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Red-Eared
Sliders have been one of the most popular pet turtles
over the last few decades. They are named for the red
stripes running horizontally across their faces, and
their hurried movement when frightened. |
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| Natural Location: |
Eastern USA, Northern Mexico |
| Average Lifespan: |
Up to 25 Years |
| Estimated Size: |
6" to 12" in total length
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| Red-Eared
Sliders require a varied diet of vegetables, fish and
feeder insects. Make sure all insects are gut-loaded with healthy
foods. Leafy vegetables and non-toxic plants will be eaten,
so make sure to offer a variety of them. Small feeder fish and
commercial turtle food should also be fed to your turtles. The
majority of their diet should be vegetables and commercial food,
keeping the animal protein level around 25% of their overall
diet. Feed your turtles once a day, making sure to remove any
waste immediatly, in an effort to keep the tank clean. |
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Your
Red-Eared Slider should be kept within a
heat gradient ranging from 90 degrees F to 70 degrees F. The
heat should be given using an incandescent bulb, mixed with
a ceramic heat emitter. Your turtle will also need full-spectrum
UVB lighting for 12 hours a day. |
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Your
Red-Eared Slider needs a tank appropriate
to their size. As they grow, increase the size of the tank.
They need enough room to swim around and a dry part to bask.
Make the dry area easily accessable, using a ramp like walkway
from the water. The water area should have a deep end, and
a shallow end. The turtle needs to be able to rest in the
shallow end, leaving it's head sticking out of the water.
The deep end doesn't need a substrate, but if you use one,
make sure what you use is too big to be swallowed. Large pebbles
or rocks work well. |
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