How often should I take my red eared slider to the vet?
Like all pets, aquatic turtles should be examined at least annually and should have their feces tested for parasites at every examination. In captivity, the toenails of red-eared sliders may need to be clipped periodically; your veterinarian can do this for you or show you how to during one of your routine visits.
Can I take my turtle to a vet?
Turtles can be safely transported to the vet in a secure plastic tub with a damp padded substrate (e.g. a towel). You should never transport your turtle in a tub of water, as they can drown. It is important to have soft, damp substrate to prevent damage to their skin and shell and to help maintain hydration.
Can a red eared slider turtle be a pet?
A red-eared slider turtle is a perfect match. If your ideal pet is one that will not require you to engage in physical training and such, a turtle is for you. The Red-eared slider turtles are calm reptiles that will spend most of their time in the water. Thus, you do not have to spare any free time for exercise and training.
Is the red eared slider dangerous to humans?
Although many people believe that red eared sliders are poisonous, in reality, they are not. So, the red eared slider bites aren’t infectious. Nonetheless, like all turtles, red eared slider carries salmonella, mostly in its skin. Salmonella is a type of bacteria responsible for fever and diarrhea in humans.
When do red ear sliders go into hibernation?
It is usually around October, when temperatures fall below 10 degrees Celsius, that red eared sliders are less active. The Red Eared Slider is a semi-aquatic turtle which can safely brumate indoors or outdoors if conditions are safe and given that the water it is in does not freeze.
Can a red ear slider turtle die from brumation?
Brumating a turtle a month after it had last eaten could die. Brumation should instead be delayed to avoid undigested food to decay and cause fatal bacterial infections. The caregiver is to reduce the photoperiod in the turtle’s tank a little at a time over a period of time.
A red-eared slider turtle is a perfect match. If your ideal pet is one that will not require you to engage in physical training and such, a turtle is for you. The Red-eared slider turtles are calm reptiles that will spend most of their time in the water. Thus, you do not have to spare any free time for exercise and training.
How often should I change my red eared slider turtle’s light?
The bulbs should be replaced about every 6 months. The heat light keeps the basking area temperature 10 degrees higher than your water temperature. Your turtle shouldn’t be able to reach the lighting, since the bulbs can burn. Screw the lights tightly out of the way of the turtle.
What kind of filter do you need for red ear slider turtles?
Under-gravel filter: This needs a large surface area. It’s only useful where you have one or two turtles. If it’s air pump powered, it will only be useful for small turtles or hatchlings. Use a powerhead if using the filter with turtles older than hatchlings.
Can you take a turtle out of the water?
Even semi-aquatic turtles such as red-eared sliders can handle being out of the water for quite a while. For extended trips, you may choose to mist the turtle and or dampen the padding at the bottom, but keep in mind this will be cooling to the turtle so only do this if you can keep the turtle warm enough.
Do red-eared sliders have to go to the vet?
The Health Problems of Red-Eared Sliders. All pets have the potential to develop health problems, whether you own a strapping St. Bernard or a couple of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). Captive turtles, like all pets, must receive routine veterinary checkups.
How deep should red-eared sliders be watered?
6-8 inches
Fill the Tank With Water Red-eared sliders need an adequate amount of water in which to swim. At a minimum, the water should be about twice as deep as your turtle is long—a 4-inch turtle should have a minimum water depth of 6-8 inches.
Will a red eared slider eat fish?
Living in the wild, red eared slider turtles feed on aquatic vegetation, little fish, and material that is decaying such as frogs and dead fish. The young turtles are mainly carnivorous and become more omnivorous as they grow into adults.
How much water should I put in my red-eared slider tank?
Plan on a tank size of 10 gallons of water per inch of the turtle as a general rule of thumb, with a minimum size of a 20-gallon for hatchling red-eared sliders. Keep in mind that red-eared sliders can grow to be 10 to 12 inches as adults, so it’s likely that you’ll eventually need a very large tank.
