How old do red eared slider turtles get?

Red-eared sliders can live a long life in captivity. When cared for correctly, they can easily live longer than 20 years.

How big is a juvenile red eared slider?

Baby red eared slider turtles are small in size, reaching no more than 1 inch in length. However, they don’t stay that small forever. The first years of their lives are crucial in terms of growth.

Do red-eared slider turtles bite?

Biting. Red-eared sliders may bite — and the bite can be quite painful. The bite will probably only hurt but may be more damaging to young kids with small fingers. Keep in mind that red-eared sliders won’t bite “just because.” In most cases, a bite is a result of an animal being mishandled or hurt.

How painful is a red-eared slider bite?

How bad is a red-eared slider bite?

The turtle’s bite is painful, but it’s not dangerous or poisonous. The bite does not cause any real damage, although it can hurt kids with tiny fingers. However, it’s better to leave the turtle alone if it appears fearful and threatened by you. It mostly happens when you bring it home for the first time.

Is it safe to touch a red-eared slider?

Red-eared sliders are friendly—for turtles. Red-eared sliders aren’t aggressive with people, but they will bite if scared or handled roughly. And don’t forget about their claws, which can easily inflict cuts and scratches.

How old does a red eared slider turtle get?

Observing the turtle’s color is one of the easiest ways to gauge the age. When your Red-eared sliders are just hatchlings, they sport a dazzling color. It’s often Kelly green with light yellow markings. This shade lingers up to the age of six months to 1 year.

How big of a tank do I need for a red eared slider?

First of all, you need to know how big a red-eared slider can actually get and at what pace is growing in size. A good rule of thumb when choosing the turtle tank size is to have about 10 gallons per inch of shell turtle, so for a red-eared slider that’s about 3 inches long, you should ideally put him in an at least 30-gallon turtle tank.

Why are red eared sliders bad for the environment?

Turtles in the wild always remain close to water unless they are searching for a new habitat or when females leave the water to lay their eggs. Owing to their popularity as pets, red-eared sliders have been released or escaped into the wild in many parts of the world. This turtle is considered one of the world’s worst invasive species.

How often do red eared sliders hibernate?

But wild turtles have to deal with the weather and this means that they have to face the winter outside. During the winter Red Eared sliders hibernate, this means that they will usually be inactive for 3 to 5 months per year. During the time that they hibernate, turtles don’t grow at all.

What is the life cycle of a red eared slider?

Smaller species, such as box turtles (Terrapene carolina ssp.) and red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), have wild life spans of 20 to 30 years, though occasional specimens live to be 50 or more.

How can I tell how old my red eared sliders are?

In general, you can estimate a red-eared slider turtle’s age by their size and coloring. Under 6 months of age: – Shell is less than 4 inches in length. – Very bright coloring. – Kelly green colored shell with some yellow markings. 6-12 Months of age: – Shell is less than 4 inches in length. – Slightly less intense coloring.

What do red eared slider turtles eat?

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.

Where can you buy red eared slider turtles?

The red-eared slider is one of the most common turtles found for sale in pet stores across the U.S. and overseas. In addition to finding them at local pet stores, you can purchase them at reptile shows or online.

With the right care, though, they’re generally a hardy and healthy species that frequently surpasses 50 years of age. Common Names: Red-eared slider turtle, red-eared slider, red-eared terrapin, red-eared turtle, slider turtle, water slider turtle

Why are red eared slider turtles bad for the environment?

Because red-eared slider turtles eat plants as well as animals, they could also have a negative impact on a range of native aquatic species, including rare frogs. Also, a significant risk exists that red-eared slider turtles can transfer diseases and parasites to native reptile species.

Is it illegal to sell red eared slider in Florida?

Now, it is illegal in Florida to sell any wild-type red-eared slider, as they interbreed with the local yellow-bellied slider population, T. s. scripta, which is another subspecies of pond sliders, and hybrids typically combine the markings of the two subspecies.

Are there any subspecies of the red eared slider?

It is a subspecies of Trachemys scripta. It was previously classified under the name Chrysemys scripta elegans. The species Trachemys scripta contains three subspecies: T. s. elegans (red-eared slider), T. s. scripta (yellow-bellied slider), and T. s. troostii (Cumberland slider).

Are there any red ear slider turtles for sale?

Slider turtles for sale have been very popular as pet turtles and for good reason. They are cute, stay reasonably small and get along well with other turtles. Check out our red ear slider turtles for sale .

Are there any live baby turtles for sale?

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Do you wash your hands after handling a red eared slider turtle?

For this reason, it is important to always wash your hands after handling the red-eared slider turtle as well as any surface they’ve crawled across with soap and water. You should also wash any clothes that have come in contact with your red-eared slider turtle as well.

What’s the best price to buy a turtle?

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They typically live between 20 and 30 years, although some individuals have lived for more than 40 years. Their life expectancy is shorter when they are kept in captivity. The quality of their living environment has a strong influence on their lifespans and well being.

Do red-eared sliders get attached to their owners?

Turtles can become attached to their owners. They can learn to recognize them and even learn their owners voice. However, the bond that is formed is not the same kind one would have with a pet like a dog.

Can red-eared sliders eat meat?

Red-eared sliders are omnivorous so they can eat both plants and animals. A baby red-eared slider’s diet should be about 70% meat and 30% plant. Adults should eat a diet of 50% meat and 50% plant.

How old do red-eared slider turtles get?

Red-eared sliders can live a long life in captivity. When cared for correctly, they can easily live longer than 20 years.

How long does it take for a red eared slider to grow full size?

It can take about 8 years for red-eared sliders to reach their full length, which is generally between 18 to 30 cm (7 to 12 inches). Of course, the growth rate varies from one individual to another. Variations are usually by an inch or 2.

How long can a red eared slider turtle live?

How long can Red Eared sliders live? As pets Red Eared sliders can live anywhere from 30 years to 50 years. In the wild they usually live for 25 to 30 years. The difference is so big because there are a lot of predators and other dangerous things in the wild that will end up hurting the turtle, thus reducing their lifespan.

How old are red eared sliders when they hatch?

Observe your turtle’s coloring. Red-eared sliders are brightly colored when they are less than six months old; hatchlings’ shells are often kelly green with light yellow markings. After age 1, these colors fade to a muddied, olive hue.

How big of a tank do I need for a red eared slider?

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.

What should a 2 year old red eared slider eat?

One important thing that you have to keep in mind is that younger Red Eared sliders, usually those under 2 years, will rarely eat something else besides meat. Even if they are omnivorous as adults, baby Red Eared sliders tend to be carnivorous. So don’t worry if your baby Red Eared slider refuses to eat fruits or vegetables.

What is the life cycle of a red eared slider?

Smaller species, such as box turtles (Terrapene carolina ssp.) and red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), have wild life spans of 20 to 30 years, though occasional specimens live to be 50 or more.

How do you care for a red eared slider?

Caring for your red-eared slider requires more than just an aquarium, some water, and some mealworms. It’s important to take into account the unique diet, tank specifications, lighting requirements, and health issues associated with this breed.

How much does a red eared slider cost?

Depending on their species, turtles can vary in cost. Red-eared sliders, one of the most common pet turtles, can be found for as little as $20 in pet stores, while some types can be purchased from breeders at a much higher cost.

How often does a red eared slider eat?

Older RES’s (red eared sliders) should be fed every 2-3 days to 2-3 times per week. Baby red eared sliders on the other hand can, and should be fed, every day. A good judge of how much to feed them is to give them enough food that would be roughly the size of their head.

They typically live between 20 and 30 years, although some individuals have lived for more than 40 years. Their life expectancy is shorter when they are kept in captivity. The quality of their living environment has a strong influence on their lifespans and well being.