Red-eared sliders in Indiana?

Question

Does anyone know what parts of Indiana red-eared sliders live around

Answer 1

They are not a native species of Indiana, any that you see in lakes or ponds there are introduced there. They are the #1 invasive species of turtle in the world. Not sure why you want to know, but if you have one to rehome, don't release it to a pond. Not only is it detrimental to the native turtles, it's most likely against the laws of Indiana.
If however you are looking to acquire a RES, by all means submit an adoption application with our rescue and we'd be happy to adopt one to you if you have a good set up. :-)
Julie, Director
Turtle Rescue of Long Island
www.turtlerescues.org

Answer 2

you can find them at most pet stores. i would start there before bringing one in from the wild. they live in ponds and swamps and usually carry diseases that are natural to them in the wild, and some that are not.

a captive bred animal, that was born in someones home, wont have these diseases and will usually be used to people thus being more tame.

Description

The red-eared slider is named for the broad red or orange stripe behind the eye, which may extend onto the neck. Otherwise, the head, neck, and legs are greenish with yellow stripes. The olive or brown carapace usually has yellow and black longitudinal bands and stripes. The plastron is yellow with a dark, rounded blotch in each scute. Males are slightly smaller than females and have longer claws on the forefeet. Old specimens, especially males, may become very dark, with black coloration obscuring the striped pattern on the skin and shell.


Adult Carapace Length:
5 to 11 inches (12.5 to 27.9 cm).


Habitat and Habits

Red-eared sliders prefer still-water habitats (lakes, ponds, sloughs) with abundant aquatic plant growth and numerous basking sites in the form of logs or other emergent objects. These turtles are called "sliders" because they quickly slide from their basking spots into the water when disturbed. They feed on aquatic plants, and animals such as crayfish, snails, insects, tadpoles, and carrion. The young turtles are mostly carnivorous but eat increasing amounts of vegetation as they get older.


red-eared slider (male)
red-eared slider (male)
Reproduction

Courtship and mating in red-eared sliders take place in water. As in painted turtles, male sliders use their very long front claws to "tickle" the head and neck of the females during courtship. The females usually nest in June, burying from 4 to 25 elliptical eggs in a sunny location. Incubation takes about 65 to 80 days. The babies are about 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) long and have bright green carapaces with yellow markings. Growth can be rapid, and under ideal conditions sliders may reach breeding size in two to four years.


Range and Status

This is a common turtle from northwestern Indiana south to Georgia and west to Texas and Oklahoma. Red-eared sliders are probably not native to Michigan, but breeding populations exist locally in the western and southern Lower Peninsula. Many thousands of baby sliders were once imported into this state for the pet trade, so it is likely that released or escaped specimens are responsible for the established colonies. Isolated specimens may turn up almost anywhere in Michigan.


red-eared slider
red-eared slider
Acknowledgement

James Harding
MSU Museum
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
[phone]
[e-mail]

they say sliders are native to northwestern indiana but like i said its better to buy one. they are fairly inexpensive, check out the classifieds and care guides at the best reptile site on earth

www.kingsnake.com

Answer 3

I went to college in southwestern Ohio, about 15-ish miles from the Indiana border, and we occassionally saw them around the creeks in the area. I would imagine, therefore, that you'd find them in southeastern Indiana.

I grew up in northern Ohio, and I saw a few in some of the smaller ponds in the area. If they can survive a lake effect winter, I'm sure they could survive in northern Indiana; i.e., I doubt that it's out of their potential range.

Answer 4

Red eared sliders? Is that a type of hamburger from White Castle.

Do you know what a Hoosier is? That's a hlllybilly on his way to Michigan that ran out of money.

Answer 5

The whole state, but you don't want a wild caught turtle. You can buy the baby turtles for like $5. We bought one once that had just hatched. He still had his egg-tooth and it was sooooo cute. I know they got in trouble a few years ago, but try Turtle Town. They probably have a web site and they go to all large reptile shows/sales (at least they used to).

Answer 6

contray to the people here that porbably live in NY or AZ or something to that effect i live in indiana. they can be found from any corner of the state to the next and everywhere in between. they ARE native to indiana and live in most pons along side midland painted and sometimes eastern painted turtles and snapper to metion afew others. they can be found in about 90% of ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks. as well as petstores.

Answer 7

Not true they enjoy tank life as much if not more but it s still best to buy in a store like petsmart

Answer 8

look in all the ponds or lakes....but it will be cruel to take it out of its home were they love...if you put it in a tank....it will die because of stress