Red Ear Sliders - Alias: "The Dime Store Turtle"

The Red Eared Slider. Alias: the "Dime Store Turtle." Used to be sold in the nickel and dime store many years ago. Illegal now to be sold under 4 inches in length. They are one of the most recognizable turtles. Description: A medium sized turtle, usually 4 to 6 inches as average. Abundantly green; or different shades of green, with yellow stripes and red markings on the sides of their face. The red markings appear to be around the ear area, hence given the name Red Ear Slider.

 

Natively the red ear sliders can be found in the United States from the Mississippi Valley of Illinois down to the Gulf of Mexico. They have been known to appear in regions outside of this. It's suggested that these turtles have been released in the wild due to lack of interest from their previous owners.

Red ear sliders are found in freshwater. They prefer the shallower, quiet, and slow moving waters found in lakes, rivers, ponds, streams and marshes. As youngsters, they enjoy chasing small fish and tadpoles that hang out in the shallow end too. Since the adults get too big to swim around in the shallow end, they enjoy swimming in the deeper, shallow parts. There they find more vegetation to munch on. They still enjoy a small fish every now and then that may swim their way.

During the early afternoon to late afternoons, you can observe these beautiful red ear sliders basking in the sun. They are found on logs, rocks and shorelines. Sometimes they are stacked 2 or even 3 turtles high! My red ear sliders at home are caught doing this once in awhile. They are so cute when they first start to bask. They stretch their little legs out as far as they can to expose as much skin to the sun.

As apart of the ecosystem, the turtles eat other animals as others eat them. I know its sad, but it's a part of life. Of course they say man is their greatest predator because some are shot while basking, crushed by cars, sacrifices for research and beheaded after being hooked by fisherman. Pet turtles die from neglect or improper care. Other animal predators include crows, raccoons, pike fish, bass fish, frogs, snakes, other larger turtles, herons, and skunks. Even the smallest creatures feed upon these precious turtles. Ants, maggots and molds attack their eggs.

We've enjoyed raising our pet red ear sliders from just over the size of a quarter to what they are today. With the help of reading and research from other reptile owners, my turtles are sure to live a long, healthy and happy life.

Written by: Taryn - AllTurtles Webmaster
www.allturtles.com