Red Ear Slider Turtle Facts

The red ear slider turtle, a small, vibrant freshwater creature, is a fascinating specimen from the animal kingdom. Native to the Mississippi Valley in the southern United States, it’s an intriguing species with a remarkable lifestyle, intriguing behavioral patterns, and a unique dietary regimen. This comprehensive guide delves into intriguing Red Ear Slider Turtle Facts, enhancing your understanding of this charming reptile.

Description of Red Ear Slider Turtle

The red ear slider turtle is a small freshwater turtle native to the Mississippi Valley in the southern United States.

Red eared sliders are a medium-sized freshwater turtle, generally 125–200 mm long, but can grow up to 350 mm long. Females are usually larger than males (plastron length 150–195 mm, compared to 90–100 mm for males).

The carapace and skin is olive to brown with yellow stripes or spots. While specimens in captivity tend to have neat shells, usually the shells of wild species are covered by a layer of algae, hide their distinctive patterns and colors.

Red-Eared Slider Size

The red-eared sliders are a medium-sized turtle, generally measuring between 125-200 mm in length. However, some individuals can grow up to 350 mm long. Typically, females are larger than males, with a plastron length between 150–195 mm, compared to 90–100 mm for males.

Where are Red-Eared Sliders From?

The red-eared slider is a native species from the Mississippi Valley, covering states including Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia in the southern United States.

However, due to their popularity in the pet trade, they have been introduced globally and can now be found in every continent except Antarctica. They adapt well to different environments, thriving in man-made canals, brackish marshes, and city park ponds.

Red Ear Slider Turtle Habitat

Preferred habitats include a range of slow-moving or still freshwater lakes and ponds (rarely in flowing water).

Red ear slider turtle readily tolerate artificial ponds and lakes, and often thrive in dams that have been polluted by excessive organic matter. They can tolerate human-made canals, brackish marshes, and ponds in city parks.

Red-Eared Slider Lifespan

Red-eared sliders have quite a long lifespan compared to other turtle species. In the wild, their maximum lifespan is generally between 20-30 years. However, it’s important to note that only about 1% of hatchlings survive to reach this age due to predation and disease.

Some references claim that they can live up to an impressive 75 years! In captivity, where threats are minimized, red-eared sliders can live for up to 50 years.

What do Red-Eared Slider Turtles Eat?

Red-eared sliders have a versatile dietary routine. As juveniles, they tend to be more omnivorous, with a diet consisting of both plant and animal matter. They’re opportunistic feeders, preying on a variety of mollusks and invertebrates such as snails, worms, shrimp, insects, and their larvae, and crayfish.

As they mature into adults, red-ear turtles tend to lean more towards a herbivorous diet. They consume a variety of aquatic plants and algae, including potentially harmful aquatic weeds like water hyacinth.

While they are capable of consuming small vertebrates – including small reptiles, amphibians, mammals, fish, and birds – these animals very rarely make it into their diet. Interestingly, they are known to eat fish, frogs’ eggs and tadpoles, and even water snakes!

Red-Eared Slider Behavior

Red-eared sliders are known for their social nature. They are usually found basking in the sun on rocks or logs, often stacked on top of each other. They are quick to dive into the water when they sense danger, a behavior that showcases their alertness and sensitivity to their surroundings.

At the onset of the breeding season, males can be seen engaging in a unique courtship display. They vibrate their forelimbs in front of the female’s face. If the female is receptive, she will sink to the bottom of the water body for mating.

When it comes to fun activities, red-eared sliders love to explore their surroundings, swim around and, most notably, bask in the sun. They also have a penchant for digging and often burrow in the substrate at the bottom of their enclosures.

Red Ear Slider Turtle Reproduction

Sexual maturity is reached at 2-5 years of age. Maximum life-span is generally in the order of 20-30 years, although only 1% of hatchlings reach this age.

Some references claim maximum age can be up to 75 years. Red ear slider turtle can wander up to 9 km from water to find suitable habitat, search for a mate or lay eggs.

Nests are dug well above water level, usually within 500 m of water, but sometimes up to 1.6 km away.

Females can produce viable eggs for up to 5 years after mating although fertility drops to 20% or less after the first year. Females can lay up to 3 clutches (approximately 75 eggs) per season.

Red Ear Slider Turtle Care

Red eared sliders are popular pets due to low price, small size and easy maintenance. However, they can live for up to 50 years in captivity. Preferred climate is perhaps best described as temperate.

However, the species is very adaptable and readily tolerates tropical and subtropical areas, generally where temperatures are between 10 and 37 degrees Celsius.

In cold climates, red ear slider turtle can overwinter in their nests. Adults can survive severe winters (-10 degrees Celsius for extended periods) by hibernation. Even, they become active when necessary for food or water, or to bask if temperatures increase.

Health Complications Associated With Red Ear Slider Turtles

Physical Complications

Turtles often carry a pathogen called Salmonella along with a few other bacteria. The sad part is these pathogens can spread and affect humans and result in diarrhea and stomach pain. 

However, unless you have children or sensitive people in your home, you have nothing to worry about. You just have to observe basic precautions and maintain your hygiene. One of the most basic, yet essential, things is to wash your hands well each time you touch your turtle. 

It’s easy to spot the presence of these bacteria in your turtle. If they suddenly lose their appetite or start defecating abnormally, you should definitely get in touch with a vet.

Another major issue with these turtles is that they’re prone to respiratory issues, especially if they’re kept in weather too cold for them to bear. The symptoms include excess mucus production, constant sneezing, and open-mouth breathing. 

You should also be very careful about their diet and hygiene. 

Most turtles, including the red ear sliders, are very fragile. If you don’t take care of their diet or wash them properly, they’ll develop ulcers in their shells, and the shell will begin to rot. You’ll be able to identify this through the foul-smelling patches that will soon cover their shells. If not catered to, they might even lose their life to it.

Mental Health Complications

Physical issues aren’t the only health problems these turtles face. When turtles are separated from their natural habitat, there are two types of mental health issues that they meet:

• The stress of adjusting to the new environment
• Aggressiveness against owners

If a turtle remains under constant stress, it will lead to health problems which might escalate to such levels that they die. They can also get a little aggressive and try to bite at you.

FAQs About Red-Eared Sliders

Conclusion

If you are looking to get one of these, or already have one and need some additional care advice. Check out the complete care guide for a red eared slider.

We went through and broke everything down in detail. Feel free to leave any questions or comments in the comment section below too!

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