Adults should be fed a diet of 30% meat or protein and 70% plant matter, and babies should be fed a 50/50 diet of plants and meat. Good plants to feed red-eared sliders are dark leafy greens, aquatic plants, and vegetables. Feeder fish, invertebrates, and commercial turtle pellets are good sources of protein.
Do red-eared sliders need to eat everyday?
As pets, red-eared sliders and other aquatic turtles can be fed daily as hatchlings and juveniles, reducing the feedings to every other day as adult turtles.
How much food should a red-eared slider eat?
You should feed an adult red eared slider vegetables every other day or at least 3 times a week. Offer them a protein source once or twice a week. You can gradually reduce their protein to once a week the older they get.
Can red-eared sliders eat fruit?
Fruit should be given as a treat from time to time. Strawberries, bananas, apples, mangoes, grapes, kiwis, and other fresh fruits are popular with many red-eared sliders; however, because fruits are high in sugar, giving them too much can upset their stomach and cause diarrhea.
What should I feed my red-eared slider daily? – Related Questions
Do red-eared sliders need to be in water all the time?
A healthy adult red-eared slider would probably be able to survive for months without water. HOWEVER, it would not be healthy, and would certainly be quite dehydrated. Red-eared sliders NEED to be in the water in order to stay healthy, vibrant and robust.
What do red-eared sliders need in their tank?
A 20-gallon aquarium or plastic container (minimum size for a young turtle, adults may need 40 gallons or larger) Basking area supplies such as rocks, stones, or a plastic floating shelf. Heat light and ultraviolet light. Good quality aquarium water filter.
Do turtles recognize their owner?
Turtles Know Their Owners! Most people don’t realize this, but many turtles recognize the sight and sounds of their owners! In fact, many owners comment how their pets swim right up to the water surface to greet them when they walk in the room.
Do red-eared sliders get attached to their owners?
Yes, both tortoises and turtles can learn to recognize their caretakers. This does take time, but turtles and tortoises are very smart. They will learn your scent, sounds, and behaviors. They will come to associate you with food and safety.
Do red-eared sliders need a place to rest?
Red-eared sliders are excellent swimmers. At night they sleep underwater, usually resting on the bottom or floating on the surface, using their inflated throat as a flotation aid.
Trachemys scripta elegans.
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|
| Order: | Testudines |
| Family: | Emydidae |
| Genus: | Trachemys |
| Species: | scripta elegans |
How do I keep my red-eared slider turtle happy?
Keep the water clean using a filter and weekly water changes. Provide heat with a daytime basking light and a submersible heater. Allow exposure to UV lighting during the day. UVA light encourages natural behaviors while UVB light supports overall health.
Do red-eared sliders like to be rubbed?
Turtles are arguably the cutest of all of the reptiles. Because of this, they are often desirable pets. However, turtles don’t really enjoy being handled and petted the same way other domestic animals do. This makes petting them a little trickier.
Do red-eared sliders need light at night?
Do Red-eared Sliders Need Light At Night? You absolutely don’t need to provide a UV-B light, or any type of light at all, over the night.
Do red-eared sliders prefer land or water?
Habitat Preference
Red-eared sliders prefer slow-moving waters that have soft bottoms and contain an abundance of aquatic vegetation and basking sites. Red-eared sliders are often found in close proximity to urban areas due to higher incidents of pet releases.
Can I use tap water for my red-eared slider?
If you’re not sure what type of water your red-eared slider needs, look no further than the tap. Tap water is appropriate for these sliders, but only if all of the chlorine is properly taken out of it. Always take your red-eared slider’s water needs seriously.
Can you leave a heat lamp on all night for turtles?
If their circadian rhythms are disrupted your turtle won’t be able to sleep properly and will become stressed. This will impact their immune system and overall health, just like it does in people. It’s recommended you leave the lights on for 8–10 hours a day, turning them off for 10–12 hours.
Can I put live plants in my turtle tank?
One of the most frequent questions that new turtle hobbyists ask is whether they can put plants in their turtle’s habitat. The answer is most certainly yes, they can.
What do turtles need in their tank?
Turtles live mainly in water. They’ll need an aquarium of at least 29 gallons, with a screened top. Turtles need 12 hours a day of “daylight,” but their aquarium should not be placed in direct sun. Instead, use a UVA/UVB bulb to provide the rays they need for strong bones and shells.
Can I release my red-eared slider into a pond?
Whatever you do, do not release a pet red-eared slider turtle back into the wild. In fact, don’t buy a pet turtle unless you have a plan for what to do with it when you no longer want it.
What is poisonous to red-eared sliders?
Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia amoena) Elephant’s Ear (Colocasia) Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
