Red-eared sliders are one of the most popular pets and are fun to watch and care for. These reptiles are unpretentious, beautiful, easy to tame, and have a funny behavior. Another advantage of reptiles is that red-eared turtles live at home for quite a long time, so the owner does not have to mourn the loss of a pet. Despite the fact that it is easy to keep yellow-bellied beauties in a terrarium, inexperienced owners often make gross mistakes that lead to a reduction in the life expectancy of red-eared turtles. To avoid such consequences, before purchasing, you should learn about how to care for turtles and how they differ from land turtles.
Description
The red-eared turtle is a medium-sized reptile, which, depending on its gender, has a length of the upper part of the shell (carapace) from eighteen to thirty centimeters. The body of the reptile is hidden in a reliable and durable shell, which consists of bone covered with horny plates. The thin long tail, head and limbs remain outside and, in case of danger, are retracted under the armored shields.
The head of the individual is covered with a hard horny covering, which successfully compensates for its lack of teeth, forming sharp edges on the edge of the jaws. The red-eared slider spends most of its life in the water, having webbed swimmers on its hind legs and flattened forelimbs.
The red-eared turtle has undeveloped vocal cords and therefore can snort in excitement and hiss in defense. The individual has a fairly developed sense of smell and vision, and its eyes, which are located on the sides, are reliably protected by movable eyelids. Despite the underdeveloped hearing, the reptiles navigate well by it and hide in the water at any rustle.
In the area of the reptile's ears there are spots or stripes of red color, and in some of its subspecies they can be yellow. Nature has generously endowed the Red-eared turtle with an unusual and amazing shell pattern, the continuation of which can be seen on its limbs and head in the form of green and white wavy spots and stripes. The oval lower part of the shell (plastron) of the individual is dark in color with yellow lines. Young carapace has a bright green color, which becomes yellow-brown or olive with age. The life expectancy of the reptile is thirty years.
Popular types
These turtles have three subspecies:
- red-eared or Florida,
- Cumberland or Trust's tortoise,
- yellow-bellied slider.
Red-eared or Florida (trachemys scripta elegans)
The shell of the Florida red-eared slider reaches 280 mm. The photo clearly shows its wide postorbital stripes and narrow stripes on the chin - red, which gave the name to the whole species. Each carapace plate has a transverse yellow stripe, and the plastron plate has a large dark spot. The subspecies is found mainly in the western and central regions of its natural habitat.
Cumberland or Troost's turtle (trachemys scripta troostii)
Trust's turtle is the smallest subspecies. It does not exceed 21 cm in length. The narrow postorbital stripes and the wide stripe on the chin are yellow. Each of the carapace plates has a yellow transverse stripe. The plastron scutes are decorated with “eyes” or small dark spots. This subformation has the smallest area of occupation, which is located in the upper Cumberland and Tennessee.
Yellow-bellied slider (trachemys scripta scripta)
The length of the carapace of the yellow-bellied slider reaches 27 cm. Its postorbital spots are yellow and connect to a stripe on the neck. There is also a yellow stripe on each carapace scute. There are dark spots on the anterior scutes of the plastron. This subspecies inhabits mainly the eastern part of its natural habitat.
Features of character and lifestyle
Photo: Large red-eared turtle
Red-eared turtles live from 20 to 30 years, but can live more than 40 years. The quality of their habitat has a strong influence on life expectancy and well-being. Turtles spend almost all their time in the water, but since they are cold-blooded reptiles, they leave the water to sunbathe in order to regulate their body temperature. They absorb heat more efficiently when their limbs are extended outward.
Red whales do not hibernate, but plunge into a kind of suspended animation. When turtles become less active, they sometimes come to the surface for food or air. In the wild, turtles spend the winter at the bottom of ponds or shallow lakes. They generally become inactive in October when temperatures drop below 10°C.
During this time, turtles enter a state of stupor, during which they do not eat or defecate, remain almost motionless, and their breathing rate drops. Individuals are most often found underwater, but have also been found under rocks, in hollow stumps and sloping banks. In warmer climates, they can become active in winter and come to the surface to swim. When the temperature begins to drop, they quickly return to a state of stupor.
On a note! Red-eared turtles are caught for food from early March to late April.
During brumation, the species can survive anaerobically (without air) for several weeks. The turtles' metabolic rate drops sharply during this time, and heart rate and cardiac output are reduced by 80% to minimize energy requirements.
Compatibility
Turtles and aquarium fish live together, but this is an exception to the rule. Yes, while red-eared turtles are small, they cannot yet swallow neighbors of comparable size to them. Therefore, they can be kept in an aquarium with some predatory fish, such as cichlids. But, firstly, they need quite specific conditions for heating, irradiation and the presence of an island. Secondly, they grow very quickly and are active predators. If they don’t immediately eat the fish, they will constantly swim with their fins bitten off. For the same reason, it is not recommended to combine red-eared turtles in the same aquarium with amphibians - axolotls, newts, frogs - they also will not last long.
So the best option for keeping red whales is a species-specific aquaterrarium. But several turtles can only be kept together if they have enough space both now and in the near future. And even in this case, keeping turtles of different sizes in the same area is not recommended. This is dangerous, as is the case with aquarium fish. The predatory instincts of turtles extend even to members of their own species.
Appearance and features
Photo: Animal red-eared turtle
The length of the shell of this type of turtle can reach 40 cm, but the average length ranges from 12.5 to 28 cm. Females are usually larger than males. Their shell is divided into two sections: the upper or dorsal carapace (carapace) + the lower, abdominal (plastron).
The upper shell consists of:
- vertebral shields, which form the central elevated part;
- pleural shields located around the vertebral shields;
- edge shields.
The scutes are bony keratin elements. The carapace is oval and flattened (especially in men). The color of the shell changes depending on the age of the turtle. The carapace usually has a dark green background with light or dark markings. In young or newly hatched specimens, this is the color of the green foliage, which gradually darkens in mature specimens. Until it turns dark green and then changes shade between brown and olive green.
The plastron is always light yellow with dark, paired, irregular markings in the center of the shields. The head, legs and tail are green with thin, irregularly shaped yellow lines. The entire shell is covered with stripes and markings that help in camouflage.
Interesting fact! The animal is a poikilotherm, that is, it cannot independently regulate its body temperature and is completely dependent on the temperature of the environment. For this reason, they need to sunbathe frequently to stay warm and maintain their body temperature.
Turtles have a complete skeletal system with partially webbed feet that help them swim. The red stripe on each side of the head distinguished the red-eared slider from other species and became part of the name, as the stripe is located behind the eyes where their (outer) ears would be.
These stripes may lose their color over time. Some individuals may have a small marking of the same color on the top of the head. In addition, they do not have a visible outer ear or external auditory canal. Instead, there is a middle ear, completely covered with a cartilaginous tympanic disc.
Feeding your pet
The lifespan of a red-eared slider, as well as the ability to mate, largely depend on proper feeding. Turtle breeders know that only well-fed reptiles are able to reproduce. Turtles are omnivores, and therefore must eat a varied diet, which is necessary to maintain their health. To do this, you need to know what red-eared turtles eat. Their diet may consist of the following components:
- special dry food for turtles;
- food for aquarium fish;
- chopped vegetables;
- fish;
- shellfish;
- invertebrates;
- meat.
For turtles, live food is a great treat. It should be given only once every 10 days, otherwise the animal may become obese. The diet of the red-eared turtle must be controlled, because at home it is prone to obesity.
Artificial food, which is sold in pet stores, contains all the substances necessary for animal health in an optimal ratio. The increased protein content allows you to significantly limit food portions for the turtle, which makes it easier to keep the reservoir clean.
Watch a video about feeding turtles.
Reptiles constantly need plant food. For adult pets, ¾ of the diet should consist of plant foods. In addition to vegetables, turtles are also given aquarium plants. Live food for red-eared turtles is small fish, insects, snails and worms. For this reason, the red-eared turtle is not suitable for keeping in an aquarium with fish. Small fish are regarded by the reptile as tasty food and will be swallowed within one day. Red-eared turtles do not live peacefully with large fish. The reptiles' neighbors will bite off pieces from them, and the fish will die from injuries.
The feeding regimen is determined depending on the size of the animal. Turtles grow rapidly until they are one year old, and therefore must receive food daily. Individuals older than 12 months must be fed plant food every day, but balanced artificial food is given once every 2 days. It also affects the feeding regimen and feed composition. The manufacturer places all the information on the contents of the package, as well as feeding recommendations on it. Compliance with nutritional rules will ensure that you do not overfeed your red-eared cat and at the same time do not leave it hungry.
Where does the red-eared turtle live?
Photo: Little red-eared turtle
Habitats are in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, as well as in the warm climate of the southeastern United States. Their home territories range from southeastern Colorado to Virginia and Florida. In the wild, red-eared turtles inhabit areas with sources of calm, warm water: ponds, lakes, swamps, streams and slow-moving rivers.
They live where they can easily get out of the water, climb onto rocks or tree trunks to warm themselves in the sun. They often sunbathe in a group or even on each other. These turtles in the wild always stay close to water unless they are searching for new habitat or laying eggs.
Due to their popularity as pets, red whales have been released or escaped into the wild in many parts of the world. Wild populations are now found in Australia, Europe, Great Britain, South Africa, the Caribbean, Israel, Bahrain, the Mariana Islands, Guam, and Southeast and Far East Asia.
An invasive species has a negative impact on the ecosystems it occupies because it has certain advantages over native inhabitants, such as a lower age at maturity and higher fertility rates. They transmit diseases and displace other turtle species with which they compete for food and breeding space.
Habitat
Red-eared turtles are found in the area from southern Virginia to northern Florida and Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico in the west (USA), Mexico, all of Central America, northwestern South America (northern Colombia and Venezuela). The species is introduced to the south of Florida, Arizona, Guadeloupe, Israel and South Africa and a number of other countries. Turtles live in small lakes and ponds with low, swampy shores.
Red-eared slider: care
Red-eared turtles can be kept in groups or alone. But in any case, it is necessary to keep in mind that for one individual you need an aquaterrarium with a volume of at least 110-130 liters . You should not assemble a group of only males. Otherwise, there will be constant battles for territory. Also, all individuals must be the same size and age. Caring for an animal at home is generally not accompanied by any serious difficulties. However, for the normal development of a turtle you need to know some important points.
Do you need neighbors?
The behavior of red-eared turtles in relation to other underwater inhabitants and relatives cannot be called friendly. Reptiles tend to enter into conflicts with each other, and pugnacity especially manifests itself in adulthood. Given this temperament, it is recommended to keep turtles separately from relatives, or provide pets with a spacious terrarium with partitions.
Tips for keeping two or more reptiles in one container:
- Pets must be the same size and age.
- You cannot keep two males in a terrarium.
- Each individual should have personal space and a rest area.
It is important to note that it is not recommended to keep frogs, lizards and snakes together with turtles, as these creatures are perceived by reptiles as food.
What should an aquaterrarium be like for a red-eared turtle?
It should be quite long, but at the same time not wide and low. Volume not less than 120 liters. The water level must match the proportions of your turtle's shell so that it can turn over. A small bank should be installed near the aquarium. Maintain the water temperature within 25 degrees, on land - 31 - 33 degrees. To keep the temperature at the same level, a special heater must be provided.
The water must be changed and cleaned depending on the degree of contamination. But you can also use a special filter. For young turtles, external is preferable, and for adults, only internal. An ultraviolet lamp will not hurt, but it should not be located low, the approximate height is 25 cm, so that the turtle does not get a burn to the eyes. Another option for arranging an aquaterrarium is an incandescent lamp with the same requirements. They both need to switch off at night.
If the weather outside is nice and warm, try to take the turtles out to bask more often. But remember that the first time you do not need to keep it in the sun for more than 5 minutes. And it is important to increase the time spent in the fresh air gradually. They also need a dark place where they can periodically hide from the sun, as they are susceptible to overheating.
Some guidelines have been developed regarding temperature and lighting duration for all turtles of this species. This is not mandatory, but highly recommended for adults.
So, for the remaining two turtles from January to March the temperature should be 18 degrees, and the duration of illumination should be 8 hours, April - 21/8, where 21 is the temperature, and 8 is the duration of illumination, May - 24/10, June - 27 /13, July – 28/13, August – 28/11, September – 25/10, October – 22/8, November and December – 18/8.
And for Trachemys scripta troostii the requirements are as follows: January - March - 18/8, April - 20/8, May - 21/10, June - 23/13, July - 26/13, August - 25/11, September - 20/ 10, October – December – 18/8.
Aquarium content
Temperatures for baby red-eared turtles should be different from their adult counterparts. For land it is 32 degrees Celsius, and for water it is no more than 26 degrees Celsius. Choose a long aquarium that is not very wide and tall. The volume of water must be at least 120 liters. Adjust the water level according to the proportions of the turtle's shell. It should be able to roll over. At the edge of the aquarium, arrange a land shore in the form of an island. Such an island can be purchased at pet stores, or you can build it yourself.
The water must be constantly cleaned. Special filters are sold for this purpose. If there are only young turtles in your aquarium, then use an external filter, and if they are already adults, use an internal one. An additional device can be used with an ultraviolet lamp, which must be placed at a height of up to 25 centimeters. Incandescent lamps are suitable for heating water and sushi. Turn off all lamps at night. Please note that the lamps may be splashed with water, so they should be hidden from moisture and evaporation. When the weather is good, it is a good idea to take the aquarium out onto the balcony to warm up, but no more than 5 minutes for the first time. Increase the time spent in the open space gradually as the turtles need to get used to it.
How to determine the age of a red-eared turtle
In captivity, turtles live about 30 years, some individuals 37-40. It is important to be able to determine the age of pets. If you acquire a large specimen, it may turn out that it only has a couple of years to live. Diet, living conditions and belonging to a particular subspecies can affect the size of the turtle. But there are a number of signs by which the age of an amphibian can be determined quite accurately.
- Red spots near the eyes change color over the years from bright red to dark burgundy.
- The color of young individuals is lighter. With age, the pattern on the shell fades and its color darkens.
- There are rings on a turtle's shell. For every year of life, 2-3 rings are added to it.
- Juveniles are active and curious. Old turtles are calmer, but capricious.
- You can determine your pet's age by tracking changes in its size over the years. By one year the male's body grows to 5-6 cm, by two years - 8 cm, by three years 10-12 cm. Each subsequent year gives the turtle another 2 cm. Growth stops when the amphibian reaches 20-25 cm. The female is larger by 2-3 cm.
- The easiest way to determine the age of a red-eared turtle is if you bought it very young or know the exact date of its birth.
How to choose?
Young red-eared turtles with a shell length of no more than 5-6 cm are usually found on sale. They do not need a large aquarium, but it is worth considering that in a few years they can grow up to 20-30 cm, and you will have to change their tank.
It is necessary to carefully evaluate the appearance of the future pet. Lethargic behavior, and especially lying with your eyes closed, are not good signs. Then you should inspect the shell. It should be firm and free of defects. All claws must be present on the paws; no foreign formations are allowed on the head. If the turtle is in the water, it should swim vigorously, maintaining an even body position.
Additional heating
In the wild, the red-eared turtle loves to bask in the sun . Instead, a simple incandescent lamp and an ultraviolet lamp should be hung above the “island”. The latter is needed to ensure the normal development and growth of the red-eared turtle, as well as to prevent various diseases. The ultraviolet lamp should be located 50 cm above the “island”. It should first be turned on for 5 minutes 1-2 times a week, gradually increasing the duration to 30 minutes and the frequency to every day. It is advisable to install a thermometer to control the air temperature (it should not be more than 30 degrees).
Features of aquarium (aquaterrarium) arrangement
A container for keeping red-eared turtles is more accurately called an aquaterrarium, and a number of requirements are imposed on such a container. A turtle is a freshwater animal, so there must be a sufficient amount of water in the aquaterrarium. The water should be clean and warm, with a temperature of 22 to 28 degrees. The volume of the turtle house is at least 200 liters.
It is imperative to purchase a special water heater, an ultraviolet lamp, a thermometer, a heating lamp, a filtration system and a lighting system. In the aquaterrarium, a small island should be provided that smoothly turns into water. The area of this island is at least ¼ of the total area of the turtle’s home. The island is not formed on the basis of soil or gravel.
A home for a red-eared turtle is an environmentally friendly space that does not have toxic components and is absolutely safe for animals without the presence of sharp objects.
What to feed a red-eared slider?
Special dry or frozen food can be purchased at a pet store. You can also feed your red-eared slider a homemade mixture . For it you will need:
- Carrots 70 gr.
- Cabbage - 50 gr.
- Fish fillet - 145 gr.
- Apple - 50 gr.
- Squid fillet - 100 gr.
- Raw egg - 2 pcs.
- Calcium glycerophosphate - 10 tablets.
- Milk - 150 ml.
- Water - 150 ml.
- Tetravit product – 20 drops.
- Gelatin - 30 gr.
Prepare the mixture as follows:
- Add hot water to the gelatin to make it swell.
- Heat the mixture in a water bath until completely dissolved.
- Grind all remaining ingredients, except eggs, milk and preparations, in a meat grinder.
- Add eggs, milk and hot gelatin to the crushed ingredients.
- Allow the mass to cool to 30 degrees.
- Add vitamins and tablets and refrigerate.
Before feeding your red-eared slider, the mixture should be warmed to room temperature. On average, it is enough for 10 feedings . Sometimes it is useful to diversify your diet. You can feed the red-eared turtle with wheat germ, legumes, and sunflower seeds. She also needs to be given apple or pear twigs periodically. This is necessary so that the horny plates located on the upper and lower jaws of the red-eared turtle do not turn into a “beak”.
Diseases
Despite the endurance and resilience of red-eared turtles, sometimes due to errors in keeping the reptiles get sick and die. Knowledge about common turtle ailments and treatment methods will help you avoid such consequences:
- Pneumonia - the disease develops due to being kept in cold water or lack of food. Symptoms include hoarse breathing, lethargy, weakness and pallor of the mucous membranes. Treatment is carried out using an injection of Baytril 2.5% - 0.4 ml/kg into the brachial muscle.
- Bone ailments - if white spots on the shell and detachments are detected in a red-eared turtle, we can conclude that there is a fungal infection. Pets are treated with Clotrimazole ointment, treating damaged areas.
- Lack of calcium - with this problem, reptiles' shell peels off. The deficiency can be eliminated by giving pets small fish with bones and calcium supplements.
By following the maintenance rules, red-eared turtles will not be affected by any diseases.
All about the reproduction of red-eared turtles
Determination of gender
Before breeding reptiles, it is necessary to determine the sex of the turtle. Reproduction of the red-eared slider requires the presence of both male and female individuals. Of course, even without a male, the reptile can lay eggs, but they simply will not be fertilized, and their storage will not give the expected results.
The sex of a turtle can only be determined after the reptile is one year old. Until this age, the distinctive features are so invisible that it is impossible to determine whether they belong to one sex or another. It is better to compare two turtles of the same age. Typically, male reptiles are smaller in size than female reptiles. Also, a visible difference lies in the claws on the front legs and tail - in boys they are longer. Another factor in determining sex can be the shape of the lower part of the shell - in females it is flat, and in boys it is concave.
In what cases will mating occur?
It is worth noting that breeding the red-eared slider at home requires the optimal age of the reptiles. Both individuals must be sexually mature, but not old. Puberty at home in turtles occurs slightly earlier than in nature. Males are ready to breed at about 4 years of age, and females are ready to give birth after five years of life. If you have several turtles, it is better to have only one male among them. Having two boys at once can lead to fights, which can lead to injury.
Preparing for mating
Reproduction of red-eared turtles at home requires enormous effort from the owner. It can be quite difficult to achieve offspring, but with a responsible approach, even a beginner can achieve better results. It must be remembered that even food for red-eared turtles can play a role in reproduction. Before the proposed mating, you need to increase the content of vitamins in the diet and make the food more nutritious.
First of all, turtles that are ready to breed must be placed in a separate, necessarily spacious aquarium. Keep only one male and one female to avoid fights between reptiles. Preparing an atmosphere suitable for reproduction begins with replacing the water and increasing its temperature. So, its optimal temperature is 25 degrees.
Warm water will help produce offspring. It is worth remembering that during mating the male may not allow the female to surface. To prevent the turtle from choking, pour only 10 centimeters of water. Place a container with sand in the aquarium (the female will lay her eggs there). The container should be located on dry land and easily accessible to the reptile. Reproduction of red-eared turtles will occur only in the presence of soil.
The female, ready for reproduction, is somewhat different from other individuals. She begins to refuse food and become more active.
Mating process
Turtles in captivity are not very dependent on the seasons, so they can mate at any time. However, it has been noted that reptiles are most active from February to May. This is the optimal time for the mating process.
Before mating, red-eared turtles organize mating games. They can last up to several days, and during this time the reptiles need to be kept quiet. There should be no vibrations, noise, or bright light. Also remember to monitor the water temperature. It is generally better not to handle pets during the breeding season.
Mating games of red-eared turtles are a beautiful sight. The male flirts with the female, creating vibrations with his claws, touching her head, touching her shells. The mating process itself takes only about five minutes, followed by the laying of eggs.
How to get small reptiles to appear?
Reproduction of turtles at home does not involve only mating of two individuals. The reptile owner needs to provide the best conditions for the turtle eggs. As a rule, in one clutch the female leaves 6-10 of them, each with a diameter of 4 cm.
You should not leave eggs in the container where the turtle laid them. You need to very carefully, without turning the eggs, transfer them to the incubator. The temperature there should be 25-30 degrees Celsius. You can also place the masonry in an ordinary jar of sand and place the container near the heating pipes to maintain the optimal temperature. The development time of small turtles inside the egg is from 2 to 5 months. It is necessary to monitor the temperature, achieving optimal indicators. After small reptiles are born, do not put them in the same aquarium with adults. Even a female who has laid eggs lacks maternal instinct, not to mention other reptiles. Adult animals can seriously harm newborn turtles. The best solution would be to place the offspring in a separate aquarium and keep them there for at least a year.
In general, breeding red-eared turtles at home is not such a difficult undertaking. All you need is a responsible approach and attentiveness to the condition of reptiles, and you can get offspring from red-eared turtles. It is recommended to study diseases of red-eared turtles in order to prevent the development of the disease in newborn reptiles.
Conditions for mating
Reproduction of the red-eared turtle is possible subject to the optimal age for mating - individuals must be young, but at the same time have reached sexual maturity. The readiness of females to reproduce is observed at the age of five, males begin to give birth to offspring in the fifth year of life. If you keep more than two turtles at the same time, it is advisable that there is only one male among them, otherwise the males will fight for the opportunity to mate, causing injury to each other.
Pond slider
Natural enemies of the red-eared slider
Photo: Adult red-eared turtle
Due to its size, bite and thickness of shell, an adult red-eared turtle should not be afraid of predators, of course, unless there are alligators or crocodiles nearby. She can retract her head and limbs into her shell when threatened. In addition, red whales monitor predators and seek refuge in the water at the first sign of danger.
However, this does not apply to juveniles, which are preyed upon by a variety of predators, including:
- raccoons;
- skunks;
- foxes;
- wading birds;
- storks.
Raccoon, skunk and fox also steal eggs from this turtle species. Juveniles have unusual defenses against predatory fish. When swallowed whole, they hold their breath and chew the mucous membrane inside the fish until the fish regurgitates them. The bright colors of small predators warn large fish to avoid them.
In their home range, red-eared turtles occupy an important ecological niche both as food and as a predator. Outside their habitats, they fill the same types of niches and become an important food source for predators in urban and suburban areas.
Due to their adaptability, red-eared turtles are the predominant turtle species in urban environments. Most parks in many cities in the United States have thriving colonies of red-eared turtles for people to enjoy.
Conditions of detention, care at home
An adult requires an aquarium with a capacity of more than 130 liters, which will contain:
- a large sloping island with a rough surface;
- water heater;
- Ultraviolet lamp;
- filter;
- lamp;
- thermometer.
The water should be changed once every 6-8 days.
These are aquatic animals, but they cannot stay under water all the time. They love to walk along the bottom, but due to the lack of gills, they need to constantly rise to the top to breathe. Therefore, the height of the water should not be much greater than the width of the shell (so that the animal can swim and turn over freely). The optimal water temperature level is +23 degrees.
The terrarium should be spacious
The land in the aquarium should occupy a quarter of the total area. An incandescent lamp is installed above it (to warm the air and the island), which should work daily for 9-11 hours.
Red-eared turtles do not need soil or rocks at the bottom. But when choosing such decor, you need to remember that they must be large in size so that the turtle does not eat them.
It is recommended to keep these animals with turtles of the same species and age.
Population and species status
Photo: Red-eared turtle
The red-eared slider is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as "one of the world's worst invasive alien species." It is considered an environmental nuisance outside its native range because it competes with native turtles for food, nesting sites, and swimming areas.
On a note! Red-eared turtles are recognized as reservoirs in which Salmonella bacteria can be stored for a long time. Human infection caused by mishandling of turtles has led to restrictions on its sales.
The red-eared slider has been exploited by the livestock industry since the 1970s. Huge numbers of turtles were produced on turtle farms in the United States for the international pet trade. Red-eared slider turtles have become popular pets due to their small size, easy diet, and reasonable price.
They are often received as gifts as pets when they are very small and attractive looking. However, the animals quickly grow into large adults and are capable of biting their owners, resulting in them being abandoned and released into the wild. Therefore, they are now found in freshwater ecosystems in many developed countries.
Baby red-eared turtles have been smuggled and illegally released into Australia. Now, in some parts of the country, wild populations are found in many urban and semi-rural areas. At the official level in Australia it is recognized as a pest that eliminates the local endemic reptofauna.
Their import was banned by the European Union, as well as by individual EU member countries. The red-eared slider will be prohibited from being imported to and from Japan, a law that will take effect in 2020.
SWAMP TURTLE: CONTENT, FEEDING, CARE, DESCRIPTION, BREEDING, PHOTO, VIDEO.
DISEASES OF RED-EARED TURTLES: PREVENTION, TREATMENT, SYMPTOMS, PHOTO, VIDEO.
Leatherback Turtle: DESCRIPTION, BREEDING, FOOD, PHOTO, VIDEO.
Diseases - prevention and treatment
Almost 90% of cases of diseases of red-eared turtles occur due to improper care, housing conditions and feeding, or all at once. If an animal is sick, do not treat it yourself, go to a specialist. A lot of situations require veterinary diagnosis.
Types of diseases
Pneumonia. The turtle becomes lethargic and cannot dive, although he tries. There may be discharge from the mouth or nose, and wheezing is common. As in humans, pneumonia can be unilateral or bilateral. The latter most often leads to death. The disease is most often caused by temperature changes - red-eared turtles are extremely thermophilic. Treatment may include inhalation with chamomile decoction. The pet must be periodically held over the container with it so that it inhales the medicinal vapors. The temperature of the steam must first be checked with your hand so that the turtle does not get burned. It is also important to remove sources of cold - otherwise treatment will be useless.
Rickets. This is a calcium deficiency caused by a lack of ultraviolet radiation and poor diet. For example, a purely meat diet leads to it. Red-eared turtles need both protein and fiber and carbohydrates. When sick, the reptile's skull and other bones do not soften, only the shell suffers. It softens and may become warped. Problems with feeding the red-eared slider may also arise. In the most advanced cases, the animal may die. Treatment consists of injections of calcium supplements, changes in diet and increased UV radiation.
Skin diseases. They are caused by an unbalanced diet, for example, a lack of vitamins A and B. The skin begins to peel off. It is necessary to strengthen your diet with foods high in these vitamins. But in order not to overdo it and cause hypervitaminosis, it is better to use special supplements - the vitamin content in them is strictly dosed. Additionally, you can take care of your skin using products prescribed by specialists.
Sepsis or blood poisoning. It mainly occurs as a result of injury to the skin, through which bacteria enter the blood directly from dirty water. Symptoms of sepsis may include weakness, passivity, and redness of the paws or shell. Treatment must be urgent and is carried out with antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian.
Abscess in the ear. The most common cause in turtles is dirty water. The disease manifests itself as inflammation or swelling on the head. Since turtles do not have ear canals, treatment is carried out only by surgery under general anesthesia.
Conjunctivitis. The turtle's eyes become swollen or red and he cannot open them. There may be various discharges from the eyes. Turtles are prone to eye infections. The disease is contagious, and the sick turtle must be separated from the others. In order not to aggravate the disease, it can only be put into water for 1-2 hours a day. Treatment consists of antibiotic drops in the eyes. Ordinary human ones are suitable, for example Diclofenac. You also need to replace the water, clean the terrarium, and check the temperature. If you start therapy at the first symptoms, a couple of days of treatment will be enough.
Bacterial infection in the mouth. Symptoms will be formations in the mouth, usually necrotic in nature. The animal stops eating and may not open its eyes. This is a very serious condition that requires immediate treatment. The oral cavity should be periodically cleaned with a gauze swab with an antibiotic solution, removing the affected tissue. With timely treatment, it can be cured well.
Bacterial skin infection. Usually caused by bacteria that have entered the skin due to injury - a burn from a lamp, injury from sharp objects, or other illness. Symptoms will be a soft shell with visible hemorrhages. The affected area rapidly increases in size. There may be an unpleasant odor from the turtle. It is necessary to remove dead tissue and treat the affected area with antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian until complete healing.
IMPORTANT: Red-eared sliders are recognized as carriers of salmonella bacteria. If these animals are handled incorrectly, people can become infected. This led to legal restrictions on their sales in a number of countries.
Mating process in nature
First of all, it should be clarified that the genital organs of turtles are located in the tail. Therefore, the male approaches the chosen one from behind and crawls onto her back with the front part of his body. He adapts his tail under hers, directing the sexual organ to the right place.
At the end of the action, the male emits a “victory cry.” And let only his chosen one hear it, but this is the song of a winner who has achieved his goal. The female also responds to him with a “yelp.” This is how turtles mate in nature.
Mating games
Turtles are no strangers to demonstrative displays of affection. Males become very active during the mating season. Many people make the mistake of considering turtles to be silent creatures. After all, males, when courting their darlings, often make sounds similar to yapping. And females have the right to express their opinion with their voice.
Usually males challenge rivals to fights. And during the period of “fighting”, weak animals can be injured and die. So it would be a huge mistake to consider turtles as calm and good-natured animals.
The male is not so loyal to his chosen one either. Seeing a female, it begins to shake its head up and down. But he does not intend to wait for her to reciprocate her feelings. Having performed a ritual dance of recognition, the male runs to the turtle and hits it hard with his head in the shell. In addition, he bites the reptile's paws until it is eventually subdued.
Like many other animals, turtles also have mating games. They are characteristic of both red-eared and land species. Basically, this is manifested in the behavior of the male, who in this way tries to win the gratitude of his bride, whom he has chosen.
Boys become very active. They can swim in front of the female, tickling her cheeks with their hind legs, make certain sounds similar to yapping, and do other unusual things. Females, in turn, mostly watch all this with enviable calm. But some individuals can still respond with the same yelp.
Of particular note are the turtle fights. They take place between males for the right to fertilize one or another female. Contrary to popular belief that turtles are cute and clumsy creatures, they are very aggressive in battles and can cause extremely serious damage to their relatives, including life-threatening injuries.
We suggest you read: What does a red-eared turtle need to keep at home?
It is noteworthy that if the male has already chosen the female and won the fight for her, then the lady of his heart has no choice. After the mating games, the groom begins the mating process, and he does not care at all whether the appropriate consent has been received from the female. If she resists, then physical force is used - he hits his head in the shell, can “unfold” his paws, and bites. This continues until the female allows him to approach her.
Mating of land turtles and red-eared turtles is quite an interesting sight. With the right approach, these pets can be reproduced at home.
Brief introduction
We are all in a hurry, but the article is long and I don’t want to read it. Here's a little introductory note to give you an idea of what the article is all about...
The red-eared slider is very hardy and is a good choice for beginners. On the one hand, they live a long time and often become the first species of turtles for many hobbyists, but on the other hand, people who buy them often destroy them.
They don’t know that turtles need water and land (shore), which should be warm and where UV rays should reach. At the same time, they spend most of their time in water, which must be clean, warm and regularly changed.
As a rule, all problems and diseases are caused by careless owners who do not know that dirty water causes infections; without calcium, the shell will become crooked; without heat and a UV lamp, the turtle does not absorb calcium and gets sick!
They are fast, strong and can be aggressive!
They easily attack other turtles, and each other. They are also known for their personality and charisma, which sets them apart from other turtle species.
They are very skilled when it comes to feeding and can take food from each other.
In the wild, being an invasive species, they displace and destroy endemics so much so that in Australia they are outlawed and exterminated.
Red-eared sliders can make excellent pets, if only because allergies to reptiles are rare.
However, if you decide to have her as a gift for a child, remember that all responsibility for her health and behavior lies with you!
Children cannot care for a turtle at the proper level; moreover, they can quickly lose interest in a new toy and abandon it. And she needs to be fed, water changed, warmed, even washed.
Do you know how long the red-eared turtle lives? With good care, a turtle can live from 20 to 40 years, that is, survive more than one generation of owners.
Habitat in nature
The red-eared freshwater turtle is native to North America and is especially common along the Mississippi River before it flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
She lives in a warm climate in the southern states of the USA, from Colorado to Florida. But its popularity is great and now it is often found in nature around the world, often posing a threat to local fauna.
In its natural habitat, it needs the following conditions: fresh water, places to bask, dense vegetation and for a nest. Usually these are lakes, ponds, swamps, and creeks.
It prefers bodies of water with warm water and a weak current, always with places above the surface of the water where it can climb out to warm itself. Often in such places they lie directly on top of each other. The bottom in such places is usually sandy or silty.
The habitat is usually limited to the water's edge; aquatic turtles do not like to move far from the shore, although females need solid ground to lay eggs.
Small turtles in nature feed on fish, snails, insects and various plants.
Appearance, size, life expectancy
The red-eared turtle is recognizable and difficult to confuse with other species.
A characteristic red (sometimes orange) stripe starts from the eyes and continues along the neck. The carapace (upper part of the shell), round and smooth, is olive green with black and yellow lines.
The plastron (lower part of the shell) is also smooth, yellowish in color with dark spots. Young turtles have a very bright green shell, but it darkens with age.
With age, the spots on the shell darken, and the red stripe on the head turns pale.
The size of a turtle is determined by measuring the length of the shell from edge to edge with a ruler. In this case, they do not pay attention to the curvature of the shell, so it is best to measure with a ruler rather than a tape measure.
Only hatched turtles are about 2.5 cm in length, after a year of life they grow to 5–7 cm. Males become sexually mature at a size of about 10 cm, and females 12.5.
The average size of a turtle is from 25 to 30 cm, depending on the conditions and species. Males are smaller in size than females.
Please note that size cannot be a sign of age. The fact is that at home turtles grow faster than in nature, this is the result of overfeeding and ideal conditions.
But, with proper maintenance and feeding at home, turtles live longer than their wild relatives.
A domestic turtle can live up to 40 years, while a wild turtle can live no more than 20.
Approximate sizes of the red-eared slider by year:
- 1 year: 6 cm.
- 2 years: female - 9 cm, male - 8 cm.
- 3 years: female - 14 cm, male 10 cm.
- 4 years: female - 16 cm, male - 12 cm.
- 5 years: female - 18 cm, male - 14 cm.
- 6 years: female - 20 cm, male - 17 cm.
Sense organs
The red-eared slider has well-developed senses, especially vision and smell. They can distinguish colors both in the water and above it, and can look out for nesting sites for other turtles.
They notice movement very well, at a distance of up to 40 meters, no matter if it is a prey or a predator. They also have a good sense of smell, which helps them find food.
But her hearing is not very good, her ears are covered with skin and feel only dull sounds and vibration. The shell is sensitive to touch because nerves pass through it.
In addition, they have a sense of touch and can reject unpalatable foods in favor of tastier ones.
As for sounds, it can make hissing, snorting, or short sounds like a squeak. Turtles don't breathe underwater, they rise to the surface for oxygen!
How to determine gender?
Just as pet turtles grow faster, they also become sexually mature faster. It becomes sexually mature at the age of one year, and you cannot confidently determine the sex of a turtle if its size is less than 10 cm.
More or less confidently, we can say whether it is a male or a female when the male is 2–4 years old, and the female is 3–5 years old and their size is about 10–15 cm.
True, in the case of abundant feeding, sexual maturity may become earlier.
The main differences between a male and a female are: females are larger and have a shorter tail. In addition, in the female, the cloaca is located closer to the base of the tail. An indirect sign can be the claws on the paws; in males they are longer and curved.
Of even more relative characteristics, the males have a slightly concave plastron inward, which helps him during mating.
Location of the cloaca in a female (right) and male (left)
How long does pregnancy last
After successful fertilization, pregnancy of red-eared turtles occurs, which lasts about 60 days. When keeping a male together, it is better to delay this period in order to avoid harm to the health of the mother and future turtles. The female is transferred to enhanced nutrition. The reptile must receive calcium, phosphorus and vitamins. Towards the end of pregnancy, the female will pick up food or refuse to eat at all, which should not be a reason for panic.
In their natural habitat, freshwater reptiles come to land to lay eggs in heated sand. For a pregnant turtle kept at home, it is recommended to place a deep container filled with 10-15 cm of sand on the shore of the aquarium. The animal can lay eggs in the water, but if the owner does not get them out within an hour, the embryos will die from lack of air.
Immediately before laying, the pregnant turtle begins to dig the nest with its hind limbs, forming a deep hole with a perfectly level entrance. Laying eggs lasts 5-20 minutes, the female straightens each egg with her hind legs. The eggs of red-eared turtles look like balls with a diameter of 3-4 cm with a soft leathery shell; in one clutch the animal can lay about 5-20 eggs.
Turtle at your home
Buying a turtle
So, you have decided to get a red-eared slider. You can simply go to the market or pet store and choose the first one you come across.
Or it can be more difficult, first read, find out, create conditions, buy and take it to the veterinarian. For what? Sellers often keep them in unsuitable conditions, and a veterinarian will check the turtle for wounds, infections, tightness, and disease.
If you already have turtles, then it is best to keep the purchased ones in quarantine for 3 months.
You cannot keep baby and adult turtles together, as this is fraught with accidental and intentional injuries! Only turtles similar in size and living conditions can live together.
After purchasing and changing your place of residence, it may take several days to adapt.
During this time, the turtle can be either inhibited or very active; it is better to leave it alone, but do not forget to feed and look after it.
Handling the turtle
When you pick up a turtle you need to be very careful!
They may be slippery with water, resist, hiss, and have bowel movements. They have sharp claws, powerful paws and they bite painfully, so it is not always pleasant to pick them up.
Try to hold the turtle with both hands! Due to awkward handling, many owners and even more turtles suffered.
After holding the turtle in your hands, wash them with soap! This is especially important for children, since despite the fact that the red-eared turtle is domestic, it lives in a different environment and there are different bacteria there.
It is especially important to keep the aquarium clean and the food fresh, as turtles can carry salmonellosis.
Ideally, any animal in the house should not have access to the kitchen and places where food is prepared. Avoid washing your turtle in the kitchen sink, and do not wash your aquarium or accessories there.
Handling babies
Most turtles appearing in a home aquarium are still babies. They are still very tender and it is important to make sure they eat well and are comfortable.
The cubs have a high mortality rate, are susceptible to disease, and can die for no apparent reason.
If you notice something on your turtle's plastron, it could be the yolk sac.
Newly hatched turtles consume the nutrients from it and it should not be removed or disturbed.
They may refuse food at first, and begin to eat after the yolk sac has completely resolved.
Avoid holding small turtles in your arms. They are, of course, beautiful and elegant, but they can also get scared, get stressed and get sick.
Don't stand over the aquarium or knock on the glass; let them get used to it for a few days and start eating. It is very important that the temperature of water and air (land) be stable.
You cannot place the aquarium in direct sunlight or in a draft. Make sure that she has free access to dry land and that the area is heated with a special lamp.
Keeping temperatures for baby turtles should be slightly higher than for adult turtles! This is 26-27°C for water and up to 32°C for sushi.
The water should be as clean as possible and if there is no good filter, then change it every couple of days.
Feeding is with branded turtle food with calcium, fortunately there is a wide selection of them now. As already stated, do not keep baby and adult turtles together.
Remember, most problems can be avoided simply by creating the necessary conditions.
Fights and aggression
If you consider an aquarium as a small pond, red-eared turtles will exhibit dominant behavior towards others.
They can easily injure others with their claws or bites. Males may chase females, and this often results in severe aggression with biting, severed tails, or death.
Adding a new turtle may provoke fights, especially if the turtles are already sexually mature.
If this happens, significantly increasing the space may help, although it does not guarantee success. Feeding alone (alone outside the aquarium) also reduces aggression.
You can add barriers, plastic plants or walls to prevent the animals from seeing each other.
In general, this is a wild animal by nature, and this behavior is more than normal. If you don't want problems, then you need to keep them alone. Red-eared turtles feel great living without a mate.
Adult turtle and babies - fight for food:
