Fact #1 Red Eared Slider Turtles Lifespan

One of the first things that you should know about the red eared slider turtle (also known as the red eared terrapin) is that they have an immense life span compared to dogs or cats. A well cared for turtle can live for up to 50 years, so becoming a turtle owner is a greater commitment than many are prepared for. The lifespan of your turtle should never be taken for granted however; a long and healthy life is possible only with the right amount of red eared slider turtle care.

Fact #2 Hibernation

For red eared slider turtles hibernation doesn’t occur, they brumate instead. Brumation is a time when most reptiles become much less active and move only for food or water when the temperature gets colder. Red eared sliders spend this time at the bottom of ponds or shallow lakes. Captive turtles should not brumate, you can discourage it by keeping lights on for 12 to 14 hours each day and maintaining a water temperature between 76 – 80 F.

Fact #3 How Did They Get Their Name?

The red eared slider is one species of pond slider turtle with the other being the yellow bellied slider. The red eared slider gets the ‘red’ part of its name from the distinctively colored band of flesh near its ears. They are skittish and shy and are known to quickly slide off of rocks and logs to avoid humans or predators – which is where the ‘slider’ part of its name comes from.

Fact #4 Characteristics of Male and Female Slider Turtles

Like most reptiles, the female is larger than the male. A female slider turtle typically reaches 10 to 12 inches in length whereas the male reaches 8 to 10 inches in length. The male however has longer claws and a longer, thicker tail and subdued markings when compared to the female. The bottom shell or plastron of the male may also have a slight curve inward.

Fact #5 Female Sliders may carry eggs without a Male present

Female red eared sliders do not require males in order to carry eggs, but they will remain unfertilized. It’s important for the female to have a nesting area to lay them because egg retention can cause harm and even death. The eggs are carried between the shell and the front portion of the back legs, gentle examination is required to not inadvertently damage the eggs.

Females with eggs will attempt to dig their way out of the tank and become restless. They may also lay eggs in the water if a nesting area isn’t provided, if this happens a nesting area needs to be created because most of the eggs will remain internal. Female turtles can be choosy about finding a place to nest, but the more natural the environment, the better your odds will be. Use 50 percent dry sand with 50 percent organic compost; this substrate needs to be up to 12 inches deep for large turtles. Red eared slider turtle egg laying requires a substrate that’s devoid of rocks or hard objects as these may cause the female to stop digging.

If you’ve been thinking about buying a pet turtle or a pet terrapin — either for yourself or your family — but are uncertain about what really is involved in owning one, here is some basic information you need to keep in mind when making the decision.

Turtles and terrapins make superb pets because they’re very enjoyable to observe, don’t require much training and live for a long time. However, the very fact that they have a longer life expectancy than other pets means that you’ll need to commit to caring for them long-term.

How do you look after turtles and terrapins? First, you will need to set up both wet and dry habitats, and to keep your pet healthy and strong, you will have to look after a suitable temperature in their environment. It is important to keep the water clean, frequently-changed in a shallow container. You also have to make certain that your pet can easily get in and out of the water by having some kind “island” for your pet to climb over with. Here’s another important thing that most amatuer pet owner don’t pay attention to that you need to know: turtles and terrapins need lots of food—and it must be fresh all the time. It is equally important to be aware of the subtle differences between the male and female species because, believe it or not, the two genders require different kinds of care.

Another thing that surprises many people is that turtles and terrapin require more tender loving care than you’d think. For example, if you have to be out of town for a few days, make certain that a family member of a friend looks after your pet during that period. You should also regularly inspect your turtle to detect early signs of illness; failing health will frequently be manifested by slight deformations in its shell.

Turtles and terrapins make wonderful pets, but if you do decide to take one on, be sure to have a clear idea beforehand of the care required to keep it actively healthy and always happy. Your “green friend” depends on you.

The first important decision you need to make, one you must have decided long before you bring your turtle home, is where he is going to live. If you keep your box turtle outside, try to make the environment closely resemble his natural habitat. There should be plenty of sun, as reptiles need outside heat to keep them warm, but shade too so he does not become overheated. Water that is deep enough for swimming is important for turtles, as are plants and insects to eat. If you decide to create an indoor home, proper box turtle care dictates that a soft cushion of mulch should be placed in a large opaque container. Provide hiding places like a hollow tube or log and an eating area. A pool should be provided that is deep enough for submerged swimming. Box turtles enjoy humid, damp climates so spray the home with a squirt bottle every day.

In your box turtle’s home, keep the temperature between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit with a UV-B lamp. Also, if your turtle lives inside, sun exposure for at least an hour a day is recommended for good box turtle care. While he is spending time outside, take advantage of his absence to change the water. Clean, warm water is desired by box turtles and necessary to promote a healthy immune system.

Food is obviously an essential part of a box turtle’s health. It is your responsibility to provide healthy food for your pet. Foods high in calcium are needed for box turtle care, including boiled and crushed eggshells and cuttlebone, available at your local pet store. Balance your turtle’s diet with half fruits and vegetables and half meat. Mix up his diet by feeding him different things each day. This way, he will not get bored with his food or become addicted to any one food. If you spend the proper amount of time and energy on your box turtle, you will have him around as your friend for a long time to come.

Proper baby turtle care requires shallow water in a tank, a little deeper than the turtle’s shell is wide. As with adult turtles, there should also be a basking area that is out of the water. The area should be easily accessible via a gradual ramp coming out of the water. The tank can even be placed at a slight slant so there is a spot with deeper water as well as a prime basking spot. Both the water and the basking area should be kept warm with heaters and lamps. Turtles are cold blooded animals and being warmed from outside sources is important to promote good immune system health. Especially in babies that are weaker, warm temperatures are essential.

In addition to keeping your new turtle warm, clean water is vital to proper baby turtle care. Water should be changed extremely regularly, as often as every day. With the installation of a filter, the frequency can be extended to a few days between changes. Filters can create currents that are too strong for babies to paddle against so watch carefully to see if the filter has an adverse affect on the comfort of your baby turtle. Even if the water looks clear, chemical deposits invisible to the naked eye build up daily and can harm your baby turtle. Regular water replacement is a basic turtle care fact, but it is even more important for babies to have clean, fresh water so they can grow strong and healthy. Each water change should go through a de-chlorination process to limit negative affects chlorine has on aquarium nitrogen cycles.

Baby turtle care dictates that you feed your animal foods rich in vitamin D3 and calcium. D3 can be absorbed through sunlight exposure and from supplements. Calcium is found in foods like boiled and crushed eggshells, crushed oyster shell and cuttlebone. Providing the right size of tank, temperature and foods will allow your baby turtle to thrive and grow into a healthy adult animal.

However, all turtles and terrapins do require an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals. As a rule of thumb, if you feed your turtles a variety of fresh, leafy greens and other vegetables, these should provide most of the nutrition they need, as these foods are naturally rich with the required nutrients. However, if their regular diet is deficient in certain minerals and vitamins, you will need to give them supplementary nutrition. You can normally purchase supplements at your local pet store. The packaging should indicate how often to provide these vitamin and mineral supplements, but as a rule, adding them to your turtle’s food once or twice a week should be sufficient.

In addition, you might want to set a calcium block in your pet’s habitat for it to nibble on, as calcium is not normally present in large doses in regular turtle food. One need is constant no matter what breed of turtle you own: they need a constant source of fresh drinking water—changed frequently. Make sure that it’s in a shallow bowl or other container that they can easily dip their mouths into and drink.

Different breeds have different needs, so it’s always good to ask at local pet store for any additional guidelines regarding nutritional needs that your pet turtle has. If they’re not certain, read Internet articles on the subject or chat online with others who own the same type of turtle. In fact, why wait till you own one to find out what special terrapin food it needs? It’s best to do all your research before you actually go out and buy a pet. That way you can check ahead of time whether your local shops or pet stores actually stock the supplies and food that your pet will need.

No matter what breed of pet turtle or terrapin you settle on, bear in mind that they will probably live thirty, fifty, even a hundred years! So before you actually bring a pet terrapin home, you need to make sure that you’re in this for the long haul. As the Beatles song says, “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four?” 

The average turtle will live around fifty years and that’s one of the main things to bear in mind when considering buying one—particularly if you’re going to buy a turtle as a pet for your child. Certainly a turtle is easier to care for than, say, a hamster or a dog, but they still need attention, a well-maintained living space and the correct diet if they are to enjoy a long and healthy life.

Since different breeds of turtles will have different needs, you will need to do a certain amount of research about the type of turtle you wish to buy so you’ll know what kind of habitat it needs and what kind of foods it eats. The majority of pet turtles have a similar diet, enjoying a variety of fresh vegetables. Lettuce is an all-time favorite—though it’s best to avoid iceberg lettuce, as this can cause your pet to have diarrhea.

There are many breeds to consider when you’re out shopping for a pet turtle, and choices include water turtles, semi-aquatic turtles and land-loving varieties. True, all breeds have points in common, but each particular kind has specialized dietary and habitat requirements, and it’s best to seek the advice of an expert at your pet store. It’s important to choose a turtle that’s suited to individual home and lifestyle, as these things directly affect your ability to provide it with a good life. Some pet turtles require more special lighting and heating conditions than others, so make sure you’re familiar with the different kinds of turtles before you buy one and take it home.

If you take the time to learn all there is to know about your turtle—and these days, you can even research specific breeds online—you will then be able to create a fulfilling and rewarding bond with your pet. We hope this information has helped you start down the right path!  

Sea turtles are found in all the oceans of the world, except for the Arctic, and are specially designed for life in the open waters. They belong to the superfamily Chelonioidea and there are seven varieties of them. These are the Flatback, Leatherback, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Green, Kemp’s Ridley, and Olive Ridley.

Sea turtles have a life expectancy of up to a hundred years, significantly longer than the lifespan of almost all other species of turtle. Unfortunately, however, many of them have been hunted almost to the point of extinction, and most of the seven sub-groups are now on the “endangered species” list. This special protected status has given them some breathing space, although the poaching continues.

The smaller turtles, on the other hand, are very common and given their popularity with pet-owners, are in no danger of extinction. These include various kinds of semi-aquatic or even freshwater turtles; aquatic turtles (commonly known as water turtles) thrive in a large tank, however, so most commonly, turtles kept as pets are those that live in mixed dry and wet environments.

Some of the most common breeds of pet turtles are the Eastern box turtle, the painted turtle, the Russian tortoise, the yellow-bellied slider, and the red-eared slider. Each breed is unique and requires different kinds of habitats and care, and each requires their own specific diet and environments. When deciding what kind of turtle would be best for your household, it pays to research the various kinds, determine the kind of care and setup that you are able to provide then choose the breed that matches those criteria closest.

Most pet turtles eat fresh fruit and vegetables—or fresh vegetables alone. Whichever breed you settle on, know that your pet turtle will have a long life expectancy and will require care from you for many years. (No, they won’t live 100 years like sea turtles, but they will certainly outlive your hamster.) Pet turtles need a proper habitat, which includes a steady supply of fresh water. And you can’t ignore them for long periods of time simply because they don’t interact with you as much as a dog or a cat. Turtles can get sick too, and you need to be attentive to their physical appearance and changes in their daily behavior to detect illness.