Can a red ear slider live without a heater?

Question

I just got a new red ear slider a week ago, and it hasn't been living with a heater, i heard that i am suppose to keep the water warm from 75-85 degrees. do i really need a heater for it? or could i just have a thermometer and just add hot water whenever it needs it? any suggestions?

Answer 1

Diet
Red eared sliders are omnivores, meaning they eat a mixture of animal and plant material. Younger turtles are more carnivorous (eat more animal protein) than adults, though. Juveniles should be fed daily, but adults can be fed every 2-3 days.

Turtles can be fed a mixture of prepared commercial food and fresh food. Special food formulated for turtles can be used, but this should only make up about 25% of the total diet. The proportions of fresh supplements will depend on the age of the turtle, but can include live feeder fish, earthworms, crickets, waxworms, bloodworms, aquatic snails, fresh greens (collard, mustard and dandelion greens, and dark leafy lettuces but never head lettuce), aquatic plants, and shredded vegetables

A good quality complete reptile vitamin and mineral supplement should be added to the food once or twice a week. In addition, extra calcium can be provided by giving turtles a cuttlebone (break into pieces and float in the water) or calcium block to nibble on.

Red eared slider turtles are semi-aquatic and spend a significant amount of time basking, so need a tank that provides both water for swimming and an area where they can get out of the water for basking. A 20 gallon tank is considered a minimum, though larger turtles will need a larger tank to provide ample swimming room (see below) so even if you have a smaller turtle you might want to invest in a larger tank to allow room to grow. You do not need to use an aquarium though - large plastic containers or storage tubs are fine as long as you don't mind not being able to view the turtles from the side. As long as the tank is tall enough and the basking area is positioned so that the turtles can't climb out you won't need a lid.

The basking area can be provided by stacking smooth rocks, sloping smooth large gravel to one side to make a land area, or using wood (fixed or floating).

However you design the tank though, keep in mind that turtles are messy and you will need to clean the tank frequently. No gravel is required in the tank but if you choose to use it make sure it is large enough that it won't be accidentally eaten.
{b]Water and Filters{/b}
Red eared sliders need an adequate amount of water to move about and swim a bit. You can judge if there is enough water by looking at the length of your turtle. The water should be at least 1.5 to 2 times as deep as your turtle is long (so a 4 inch turtle should have a minimum depth of 6 inches). The length of the water area should be 4-5 times the length of the turtle, and the width should be at least 2-3 times the length of the turtle.

Between feeding and defecating, turtles are pretty messy creatures. A turtle tank should include a good filtration system such as a power filter or canister filter, or an undergravel filter system. Filtration will reduce the frequency of water changes, but your turtles will still require 25% water changes weekly and a thorough cleaning once a month or more. It is best to feed your turtle in a separate container to minimize the mess in the tank and reduce the load on the filtration system.

Heat
A submersible heater should be used to keep the water at 75-86 degrees F. Get a good aquarium thermometer and monitor the water temperature. Turtles will want to investigate the heater so turtle proof it by placing it behind something so the turtles can't bump or move it (a broken heater is a potentially lethal situation). For turtles determined to play with or bump the heater, a reader submitted a great suggestion: place the heater inside a section of PVC pipe. Choose a piece with a diameter wider than the heater and a bit longer than the heater, and drill many holes in the sides of the pipe to allow water circulation past the heater.

A heated basking spot should also be provided in the area provided for the turtle to get out of the water. An incandescent bulb or spotlight can serve this purpose, but make sure there is no way the turtle can touch the light or that the light can fall into the water. The temperature at the basking spot should be 85-88 F. Watch the water temperature when the basking light is on as it may heat the water.

The ambient air temperature around the tank should ideally be about 75 F. If the turtle's room is cooler than this you should provide extra heat in the tank area. A ceramic heat element used near the tank works well for this purpose since it can be left on day and night.

Light
In addition to the basking light, a full spectrum reptile UVA/UVB light should be provided. Exposure to UVA/UVB is necessary for proper calcium metabolism, and also appears to have other benefits to overall health such as improving appetite. It is also nice to take your turtle out into natural sunlight in warmer weather.

Answer 2

Congrats on your new addition here are a few things you need to know as a owner of a red ear slider:All sliders need both a warm, dry area and a large pool of warm water. In the wild, they chose water that warms up quickly in the sun each day. You will need to provide a warm enclosure with both heated water and a warm place for your turtle to climb out and dry off. The water must be kept clean; rotting bits of food mixed with feces will combine to make an unhealthful habitat and a sick turtle. Turtles are messy eaters and defecate in their water, so cleaning will be an almost daily routine.The water temperature must be maintained between 75-86 degrees F (23.8-30 C). If you buy a submersible pre-calibrated heater, test it first and make sure the water is the proper temperature before you put your turtle in the water. Too cold and it won't eat; too hot and you'll cook it. Buy good quality an aquarium thermometer and monitor the temperature regularly.
here is agood link for you to check out all about your new turtle and its care:

http://redearslider.com/index_habitat.html

Answer 3

I guess it depends on how well you want to take care of your pet. If you add hot water it will coll off in about ten minutes, and I doubt you're around enough to add hot water every ten minutes. Heaters aren't that expensive. Just get a small, fully submersible one and it shouldn't be more than 12.00 (US). Your turtles will be happier and healthier.

PS: I don't think they die, my heater broke down and the only difference I found was that they wouldn't eat, but they were fine. I still recommend a heater, though.

Answer 4

These are animals that like a steady water temp of 75-80F- you need a heater unless the room temps are always in this zone.

Adding hot water is a very inefficient and ineffective technique that will drive you and the turtles crazy!

Try http://www.austinsturtlepage.com for other ideas.

Answer 5

No, you need a heater to regulate not only the water temperature but also the heat in the cage. Reptiles cannot produce their own heat, and having it in a cold cage can lead to illness.

Answer 6

well i have a red eared slider and he is in an aquarium and we dont have a heater. Speedy is around two or three years old and he has lived all his life wothout a heater but we heard its good for them so were looking into buying one. Anyways i hope this helps:)

Answer 7

when reptiles get cold they might think that its time to hibernate so i would think about getting that heater good luck with your little pal.