Red-Eared Slider Care
I've had 2 red-eared sliders for just about 2 years now. And I would like to share with you how I've taken care of them. I got my 10 gallon tank for $25 at Walmart, and it came with a filter and 2 incandescent lights. If your turtles are too big for a 10 gallon, Walmart also has other size tanks. I get Reptomin food there as well. I get the variety can (pellets, shrimp, and krill). Red-eared sliders also eat fruits, vegetables, and meat. Just make sure you look it up on Google to see if a particular type of food is okay... because there are exceptions that are actually bad for red-eared sliders. I like to give them a variety of food when I can so they don't get bored. They will appreciate this. Hehe.
I got my docks at pet stores... PetCo and PetSmart are good. I also give them cuttlebone. It's good to sharpen their beaks with (so they dont chew other things in the tank, like mine did), and it also is a good source of calcium. You get the cuttlebone in the bird section.
I used to have gravel at the bottom of my turtles' tank. But it just became a hassle every time I cleaned their tank and everything. Gravel isn't even necessary. I would put fake plants in the tank too, but your turtles could mistaken it for real food. That's bad. So just keep your tank simple - water, dock, filter, light, cuttlebone. As for the tank size, just imagine yourself as a turtle and see how much space is sufficient enough. Just use your own judgment. Everything you read about tank sizes are just suggestions. My turtles are about 4 inches and are in a 10 gallon tank. You'd be surprised how well they're doing in it. I will most likely upgrade the tank by the end of this year. I'm thinking of a 40 gallon tank. It's a decent size, and it's not incredibly gigantic to where it'll be really hard to clean out every time it got dirty. When I get it, I will post a video of it. =)
And something else to keep them happy? Take them outside so they can roam around in the yard and explore... oh, they love it. Just keep an eye on them so no bird or cat comes and gets them! Letting them play outside also allows them to get UV light, which is also good for them. People say you HAVE to have a UV light bulb for your turtles... but it's not true. If you give them a good amount of Vitamin D (which is in the Reptomin food I give them Reptomin pellets everyday), it makes up for not having a UV light bulb. Besides, natural UV light (the sun) is much better and less expensive!!
I also like to pick mine up and pet them on the head. They actually like it. Sometimes, they'd even close their eyes. Heehee. Just make sure you wash your hands every single time you touch them or make contact with the things they touch. First of all, that's just basic hygiene and second of all, they can carry Salmonella.
My turtles are so happy and healthy. They're so energetic, too! =) So I hope my own research and experience has helped you out! Have fun with your turtles!!
Is your turtle a male or female?
I've had a lot of people ask me how to tell what the gender of their turtle is. So I just decided to give you all the answer with this video. I hope it helps you remember a lot easier! =) Enjoy my wonderful poem and illustrations. Heehee. Oh, and just to give you an idea... my turtles were a little over a year old when I made this video.
