Red -haired turtles

Among the most common turtle species kept by aquarium hobbyists are red-eared sliders. Both novice and seasoned keepers adore them for their friendly disposition and characteristic red markings located behind the eyes.

These turtles are well-known for their lively swimming and playful demeanor, which liven up any aquarium. Although they don’t require much care, they do have certain needs that must be satisfied in order to maintain their wellbeing.

Knowing the characteristics, habitat needs, and care instructions of red-eared sliders is crucial, regardless of whether you’re thinking about getting one for your aquarium or you’re just interested in learning more about these amazing reptiles. Everything you require to maintain the health and well-being of your red-eared turtle is covered in this article.

Red -haired turtles area

Range TracheMys Scripta: From Southwest Virginia through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas to Mexico, this region primarily consists of Southeast America and the surrounding area of Mexico. The range reaches Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico to the west, and the terminus of Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa to the north.

Sizes of red-eared sliders

The western and central regions of this range are home to the majority of Trachemys scripta elegans populations. stretching from Illinois through eastern New Mexico and west to the Gulf of Mexico, occupying the Mississippi Valley.

Trachemys scripta scripta are mainly found in the eastern portion of the range that was previously described, which stretches from northern Florida to southeast Virginia. It is important to mention that in Alabama, there exists an intergradation zone that separates T. elegans and T. scripta.

Trachemys scripta troostii inhabits the upper Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers and has the smallest settlement area. Northeastern Alabama via Tennessee, from southwest Kentucky and southwest Virginia.

Trachemys scripta inhabits a variety of freshwater environments, such as lakes, ponds, ditches, and rivers. calm bodies of water with lots of aquatic vegetation and a soft bottom.

Description of red-eared turtles and types

Image of a red-eared turtle

At birth, red-eared turtles have a very attractive bright color and a shell that is only 30 mm long. Turtles grow to a maximum size of 75 mm in the first 1.5 years of life. Following that, the growth rate slows down and averages between 10 and 15 mm annually. The presence of distinct red or yellow-red spots on both sides of the head distinguishes individuals. The skin and shell have yellow stripes and are green, olive, or olive-brown in color. The shell has an oval form. legs with thick webbing in between the toes and large claws.

Image of a red-eared turtle

Since freshwater red-eared turtles typically range in size from 125 to 289 mm, this species cannot be categorized as decorative, though records of individuals that have grown to 350 mm exist. The red-eared turtle has a 20-year lifespan in the wild and a 40-year lifespan in captivity.

Buyers who are unable to keep the turtles in captivity for an extended period of time and release them into the wild eventually find themselves in an awkward situation due to the turtles’ large size and longevity.

Echinochloa scripta elegans.

Image of a red-eared turtle

Trachemys scripta elegans shells are up to 280 mm long. There are narrow stripes on the chin and a wide red stripe on the head. The carapace has a transverse yellow stripe on each costal shield. large spot plasmon on every shield.

Scripta scripta Trachemys.

Image of a red-eared turtle

Trachemys scripta scripta has a shell that is 270 mm long. There is a yellow postorbital spot on the head that is linked to a neck stripe. There is a yellow stripe on each carapace’s costal shield. The majority of the front shields of Plastron are speckled with yellow.

The troostii scripta Trachemys.

Image of a red-eared turtle

Trachemys scripta troostii has a shell that is 210 mm long. There are broad chin stripes and a narrow yellow postorbital stripe on the head. There is a transverse stripe that is yellow on each costal shield of the carapace. Plastron featuring a "eyes" pattern, or tiny black dots.

All about turtles with red ears

Red-eared turtles are modest animals, but they require proper upkeep and care just like any other living thing. Turtles live their entire lives in the water, but they need land to survive in their aquarium. As a result, you must choose an aquaterrarium with two zones: the water below and the land above.

Excellent picture of red-eared turtles

An aquarium between 100 and 150 liters will be plenty for an adult red-eared turtle; for a young one, 50 liters will do. At least 25% of the area should be made up of land. It is acceptable to pour gravel or soil on land as long as the soil stays out of the water. A bank with a moderate, non-slip slope should serve as the landing zone exit. To prevent the animal from escaping and running away, the artificial island should be placed 20–30 cm below the upper edge of the aquarium.

To allow the turtle to easily turn over in the event that it ends up on its back, the water level should be higher than the width and height of the shell. It is essential to have adequate filtration and to change a portion of the water at least once or twice a week. Even though tap water is safe, it is still preferable to filter it. Reptiles should never be kept in unclean water as this can cause a number of illnesses.

Volume photo of a red-eared turtle aquarium

The air on the shore is roughly 31–33 C, and the water is kept between 20 and 25 C. Since turtles enjoy tanning on land, it is imperative to install an incandescent lamp approximately 40-50 W above the island, as well as an ultraviolet lamp for reptiles. For small turtles, regular dosed UV light irradiation is especially important; 10% UVB for babies and 5% for adults.

To avoid burning the turtles’ eyes, the lamps are hung at least 20 to 25 centimeters above the ground. Both lamps ought to be turned off at night and burned for ten to twelve hours each day. Why are all these lamps-shmamps necessary?

Red-eared turtle picture

The most succinct and optimistic term in terrarium maintenance is basking, which is bourgeois for "to bask in the sun." Cold-blooded animals exhibit this behavioral trait, which involves raising their body temperature and keeping it within the desired range. When basking, animals seek out areas with specific lighting and temperature and try to cover as much of their body as possible with skin. They adopt strange positions to accomplish this, spreading out, flattening themselves, and extending their limbs. At this time of year, turtles lie on their bellies and point their paws in various directions, making for amusing viewing.

Thus, if you don’t set up an island with a space for warming your turtle loins for your new pet. The turtle will turn bad one day! For Suvorov advised keeping the head in the cold and the shell warm. You can use an ordinary household matte light bulb for basking. Alternately, you could use specialty terrarium spot heating lamps, like those made by Laguna-Terra. They cost roughly 500–600r in any market participant.

Luxuriating in the turtle lamp

Thus, they discovered basking. But my friends, these are only half-workers. It is important for you to know that the majority of the red-haired impoverished man originates from Singapore. Furthermore, it is crucial that the living products are sold at a good wholesale base. One such example is Aqua-School, where turtles are kept in fenced enclosures with intense ultraviolet light for a month, and only after that are sold at small wholesale to pet stores.

Image of a red-haired turtle

I’m not even referring to the gypsy grannies, because even in their absence, a great deal of bases and shops aim to quickly and affordably dump live goods on burdocks rather than quarantine them. The ninja turtle is taken home by the burdocks and their burdocks, and a month later, a guano Shredder bursts out of their toilet and drags young Danatella’s soul back with him—into the sewers.

Image of a red-eared turtle

This non-ephemeral horror story’s main message is that UV light is essential for turtles. Vitamin D synthesis is catalyzed by ultraviolet light. essential to the assimilation of calcium. In addition, the turtle will develop rickets, develop soft bones, resemble a rubber toy, and develop mutations and deformities that manifest as bumps, humps, and other quirks akin to Quasimodo from Notre Dame.

Image of a red-eared turtle

Our carnivorous red-eared friends receive some of their vitamin D from food, unlike land turtles, but without UV light, they eventually will Hades and Cerberus, a cute three-headed Chihuahua, will be waiting at the river Lethe crossing.

You can count the number of herpetologists in our nation who practice as doctors for turtles and other terrarium animals on fingers. They’re all city dwellers as well. Get your turtle a UV lamp now, before problems arise. Such lamps are widely available; Laguna-Terra, for instance, carries them once more. Specialized full-spectrum lamps that are appropriate for both UV and basking radiation are also available. Their price is roughly 2,500 rubles.

Turtles’ UV lamp

However, the most important thing! Friends, you now know why it’s not possible to purchase turtles with human hands. You purchase a poor zombie from these very hands, and within a week or a month, you can be sure that your son and daughter will be crying. And heaven forbid you release a fully grown red-eared turtle into the closest pond, which, for some reason, has grown into a thirty-centimeter basin adorned with exquisite red ears rather than a dwarf at all.

Red-eared turtle picture

As a matter of fact, you are personally putting the animal to death by euthanasia. Yes, red-eared squirrels can hibernate in mud holes at temperatures below fifteen degrees. First of all, nobody gives silt much thought. Furthermore, not a single red-eared turtle has emerged from hibernation in Russia due to the country’s exceptionally harsh frosts.

We advise using Prodibo Aqua"Turtle, a set for efficient control of offensive odors in aquaterrariums where water turtles reside, to maintain the aquarium clean for the turtle.

It blends together two distinct products: – Aqua "Turtle Odor": a product that gets rid of offensive smells in aquariums. Aqua "Turtle Bacter" is a biological preparation made up of different strains of bacteria that are characteristic of reservoirs that house reptiles. They keep the aquarium’s water clean and prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms.

Interaction between red-eared turtles. Small fish can be kept with newborn red-eared turtles. Turtles can now eat anything that moves, including fish, frogs, crabs, and shrimp, as they get older.

Because of their characteristic red markings and laid-back disposition, red-eared turtles are a favorite choice for novice and expert aquarium keepers alike. They need special attention to survive, such as a balanced diet, clean water, and a suitable basking area. They are tough and adaptive. These turtles require a long-term commitment because they can live for several decades, but with the correct upkeep, they can make interesting and fulfilling pets.

What to feed red-eared turtles?

Diet of red-eared turtles

Being omnivores, red-eared turtles enjoy consuming a wide range of flora and fauna, including crustaceans, small vertebrates, snails, filamentous algae, and terrestrial insects.

But depending on their age, feeding turtles happens at different times. Adult turtles are fed only twice a week, whereas young turtles are fed every day.

Since their primary role is to hunt, all juvenile red-eared turtles require live food for active growth, which is provided once a day (instead of twice or three times). Furthermore, live plants (lettuce leaves, algae) are required in the aquarium for plant food. Feeding occurs three to four times a week for mature red-eared turtles (over 7 cm), with nearly half of the food coming from plants.

Image of a red-eared turtle

When given a proper and comprehensive diet, red-eared turtles can live long, healthy lives filled with play. Domestic turtles need to eat a diet high in plant foods (like fern, hibiscus, lawn grass, coffee, plantain, basil, aloe, oregano, peas, balsam, fig, clover, coleus, calendula, nettle, onion, dandelion, petunias, rose petals, barley, rose hips), fish (like cod, hake, thalass), and meat.

An eating red-eared turtle

Nevertheless, not all plants are beneficial to turtles; some are poisonous (monstera, epipremnum, philodendron, anthurium, silent, acalif, croton, jatropha, azalea, delphinium, crocus, morning glory, lily of the valley, lupine, periwinkle, oleander, juniper, nightshade, ficus, philodendron, shefflera), and some can be extremely harmful even upon contact. Eating the plants on the list can occasionally cause digestive and neurological system disruptions.

Red-eared turtles shouldn’t eat foods that are so familiar to us as meat (such as minced meat, sausages, salami, beef, pork, lamb, chicken, etc.), fatty fish, bread, cheese, and fruits.

Image of a red-eared turtle

Please take note that feeding turtles in aquariums needs to be balanced and varied. The secret to their effective upkeep is this fundamental guideline.

As a marketing and feeding break, we suggest Tetra ReptoMin, a complete food for turtles that is nutrient-rich and balanced. The meal encourages a healthy digestive system and is prepared with natural ingredients. Plant-based and protein-rich ingredients are found in ReptoMin. The turtle will be happy and content because the food contains vitamins, including vitamin D, minerals, and other goodies that will strengthen the shell. On the company’s official website, which can be found here, you can find comprehensive details about every Tetra feed.

It is important to remember that when purchasing any dry food, you should first pay attention to the manufacture and expiration dates, avoid purchasing food by weight, and store it in a closed environment to prevent the growth of pathogenic flora.

Reproduction and sexual differences of red-eared turtles

Breeding of red-eared turtles

When they are 4–5 years old in captivity and 6–7 years old in the wild, red-eared turtles reach sexual maturity. While the mating season in the wild occurs from March to July, turtles kept in terrariums mate regardless of the season.

Males typically have a longer, thicker tail and are smaller than females. However, when identifying the sex of red-eared turtles of different ages, it is not always possible to do so based solely on size; in these situations, it is necessary to consider the following factors: the male’s more pronounced spot near the eye, the female’s flat lower shell, and the male’s longer front paw claws.

Image of a red-eared turtle

A mating dance is performed in tandem with the mating process. The man moves toward the woman’s head. The male swims back while the female swims forward, caressing her chin with his long claws. The female will accept these courtships if she is not opposed to mating; if not, she will use physical force to drive the male away.

A red-eared turtle’s pregnancy lasts for two months, but if the female cannot locate a suitable location to lay eggs, the time frame may be extended.

Image of a red-eared turtle

To lay eggs, the female needs to dig a nest on the shore of a reservoir. It is interesting that she can move long distances, up to 1.5 km, for the best place for a nest. The nest has the shape of a jug up to 12 cm deep. Depending on age, red-eared turtles can make up to 6 clutches per year with a total of 30 eggs (which is from 6 to 11 per clutch). The size of a red-eared turtle egg is about 4 cm. The incubation period lasts for 59-150 days, since.. the hatching time directly depends on the temperature. So at a temperature of 22 to 30 C – the incubation period is from 55 to 80 days. The temperature in the nest directly affects the floor of the turtles, so at a temperature of 29 c and higher females are born, and at 27 c and below – males are born.

Newly hatching red-eared turtles puncture the egg shell with their egg teeth, which fall off within an hour, in order to escape. Every newborn has a tiny bag containing the leftover incubation supplies on their abdomen; when it falls off, the wound heals swiftly.

Characteristic	Description
Size	Red-eared turtles can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) in length.
Lifespan	They can live for over 20 years with proper care.
Habitat	They need a large tank with both water and a basking area.
Diet	They eat a variety of foods, including vegetables, fish, and pellets.
Behavior	They are generally peaceful but can be territorial with other turtles.

Pets like red-eared sliders are fascinating creatures that liven up any aquarium. They are a well-liked option for both beginning and seasoned turtle keepers because of their unusual appearance and captivating behavior.

But it’s crucial to keep in mind that red-eared sliders need proper care, which includes regular attention to their health, a balanced diet, and an appropriate habitat. Fulfilling these requirements will guarantee their prosperity and long, healthy lives.

You can reap the benefits of owning these distinctive and endearing turtles in your home aquarium by being aware of their particular needs.

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