Care Sheet for TurtlesAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 0 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 07/09/2007 |
Main Category: | Aquatic/Land |
Sub Category: | Turtles |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Yexalen |
Years Experience: | 3 to 5 Years |
Species: | Red Eared Slider (RES) |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Aquatic Turtles |
Sexing and Characteristics: | At a Glance:
The males will generally have much longer front claws compared to the female. The males also have a longer thicker tail. The females will grow larger and some even say they grow faster. The females will have a completely flat under shell as the males will slightly curve inward towards the tail for mating purposes. |
Mostly Active During: | Both |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Do not use gravel as it is to small and the turtle will eat it and it can cause severe stress and health issues. Either use large polished river rock (bought at pet stores), or slate. You can also leave the tank bottom bare it is easy for the turtles to move around. Its easy to clean and doesn’t look that bad.
I went without any substrate material for over a year and then I switched to slate flooring tiles from a home improvement store. Cleaned up good and cut to fit. It gives them grip and looks really nice and easy to clean.
The water needs to be twice as high as their shell is long. If the longest part of the shell is 5 inches the water needs to be 10 inches deep. You must use a filter unless you are willing to clean out the tank completely every other day. |
Lighting and UVB: | The do need a uvb light. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | The water should be about 78’F and the basking spot needs to be in the low 80s are high 70s
-Humidity isn’t a problem- |
Heating and Equipment: | You will need a submersible water heater to keep the water at the correct temperature. And a heat lamp above the land part of the tank so they can come out and dry off in the heat of the "sun" |
Caging Provided: | You should have 10 gallons of water for every inch of shell. So that gives you a good idea of what size of tank. They get to be 12 inches in Diameter so 12 inch turtle, 120 gallons of water. Then they also need land. (they don’t grow fast so you have time before getting the large pond or tank) They need a land area or the young babies can drown. |
Diet: | Omnivorous |
Description of Diet: | They need a varied diet. Meat, Vegetable matter, and commercial diet.
25% meat: crickets, earthworms, mealworms, feeder fish, shrimp, etc.
25% Commercial: Pellets, Sticks (store bought turtle food)
50% Vegetable matter: Collard greens, Turnip greens (leaves only) mustard greens, dandelion greens, frozen (then thawed) vegetables. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | |
Maintenance: | They need a water filter and with the filter the tank needs to be cleaned every week or so. Without a filter every other day.
Every week or so you should also take your turtle out and run it under some water and use a soft bristled tooth brush on the shell for any slime or gunk. (the warm water will cause algae to thrive so keeping the tank clean is very important) |
Some Words on this Species: | They grow to be about 12 inches in Diameter and live up to 25 years if cared for properly. The babies will have an air sack under their head by their throat which they use to hold air in order to help them float to the surface. They will try to get thru the glass sides of the tank is to small or they see something they want. Cover the walls with a background or paper so they realize they cant get thru.
I have created an email for the purpose of questions on reptiles so don’t be shy if you have additional questions. yexalen@gmail.com Please only serious questions. |
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