
*how do i know how old it is
*how do i know if its a male or female

....if you have any other pointers about caring for a turtle, please mention them!....

Answer 1

i have 3 large ones and 7 baby ones.
in the wild they eat bugs and plant roots. put live water plants in the tank or what ever it's in. it needs water and land. my turtles are in a 50 gallon tank full of water, but it was a floating log for it to go on. the tank needs a filter. vets have to tell you if its a male or female. you can get more facts and info. if you google it.

Answer 2

The BIGGEST mistake provided to people is to feed the turtle 2-3 times a day as much as it can eat. The turtle food instructions is all a lie and putting your turtle to a slow death.

I have worked with and bred over 75 turtles and tortoises and I have rescued many turtles. Overfeeding is the biggest mistake. So, feed pellets 2-3 times a week, about as many pellets as it can fit in its head. Less is better, since overfeeding causes pyramiding, lumpy shells and obesity leads to a shortened life. Slow, steady and smooth growth is desired.

Turtle/fish pellet mixture 3 times a week
Proteined foods (insects, worms, snails, fish, shrimp and etc. dead or alive) once every two weeks
Green leafy plants (all aquatic plants, dandelion leaves) all the time

The turtle is aquatic and needs to submerge its head to swallow (needs water to swallow). It only goes on land to bask for heat and to lay eggs. The rest of the time, it lives in water.

If you have a turtle under 2", it was hatched this year. if you have a turtle 3-4" it was hatched last year or the year before, depending on the environmental conditions.

How to tell its sex? You have to wait until you RES is around 3-4 inches. A thick tale means male, b/c they stre their penis inside. There are other secondary characteristics for RES, males will have longer front claws and females will grow overall bigger than males.

Here is a link to picture of the tails (scroll down):
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Info/info.htm

Here is a link to a RES caresheet:
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-red_ear_slider.htm

If you have any other questions, feel free to message me.

Answer 3

You can feed it earthworms. They can go several days without eating. They like water primarily, but do need some dry area.
You should call your/a vet. Many of them are trained in dealing with reptiles. I would also get that bump checked out.

Answer 4

its too little to tell if it is male or female. Get the largest tank you can afford, largest capacity filter, and just turtle food is ok. it also needs water conditioner, a floating turtle dock, and tank decorations to keep it stimulated. good luck!

Answer 5

in case you're fortunate adequate to get a male (it is impossible to intercourse a juvenile with out danger to it or your wallet), you may get via with a a hundred-gallon tank. the rule is a minimum of 10 gallons in step with inch of shell. it relatively is cumulative, different than that, in case you have better than one turtle, bump the minimum as much as a minimum of 15 gallons in step with inch. Sliders do no longer "artwork and play nicely with others", because it used to declare on my rfile card.

Answer 6

You can feed them worms put it in an aquarium w/ water on one side and gravel rocks so it can go on dry land too. and you also need a light so it can sun itself