Turtle: Red-eared Slider

The Red-eared Slider is the most popular turtle breed among budding hobbyists. Just before you go get this popular reptile as a pet you might want to read some interesting facts I’ve listed here.

Scientific name: Trachemys Scripta Elegans
Common name: Red-eared Slider

Characteristics: A Red-eared Slider is distinguished by the red or yellow strip behind its eyes.

Dietary habits: Omnivorous. Interestingly, young turtles prefer meat (insects, guppies, tadpoles) while older ones prefer vegetables (aquatic plants).

Sex differences: Male Red-eared Sliders have longer front claws than females and longer, fatter tails.

Lifespan: Turtles continue to grow throughout their lives, to about 30cm in length. In the wild, they have an average lifespan of 10 years.

Common diseases: Vitamin A and calcium are essential as they often suffer from eye infections and soft shells.

Special Facts: In general, turtles are messy eaters. As clean water is essential for good health, it is best to have a separate feeding tank.

Important Note: Turtles breathe air, and they cannot swim indefinitely—they must have a shallow or dry resting place away from deeper water, or they will drown!