At any Black Sea resort, you will definitely see people selling red-eared turtles. Small mobile reptiles that swim in beautiful vessels are so cute that it’s hard to resist buying them. Unfortunately, the majority of such traders deliberately keep silent about the peculiarities of keeping red-eared turtles, claiming that the little ones will not grow up, they can be kept almost not in a three-liter jar, but fed with lettuce leaves. Of course, this is not true, because red-eared turtles are large and predatory reptiles that require a spacious terrarium and special equipment for their comfortable life. In our article, we will talk about how to properly keep red-eared turtles at home.
General Information
The red-nosed turtle (Trachemys scripta) is a reptile from the American freshwater turtle family. Also found under the name “yellow-bellied”. This is probably the most common reptile that can be found in hobbyist aquariums around the world. Keeping it is not difficult, but it has its own characteristics, which you must know about before deciding to purchase such a creature.
As can be seen from the name, a distinctive feature of these turtles is the presence of special red (one of the subspecies has yellow) spots located near the eyes. In Western countries, red-eared turtles are often called “sliders” for their natural ability to quickly slide off the shore into the water in case of danger.
On sale, you can often find young turtles, the length of which does not exceed 5-6 cm. They are kept in large groups, swim very actively in the water, build living pyramids, climbing on each other’s shells. Of course, such individuals will not need a huge living area, but we must not forget the fact that for several years a red-eared turtle can easily grow to 20-30 cm, and this will lead to the need to purchase a large terrarium.
Red-nosed turtles like to create living pyramids
Water plays a huge role in the life of red-eared turtles, because here they get food, swim and reproduce. But reptiles cannot stay in the water environment all the time. Therefore, a special island of land must be organized in the terrarium, where the turtles can dry off and warm themselves under the lamp. Reptiles lead a predatory lifestyle, so it is unacceptable to feed them only plant food.
Be careful with a turtle that is not used to its owner. A reptile bite can be very painful. Also, turtles are able to make sounds in case of stress: hiss or snort. Red-eared turtles have good vision and smell, hearing is less developed.
When choosing a red-eared turtle in the store, be sure to pay attention to its appearance. An inactive reptile lying in a corner with closed eyes should alert you. All claws must be on the limbs, tumors and white spots are not allowed on the head. While in the water, the turtle should actively swim, without falling over on its side.
Appearance
The main part of the body of the red-eared turtle is occupied by a dense shell consisting of horn plates. Its upper part is called the carapace, and the lower part is called the plastron. Limbs, a head and a triangular tail peek out from under the shell. In case of danger, turtles can retract their heads and compactly fold their legs so that a predator cannot grab soft tissues.
The length of an adult turtle can vary from 18 to 30 cm – it depends on age, sex and subspecies. Females are noticeably larger than males. Growth rates differ in different periods of life: if young turtles can add 7-8 cm per year, then adults grow no more than 1.5 cm in 12 months until they reach their maximum size.
Juvenile red-eared turtles have a bright green carapace that turns olive or brown with patterns of yellow stripes as they age. The head is located on a flexible neck, the pattern on its surface consists of green, black and yellow stripes. Right behind the eyes are two almost oval red or yellow spots. The plastron is colored bright yellow with green spots.
Area of residence
The historical range of the red-eared turtle includes a large area from the southern states of the United States to northern Colombia and Venezuela. Reptiles like small lakes, small ponds without steep banks. Turtles lead a sedentary lifestyle: either they leisurely look for the next prey, swimming in the water, or, having had enough, they crawl to the shore and bask in the sun. When danger appears, turtles suddenly jump from their place and dive into the water.
Care and maintenance
A long and healthy life of a red-eared turtle is possible only under the most comfortable conditions. You need to start with choosing a terrarium. Given the maximum size of adults, the recommended volume is 100-120 liters per turtle. The terrarium itself should have a maximum bottom area, the height is recommended to be small. The back wall of the terrarium is often made higher than the front wall, so that it is more convenient to conduct observations and install equipment. The minimum water level should be such that the turtle can safely stick its head out of the water by standing on its hind legs.
Feeding a red-eared turtle
If you want to get a red-eared turtle, the question of what to feed this aquatic reptile will certainly arise. As a basic food for turtles, it is best to use high-quality Tetra ReptoMin dry food. It is completely balanced in the content of the main nutritional elements, has a large amount of high-quality proteins, as well as calcium and phosphorus in an optimal ratio for healthy growth and a strong shell.
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