Red Eared Slider Help?

Question

Some kid just dropped off 2 Female RES and I don't know much about them. I know about Diamondback Terrapins since I help with a release program, but they are different types of turtles so I'm not to sure, turtles aren't my strong point. I tried giving them pellets and little feeder fish but I don't think they ate any. I know what temps they need and how much water but what is best to feed them and what size tank should I put them in they are about 4-5 inches. Thanks.

I'm not planning on releasing them mainly because they are not native to NJ.

Either I'm going to keep them or my environmental teacher is going to take them.

Answer 1

Treat them the same as you would the Diamondback Terrapins but use fresh (not brackish) water and they will do fine. If you want to put them in a large tank, give them several basking areas. Feeding is relatively easy, Tetra Reptomin and some kind of live feeder fish (Goldfish are very good).

Answer 2

Feeder fish are good but just don't feed one or two items. Turtles pellets are OK as long as you feed other things too. Fuzzy mice (dead/thawed) are also a good food to include. If healthy feed every other day. They should be eating some plants too. Offer one thing at a time so they don't have a choice at one setting. Aquatic plants and romaine lettuce are good.

There should be at least 5 gallons of water per inch of carapace (upper shell) length. If you plan to release them into the wild, don't do it unless RES are native to your area and they have been declared healthy by a knowledgeable vet or rehabber. Release directly from a tank to the wild is not recommended. Turtles must be allowed to develop a strong immune system by being outside before release.

I'm a rehabber with the Gulf Coast Turtle & Tortoise Society and we have a release program that we put water turtles through before they are released. Releasing by the general public is not recommended.

See this webpage for good care into and more on diet:

Answer 3

They're probably still stressed from their move, and it might take them a few days to calm down enough to eat. Do you have hide spots for them? Artificial silk plants work well for inexpensive hide spots. Most dollar stores even have them. I assume since you work with terrapins that you know about feeding in the water.

Do you plan to keep them or find them new homes? If you just need a temporary set-up, a 30 gallon Rubbermaid will work for now with about 10-20 gallons of water. If keeping them permanently, you'll need at least a 55 gallon tank for now, but eventually you'll need a pond (a fenced-in backyard pond of at least 300 gallons is best).
Room temperature (around 70F) is OK so long as you have a basking area with a heat light.

Try www.turtleforum.com for a good care sheet.

If you don't want to keep them, consider finding a rescue that will help place them, or post ads in local pet stores and vet offices. You can have sliders as pets in NJ, you just can't sell them, and you should get a permit as well if you're going to keep them.

Oh, Reptomin turtle pellets are the usual canned food of choice. You can also offer earthworms, superworms, crickets, dark leafy greens (leaf lettuce for example), and pieces of cooked chicken (just to get them eating at first). Some of them will eat thin slices of carrot and sweet potato.

Answer 4

ReptoMin pellets are a good staple food. At their size, they probably won't be interested in veggies, but will eat them as they mature. As long as they have a place to get out of the water, they could go in a 30-55 gallon. If they've just been moved, it may take them a day ot two to eat. Try the pellets again in a few days.

You can also try earthworms, but I'll bet if they were turned over to you, they probably weren't getting the best of care to begin with and may only be used to pellets at this point.

Answer 5

Supplies:
75 gallon tank(tank should be filled up except for 5 inches at the top)
turtle dock(only land area they should have since they are deep water turtles)
canister filter
no gravel(they tend to eat it)
pellet food(every other day)
feeders(once a week)
Mustard, Collard, Turnip, Romaine(Dark Greens)
Green beans, pes, strawberries, grapes, and yams

Answer 6

i suggest keeping them in a 20 gallon long tank each(you can get these at reptile shows or most pet stores).it should be about half and half or half land half water.i use bloodworms and chopped up earthworms.i dont own any turtles neither, but i help local shelters take care of them.almost forgot, the depth of the water should be about 6-10 inches.

Answer 7

first of all my husband says to put food in water not land, and depending on tank size they may not be comfortable
get a 20w turtle tank must be wide not tall
give them somthing to climb on to
husbandsd email addy is [e-mail] for futer questions.

Answer 8

Red-eared sliders are omnivores, feeding on vegetation, insects, and small fish. Insects include crickets, mealworms, and bloodworms. Sometimes this turtle even eats pinkie mice. The red-eared slider tends to eat freshwater plants that grow in the water that they live in. In captivity, these turtles are often fed lettuce, shredded carrots and potatoes, and many other leafy greens. They tend to be more carnivorous when young and tend to become more herbivorous as they age. Red-eared sliders do not produce saliva; therefore they must eat while in the water.


They are almost totally aquatic, but leave the water to bask on hot sunny days. The red-eared slider slides franticaly off rocks and logs when approached - hence the name. Throughout the day they will climb out of the water, bask until dry and warm, then dive back in to wet themselves and cool off, and then climb out to bask again.


Care
Red eared sliders are semi aquatic turtles that are very commonly kept as pets. Unfortunately, lack of understanding what they require means that many red eared sliders have died from improper care. While they are not overly demanding as pets, many unsuspecting owners have been told that it was fine to keep them in small plastic bowls. Needless to say this housing is completely inadequate and impractical - turtle owners need to invest a fair amount in the proper equipment to house red eared sliders. With proper care these turtles can live several decades, so turtle ownership is not a committment to be taken lightly. 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, wax worms, blood worms, aquatic snails, fresh greens (collard, mustard and dandelion greens, and dark leafy lettuces but never head lettuce), aquatic plants, and shredded vegetables.



As a pet the red-eared slider has much in common with other turtles. It is generally alert and curious, though it can display the same pugnacious personality as other species. With frequent handling red-eared sliders can become quite tame, and will tolerate being held. Some may even seek out human contact, though it is questionable whether the turtle is intelligent enough to recognize individuals. Some turtles who do not like to be handled will hiss and start to kick at the person's hand. Whenever this occurs, put the turtle back down, and try to pick it back up later Owners should not pick up their turtle for extenmsive periods of time. This often stresses the turtle. It is more preferable to play with and handle the turtle for about fifteen minutes per day, rather then handle the turtle for an hour once every four days. Most pet sliders, whether handled or not, will beg for food when they see movement near their enclosure. A well-cared-for red-eared slider can live for up to 35 years, although a lifespan of 10-20 years is more common.


The turtle must be kept in an aquarium or other enclosure in keeping with its size. The small portable containers often sold along with a baby red-eared slider are completely inadequate even for the smallest specimen. Red-eared sliders, and most turtles in general, are good swimmers and can hold their breath for long periods of time. Sufficient water is required in the enclosure. A common rule among keepers is to have at least ten gallons of water per one inch of shell. Another way that some turtle owners prefer is as long as their turtle can not reach the top of the water while standing on its hindlegs. However, for younger turtles water level should allow the turtle to be able to stand up and reach the top of the water, for there have been cases of turtles drowning at young ages. If the turtle seems like it is drowning when the water level is increased, then it must be taken out immediately. However, even though it may appear that the turtle does not want to swim at first, it can learn quickly. A basking area on which the turtle can dry out needs to be provided. A heat lamp is also strongly recommended for indoor turtles. If a heat lamp is used indoors, turtles should have access to it for three to four hours per day. The water should be kept at a constant temperature of 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit; colder water temperatures can cause the turtle to attempt to hibernate, which is impossible in captivity, and the turtle will thus drown. Water quality with any aquatic turtle can be a serious problem. Turtle feces can accumulate quickly, and the resulting ammonia and bacterial build-up can be seriously detrimental to the animal's health. A good aquarium filter can help alleviate this problem, as can a separate feeding tank, but frequent water replacement will be needed to ensure good health. For adult turtles (who may be 8 to 12 inches in length) it is generally accepted that a 150 gallon tank will suffice. Another possibility is to keep the turtle in a backyard pond or kiddy pool as long as it is enclosed, form the sides and the top.

Answer 9

For some good care sites, try:
http://www.redearslider.com or
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com

Answer 10

Go to Petco. They told us all we needed to know when we had ours.