Can algae make my turtle sick?
Although a little algae won’t hurt your exotic pets, an algae overgrowth can be harmful to their health. And for turtles, algae can even start to grow on the shell. As with the tank, a little algae growth on your turtle’s shell is fine.
Is algae bad for red eared sliders?
In the wild, a small bit of algae-growth on a turtle’s shell is quite normal. For the most part, if you have an indoor-tank, you really shouldn’t see algae-growth on your red-eared slider’s shell. A little bit of the stuff in your tank is OK, but oftentimes this is indicative of a bigger problem.
When does a red ear slider become a female?
Females are sexually mature when they reach 6 to 7 inches in length (which may take five to seven years). Females will grow larger than males in red-eared sliders and many other turtle species, but the size difference between males and females varies by species.
Can a red eared slider eat its own eggs?
Red eared sliders have the tendency to eat their own unfertilized eggs. If you have a male and a female Red Eared Slider, then most likely the eggs are fertilized. At this point you have two possibilities. You can either throw them away or take care of them.
How many gallons of water does a red ear slider need?
The general rule of thumb is that there should be at least 10 gallons of water, per inch of shell. So if your turtle has 4 inches of shell in length, then there should be at least 40 gallons of water. If your turtle has 6 inches then there should be 60 gallons of water.
What to do when a red eared slider turtle lays an egg?
As soon as you see that one of the baby turtles get out of the egg, you should put some water in the container with the paper towels in it, the water shouldn’t be overflowing, just put enough to get the towels wet. After that you should pick up the baby turtle and put it in that container.
The general rule of thumb is that there should be at least 10 gallons of water, per inch of shell. So if your turtle has 4 inches of shell in length, then there should be at least 40 gallons of water. If your turtle has 6 inches then there should be 60 gallons of water.
Is the red eared slider turtle an invasive species?
Red-Eared Slider Turtle. The Red-Eared Slider, also called the red-eared terrapin, is an American breed of turtles widely spread across the USA, and is quickly becoming an invasive species in many parts of the world. It is also the most popular breed of pet turtle in the US and is widely kept as pet around the world.
What makes a red eared slider male or female?
Female red eared sliders have a flat plastron, while male red eared sliders have a concave plastron. This shape difference allows males to climb on top of females while they are mating. Females also have a benefit from the flat shape of the plastron, the fact that their plastron is flat and not indented allows them to carry more eggs.
What can I do about algae on my turtle’s shell?
Algae should be easy to remove if the area is wiped down with a towel or gently scrubbed with a toothbrush and water. Adding a pleco, an algae eating fish, is not a reliable way to control algae on your turtle or in your tank. A pleco will become a potential meal itself and contribute to the waste added into to the water.
