Testing the quality of the water you plan to use will prepare you for any water conditioners or treatment you may need to use. Red-eared get their name from the marks present on the sides of their heads. Red-eared sliders are hearty omnivores, but they have to be nice and warm in order to feed. Red-eared sliders are very aggressive and will out-compete native species for food and space. Some turtles are very smart: They want a egg laying place, which is above the water level, so their eggs do not getting flooded. Red eared sliders, also known as red-eared terrapins, are among the most popular pet turtles in the world. The place I bought him from turned out to be a nightmare. Red-Eared Slider Care Sheet By Vin Ma Red-eared sliders come by their common name for two reasons: the red ear patch on both sides of the head, and the fact that wild red-ears, when basking, are known to slide into the water at the slightest hint of danger. If he's swimming around in -- and drinking -- water that's in any way unclean or otherwise unsuitable, he could suffer problems such as parasites. They like to spend most of their time in the water. It must have enough room for the turtle to comfortable turn around. He's 4 months old and seemed to be an overall normal turtle. Always take your red-eared slider's water needs seriously. (For red eared sliders this could for example be 50 x 50 cm / 19,5 x 19,5 inch.) The red-eared slider is a famous pet turtle, and loveable too! Dairy-free and whole foods are the best. They love the places near the shoreline for basking. The daytime ambient air temperature in the tank should be between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with a basking spot between 90 and 95 F over the land area of the tank. I bought my red-eared slider from a local fish store. Water changes should be done once a week...and with two in there dirtying it up, you should change out about 65% of the water each time, vacuuming out the bottom of waste...water changes are a must at keeping the levels down as well, no matter what … Tap water may need to be treated for chlorine (or chloramine), hardness and pH. This generally occurs when temperatures reach under 10 degrees Celsius, and the turtle does not eat nor defecate, and its heart rate and breathing slows dramatically. Turtles take pleasure in chasing their food. Native to the USA, the red-eared slider is a freshwater turtle with a distinctive red strip behind each ear. I asked what I would need in order to build and maintain a happy turtle habitat. What you should never feed a red-eared slider: You should not feed a red-eared slider with dairy products since its stomach cannot digest lactose properly. They belong to the pond turtle family, Emydidae, and species Trachemys scripta elegans.. Red-eared slider turtle care. Tap water usually has a … The red-eared slider can live for two decades if you treat them right. Red-Eared Slider Diet. He said, "All you need is water and a place to come out." The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the red-eared slider as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species. 1.How many eggs will she lay? The red-eared slider is a medium-sized to large-sized freshwater turtle with origins in … The ideal water temperature for sliders to feed in is somewhere in the upper 70s (24-26 degrees Celsius). About This Section. Dormant: Although the red-eared slider does not hibernate, it does become brumate, a process by which the turtle becomes very inactive, and goes under water. Water quality overview: Since your slider will be spending most of its time in water, there should be a concentrated effort in maintaining the best possible water conditions. If they are in the land and you try to approach them, they just slide into the water for their safety. Cold tap water is usually fine to be used with sliders.