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How to Care for Smart Red Eared Slider Turtles?

Are red-eared slider turtles smart?

By Ravi VajaPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
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My Baby Red Eared Slider Turtle Trying to Jump Out from Box And Trying to Catch Fish

Red-eared slider turtles are very smart and native to North America. These turtles can be rewarding pets. They have attractive yellow and green markings added with distinctive red patches right behind their eyes. Additionally, they are quite sociable with their owners. However, they need more care when you have them as pets.

The cute little hatchlings will grow into large, long-lived, and messy aquatic turtles. These red-eared slider turtles need a lot of cleaning and space to thrive.

Are red-eared slider turtles smart?

These red-eared slider turtles are active and smart who enjoy swimming and diving. You can see the captive-born red-eared ones are friendlier and a lot more outgoing than the ones born in the wild. Factually, the wild ones usually disappear into their shells or go underwater. However, the captive-bred ones may even swim up to you expecting a treat or something. Hence, it is better to avoid purchasing the wild ones as pets. It is not advisable because the stress of lifestyle change can stress them a lot and even lead to premature death.

It is always possible to pick up a smart red-eared slider turtle when they are eager to make interactions with you.

How to house these turtles?

It is not very cheap to house the smart red-eared turtles. It is better to prepare to spend a hundred dollars at least on a proper habitat. Even if your pet store claims that your turtle can thrive in a plastic bottle container, in reality, it doesn’t happen so. The best approach is to get an aquarium even if it just a hatchling. Just start with a 10-gallon tank if you insist. However, it is much better to go for a 20-gallon tank. Although remember that your turtle will grow and need a larger tank.

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Additionally, these smart red-eared slider turtles need full-spectrum UV lighting, a dry-docking area, and a basking heat light. It is necessary to include an easily accessible ramp out of the water for the turtle to bask in the light as well as absorb the UV.

Furthermore, red-eared sliders can be pretty messy although they are smart creatures. They end up eating and producing waste in the same aquatic home. Most of the red-eared slider turtles can live year-round in an outdoor pound in warm climates.

Heat

The health of the turtles can suffer if they are not warm enough. Therefore, it is highly vital to offer an environment that is between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, the basking heat should lie between 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it is essential to use a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. In case the temperature is small, add a basking light or any other heating device.

Light

It is very important to create full-spectrum UV lighting over the aquarium of these smart red-eared slider turtles. Thus, it mimics the benefits of the natural sunlight the turtles usually get. We highly recommend you leave the light on for 10 to 12 hours per day.

Food and Water

The smart red-eared slider turtles eat both the animal protein as well as the vegetables. Additionally, their diet also includes leafy greens, dried shrimp, krill, and crickets. However, you can also choose to feed a commercial brand of turtle food. It works just fine because all the compositions available in the market are specifically formulated for complete nutrition.

The best approach is to follow your vet’s recommendations on feeding to maintain a healthy weight for your turtle’s size. However, there is no need to provide more water than the amount present in the aquarium itself.

A lot of owners prefer to feed their smart red-eared slider turtles outside the tank. This helps to maintain the water fresh and clean.

Choose your turtle well

The smart red-eared slider turtles are widely available at various pet stores. Although it is best to opt for a turtle store that acts as a rescue center as well. You can also get one from a reputable breeder so you can enjoy comprehensible information on the animal’s history and health.

It is best advisable to pick red-eared slider turtles that are active, healthy, and smart. Additionally, ensure it is eating well too. Keep an eye out for any red flags such as lethargy, abnormal feces, shell discoloration, or excess mucus.

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About the Creator

Ravi Vaja

I am Digital Marketing Junkie, I breathe Digital Marketing Innovation, SEO, Social Media Marketing and Build #DigitalMarketing experiences with ❤ for great #brands.

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