Housing: For Red Eared Sliders, a 20 gallon aquarium works fine, but make plans for a much larger aquarium, or outdoor garden pond, when your turtle approaches adulthood.
Substrate: Some people use no substrate, to make cleaning easier, but if you decide you want to use a substrate, fine sand about an inch or two deep will work.
Heating: Water temperatures should be kept about 78 to 80 degrees. A submersible heater
can be used to heat the water. A basking spot should be provided, with a temperature in that area of about 90 degrees. A ceramic type heater can be used to heat the basking area. A thermometer
to monitor water temperatures, and one to monitor basking area temperature will also be needed. Light: If you keep your turtle indoors, a UVB light
must be provided. There are a variety of light fixtures on the market that can be used for this. If a turtle doesn’t get enough UVB light, then it should be provided with a supplement with vitamin D3
. Food: Red Eared Sliders are omnivores. They will eat a variety of both land and aquatic insects, crayfish, some fish, snails, tadpoles, earthworms, and a wide variety of plants, including, but not limited to, lettuce, squash, Greens, and even dandelions. Aquatic plants can also be included in their diets, as well as commercial food products. Variety is important. Your turtle should also have an adequate amount of calcium in it’s diet. If they do not get enough in their normal diet, a supplement should be provided.
Choosing a Red Eared Slider: It is my opinion that you should buy your turtle from a reputable breeder or dealer. When preparing some of the Turtle information on this blog, I communicated with the following breeders, and found them to be friendly and helpful, they are: The Turtle Source, Silver City Serpentarium, Empire of The Turtle, Dark Hammock Turtles
, and Amazon Reptile Center
What was cover here, is very basic care information. For more detailed information on care of Red Eared Sliders, you may consider the following resources:
Red-Eared Sliders: From the Experts at Advanced Vivarium Systems (Herpetocultural Library)
The Guide to Owning a Red-Eared Slider
