How to Care for a Red-eared Turtle

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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.

This article has been viewed 36,303 times.

If you’re looking to keep a turtle as a pet, consider choosing a red-eared slider turtle (referred to as a red-eared turtle for short). This adaptable animal prefers to live in warm environments, but can also grow well in large tanks. Red-eared slider turtles get their name from the two red lines just behind their eyes and the way they slide from rocks into the water. With proper care, red-eared turtles can live up to 30 years! If you are interested in a long-term companion, the red-eared turtle is a great choice.

Table of Contents

Consider whether keeping a red-eared turtle is right for you

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Learn about red-eared turtles. If you know someone who has a red-eared turtle, you can ask them about the advantages and disadvantages of keeping a turtle as a pet. Or you can also go to a turtle shop and ask the staff there for advice. You’re better off spending time with a red-eared turtle at the store to see what you’ll need to do if you choose to care for it.

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Consider the length of your engagement. The average lifespan of red-eared turtles is about 20 – 30 years, some may even live longer. So make sure you can adjust your lifestyle in the future to be able to stick with a turtle friend for that long. If you just want to keep a turtle as a pet for your children, it is also important to note that it will be your family pet for a very long time.

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Think about getting all the supplies needed to raise a turtle. Like other creatures, red-eared turtles are very small when young, but will grow in size as adults. A fully grown red-eared turtle needs to live in a tank with a floor at least four times the size of its shell, take this into account when purchasing baby turtles.

If you want to keep a lot of turtles, you also need to prepare multiple tanks to separate them when necessary. Male red-eared turtles are very annoying to female turtles, sometimes even causing female turtles to stop eating. That’s why you should keep them in separate tanks.

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Calculate the costs. Costs include things like electricity to heat the tank, thermostat to regulate water temperature, aeration pump, proper water filtration equipment, and last but not least, food. Although the purchase price of red-eared turtles is quite low, it is not cheap to keep them.

If you’re worried about the cost of raising a red-eared turtle, you can make a list of the necessary expenses before buying a turtle, then decide whether to invest or not.

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Beware of the risk of salmonella intestinal infection when coming into contact with turtles. Turtles can carry salmonella bacteria without becoming infected, but they still carry the risk of infecting people. The only way to stay safe when keeping turtles is to practice personal hygiene, washing your hands thoroughly both before and after handling them.

Because of the risk of salmonella infection, you need to have a dedicated turtle care kit that is cleaned, disinfected regularly and kept separate from other household items.

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Consider the turtle’s personality. Red-eared turtles are not sociable animals. Wild tortoises caught from the wild can be very aggressive and unapproachable. Although some animals in captivity will gradually get used to human contact, don’t expect your pet tortoise to become extremely friendly.

Prepare the turtle tank

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Buy a tank. You need a tank with a capacity of about 38L of water for every 2.5cm of the turtle’s body length, plus 15% of the area for the turtle to sunbathe. In the first year, you can use a tank of about 190L to raise baby turtles but after that need to use a tank with a capacity of at least 455L. ^{[1] X Reptile Medicine and Surgery Research Source . Mader. Publisher: Saunders & Elsevier. 2nd edition.} You can save money by buying a tank that is just big enough. When choosing a tank, consider the following factors:

Water depth: Turtles love to dive and hunt, so the water needs to be deep enough for it to do so.
Space: Turtles are territorial, so the space in the tank should be large enough for them to be apart, or you’ll need to keep them in a separate tank.
Waste. Turtle waste is more solid than fish waste. They need plenty of water to dilute and/or you can use a turtle water filter.

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Using a tank saves money. The most ideal type of tank for turtles is a large aquarium, but this tank is quite expensive. You can use a cheaper conventional storage tank. Regular storage tanks with a capacity of about 380L are not too expensive, although you should not buy plastic tanks, plastic tanks are even cheaper but will easily be scratched by turtle claws. ^{[2] X Reptile Medicine and Surgery Research Source . Mader. Publisher: Saunders & Elsevier. 2nd edition.}

If you live in a warm climate and have a suitable yard, you can dig a pond and use tarpaulin to house red-eared turtles. This allows the turtle to live in a more natural environment, but the ability to control the conditions of the environment is more limited so sometimes you will need to bring the turtle indoors when the weather is inclement.

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Buy a water filter. The water filter system helps prevent bacteria from growing in the turtle tank. You do not need to use a water purifier if you can change the water in the aquarium regularly. This job will be quite strenuous, so choosing a filter device specifically for turtles is not a bad idea. There are many different types of water purifiers for you to choose from depending on your needs and budget:

Undergravel filter. This type of machine requires a large substrate area and should only be used when you have one or two turtles. If the machine uses an aerator to push the water up, it is only suitable for raising baby turtles or newly hatched turtles. An external pump is recommended if you want to use this filter on larger turtles.
Internal canister filter: This filter is installed in the tank, the price is both reasonable and effective. You should choose to buy one that can be easily cleaned, such as one with a cotton layer in the filter.
External filter (External canister filter): This type of filter is installed outside the tank, the price is quite expensive, but it has outstanding filtering capabilities that greatly reduce the number of times the water needs to be changed. One type of external filter used by many pet turtle owners is the Rena Filstar Xp3 or Xp4.

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Aquarium decoration. Decorations make the turtle’s habitat richer and more interesting. The substrate is spread on the bottom of the tank to help turtles easily move from the water to the rocks for sunbathing. You can add rocks from rivers and streams to your tank to provide a sunbathing space for your turtles, or create a sunbathing spot by attaching a plastic sheet of glass to the side of the tank. Be sure to use non-toxic adhesives. ^{[3] X Source of Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Mader. Publisher: Saunders & Elsevier. 2nd edition.}

Avoid using gravel on the bottom of the aquarium as a base as it can be hazardous to the turtle’s health––turtles can get an intestinal blockage if swallowed. Besides, you also need to consider carefully when adding aquatic plants to the tank. While these plants both help filter the water and make the tank look great, turtles will likely eat them. If you find turtles eating plants, remove the plants and clean the tank.
Place a well-fitting barrier on top of the tank to prevent turtles from climbing out or ingesting things that accidentally fall into the tank.

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Set the right temperature. Water temperature should range between 26.5 – 27.5 °C for newly hatched or sick turtles; about 25.5 – 26.5 °C for healthy turtles over one year old. The sunbathing area (dry area) needs to be 6°C warmer than the water temperature for the turtle to warm up. The air temperature in the tank should be around 24-28 °C. ^{[4] X Reptile Medicine and Surgery Research Source . Mader. Publisher: Saunders & Elsevier. 2nd edition}

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Use the right kind of light. Turtles rely on UVA and UVB light to absorb vitamins and keep warm. UV rays do not pass through glass so you need to use a lamp with 5% UV rays or more. Light bulbs need to be changed every 6 months. The heater needs to keep the sunbathing area 10°C above the water temperature. ^{[5] X Reptile Medicine and Surgery Research Source . Mader. Publisher: Saunders & Elsevier. 2nd edition.}

Do not let the turtle touch the bulb to avoid burns. Make sure you install the bulb out of the turtle’s reach and be careful not to leave the glass or plastic tank in direct sunlight to prevent the tank from quickly overheating.

Bringing turtles to raise

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Buy turtle. You should not catch wild turtles to raise, because that is not only cruel and unfair to them, but in many places it is also a violation of the law. If you still want to catch turtles, you need permission from the competent authority. You can adopt an adult abandoned turtle, there are many abandoned turtles and need a home. ^{[6] X Research Resources} Contact organizations for adoptions, new owners, or turtle rescues. You can also contact well-known breeders to buy turtles. ^{[7] X Research Source BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets. Meredit. BSAVA Publications. 5th edition}

Beware of pet stores that keep turtles in bad condition. A lot of turtles were sick before you bought them. Take a tour and observe turtle behavior and living conditions. If the water in the tank is smelly, it means that the tank is not cleaned regularly and the turtle is likely to get sick. You should not buy turtles in places where they breed in large numbers because there turtles often have poor living conditions and do not receive adequate medical care.

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Give your turtle some space. The turtle may be a little shy when you first bring it home. It will take a few days for the turtle to feel safe enough to come out of its shell and explore a new home. ^{[8] X Research Source} Let your turtle acclimate to its new home and wait for it to become bolder.

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Determine the sex of the turtle. You won’t be able to determine the sex of a turtle until it is an adult, about 2 to 4 years old. Male turtles will have longer claws and tails than female turtles, while female turtles will generally be larger in size. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Daily turtle care

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Feed the red-eared turtle with suitable food. A reasonable diet for red-eared turtles (and other water turtles) should have the following ratio: 50% vegetables and aquatic plants, 25% synthetic food, 25% live protein. Red-eared turtles love to eat processed turtle food and the food you prepare for them.

Suitable vegetables include: dandelions (which can be picked from the garden if pesticides are not available), carrot leaves, mustard leaves, lettuce, carrots, bell peppers, and squash.
Suitable aquatic plants include: anacharis (Brazilian seaweed), water hyacinth, lettuce, Japanese water hyacinth, hornwort and duckweed. These plants are quite expensive at pet stores, but they are easy to grow in tanks or ponds, and if you order them online in bulk they will also be cheaper.
In the wild, red-eared turtles don’t usually eat fruit, so you should avoid giving fruit to your turtle unless you give it a reward. You can use bananas to reward turtles.
With synthetic foods, you should choose varieties that are low in protein and fat. Absolutely do not feed the turtle with dried shrimp. Turtles love the taste of dried shrimp, but they have no nutrients and will likely reject other foods for weeks.

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Check for signs of health problems. Turtles can get a lot of diseases if the tank water is dirty, the food is of poor quality or due to other reasons. Some common turtle problems that you should be aware of include: ^{[10] X Research Source BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets. Meredit. BSAVA Publications. 5th edition}

Eye Infection : The turtle’s eyes will close, become swollen, bulging, or oozing. You will probably see bits of eye rust from the turtle’s eyes. Eye infections are caused by bacteria, your turtle will need to be seen by a veterinarian, antibiotics may be needed, and you will need to upgrade your tank’s filtration system.
Soft shell : If the shell is softer than usual, it is likely that the turtle is not receiving enough light from above. This problem can be caused by the turtle’s sunbathing area being too small, the water too deep, or the turtle being too weak to crawl onto the sunbed. If you have this problem, you need to contact your veterinarian or pet store for advice. Turtles can also sometimes develop skeletal disorders.
Thrush and anorexia : Symptoms indicate that the turtle has a bacterial infection and should be promptly seen by a veterinarian for antibiotic treatment.
Weakness, wheezing, lethargy, and unusual head tilt : These could be signs of respiratory infections, such as pneumonia. You need to take the turtle to the veterinary clinic immediately.
Injury : Check the tank for sharp objects or if the turtle is fighting, eliminate the cause, wash the turtle’s wound with povidone-iodine solution and keep the wound clean. You can consult your veterinarian for further instructions.

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Occasionally let the turtle out in the sun. You’ll need to keep an eye on your turtle while you’re outside to avoid overheating. You can buy a baby inflatable pool, fill it with water and put something in it for the turtles to climb up to and bask in the sun; at the same time give the turtle some shade so it doesn’t get too hot.

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Make time for turtles. The turtle is now your pet and just like any other pet, you and your turtle will form a bond as you spend time together. Be careful handling turtles though––not all of them like to be picked up or touched.

Some turtles like to be lightly scratched on their shells, like scratching a dog’s back or ears. However, you should still be careful, not all of them like it and they may turn to bite you. Note that turtle shells have nerve endings so they can sense everything. Please take it easy!

Advice

When one turtle gets sick, all the turtles in the tank may be infected. You need to let the vet examine them all as they may need treatment as well.
Turtles love to be rewarded with crickets.
When you’re away, don’t leave the turtles alone. Send them to someone you trust and teach them how to care for red-eared turtles.
These turtles love to eat wood lice.
You’re better off raising a turtle first. Maybe later you’ll find that raising one is enough, or that one is already too busy.
Red-eared turtles love to eat protein-rich foods, which makes new owners often give them too much protein. You should not do this because too much protein can cause deformed turtle shells, damage to internal organs and shortened life expectancy. Baby turtles tend to be carnivorous, while adult turtles are omnivorous.
Many red-eared turtle owners prefer to feed them in a separate tank. This helps keep the tank water clean, but you’ll have to watch to move the turtles back to their old tank when they’re done eating.
If you do not use a water purifier, you need to change the water for the 38L tank two to three times a week, the 190L tank once a week. The advice is that you should still invest in a water purifier.
To reduce the amount of nitrate in your tank, you should do a 10% water change weekly or 20% every two weeks.
If the turtle escapes from the tank, don’t panic. Confine the remaining turtles carefully, then place a bowl of water and a bowl of food in a visible place to attract the hiding turtle. Once you find the turtle, you need to check it for any wounds, clean the turtle under running water and take it to the vet if necessary.
Do not immediately handle the turtle so it can acclimate to its habitat. You should wait a week and then pick it up.
The water in the tank shouldn’t stink, otherwise it means you haven’t cleaned it regularly and the turtle could get sick.
Try not to startle the turtle. Not only will the turtle be scared, but its shell may also become soft.

Warning

Children aged 10 or under should not be left to care for red-eared turtles without their parents’ help. This is very dangerous for both children and turtles. Turtle’s claws are very sharp, they can injure the little owner and drop the turtle to the ground.
Only lift the turtle when necessary and when you lift it, you should put the turtle in the palm of your hand so as not to frighten them.
If you have other pets, you should not let them come into contact with turtles. Turtles can carry salmonella bacteria and infect them with other animals as well as humans.
Never abandon a pet. If you are having trouble keeping and caring for your red-eared turtle, contact your local animal welfare organization to find a safe new home for it. Abandoning a pet is not only heartless, but it can also cause pathogens to spread quickly. Pets released into the wild can become wild animals causing great damage to natural ecosystems. ^{[11] X Research Source BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets. Meredit. BSAVA Publications. 5th edition}
Always wash your hands with soap after handling turtles. If you touch doorknobs or other areas when handling turtles, use a disinfectant spray to disinfect those areas. Avoid touching your hair or clothing while holding your turtle. ^{[12] X Reptile Medicine and Surgery Research Source . Mader. Publisher: Saunders & Elsevier. 2nd edition.}

Steps