Red-eared slider adults have a dark brown to olive colored carapace top shell , with a yellow, patterned plastron belly shell. They typically have prominent red or maroon stripes along the side of the head, to the side of each eye.
Sliders have a strong, sturdy and jagged beak that they use to eat plant matter and smaller aquatic animals. Distinguishing males and females of the species is relatively easy. All aquatic turtles have webbed feet to help make them fast and efficient swimmers. Red-eared sliders are semi-aquatic, fresh water turtles found in many streams, creeks, lakes and wetlands throughout the United States.
Geographically, the species originated from around the Mississippi River and south to the Gulf of Mexico. They prefer warmer climates, particularly the southeastern United States, typically in areas east of and below Colorado to Virginia and continuing south to Florida.
In the wild, they prefer habitats with calm, warm water, as well as logs or rocks for basking, suitable nesting areas, and plenty of vegetation to hide in and consume. Red-eared sliders are omnivorous, eating sub-aquatic vegetation, fruits, aquatic invertebrates, fishes, and amphibians like frogs and newts. Young turtles prey mostly on small fish and amphibian eggs and tadpoles.
When the turtle has finished laying eggs in the nesting box, you need to transfer the eggs in an incubator. An incubator increases the survival rate of the eggs many times. If you want to know how to make an incubator for turtle eggs, click here. Basically, you need to take a container and fill it partially with vermiculite.
Drill some holes along the top of the container for ventilation. Now you need to mix water with the vermiculite. Be very careful when doing this step.
You need mix the vermiculite with water by ratio according to the weight. So, if you have used gram vermiculite, then you need to use gram water. The mixture should be such that if you squeeze it, no water drips from it, but the vermiculite gets clumped.
Now that you have prepared the incubator, all you need to do now is transfer the eggs from the nesting box to the incubator. Before transferring the eggs, make an incision on the vermiculite with your finger. Then transfer the eggs from the nesting box to the incubator. Fill the eggs partially under vermiculite.
Make sure that, whenever you are transferring the eggs, their orientation is not disrupted. If the eggs get oriented in any way, then the embryo inside can get detached and die. So, what I like to do is, take a marker and make a mark on top of the eggs before moving them from the nesting box.
This way, I always know which side faces upwards so the orientation stays the same. If you want to know more about how to care for turtle eggs, click here. It will take you to my detailed article on how to care for turtle eggs. It mainly depends on the species. Generally, it takes about 60 to 90 days for the turtles to hatch.
Once the eggs start to hatch, it may take several days for the whole clutch to hatch. The hatchlings will come out of the shell instinctively. At this stage, the hatchlings will have an egg sac attached to their plastron. This egg sac will give them necessary nutrients to survive for the first few days. Once the hatchlings come out of the shell, you can transfer them in a separate container.
Just, keep the container wet by spraying a good amount of water. Also, place some wet tissues inside it. The hatchlings can stay there unlit the egg sac is completely absorbed. After that, you can transfer them to the main tank and start feeding them. Turtles generally start to mate in the spring season when the temperature and daytime is increasing gradually.
Generally, the mating time continues from March to June. Like most other water turtles, painted turtles mate in spring and autumn. Their mating process is much like red-eared sliders. The male start to follow the female and sniff her cloaca before starting the mating process. If their children die she will get into depression and sulk all the time.
The baby red eared slider or, more commonly known as hatchlings, carries Salmonella infections. It mainly attacks children and infants. And a tank is certainly not the best place for a red eared slider to give birth. There is a huge responsibility when it comes to taking care of babies. Bear the consequences and health risks in mind. But even if, after all that, you want baby red eared sliders to hatch, you have to be very cautious and dedicated. Both you and your red eared slider will feel bad if the hatchlings are hurt.
Do these things to make sure the hatch of healthy turtle babies. It takes a lot of effort to maintain a pregnant red eared slider. If you are willing to take these measures you can allow your red eared sliders to mate and lay fertile eggs. Even after giving the perfect environment, a red eared slider can be reluctant to mate.
You will see your turtles moving separately and not getting close to each other. There can be certain reasons for them to not mate. Take these points into consideration and try to avoid them as much as you can. Red eared sliders mate every year. If you really want to breed them, you have to wait to make sure you can handle that. The above information hopefully has provided you with the necessary knowledge you needed to know about their mating behavior.
Keep these in mind and treat your red eared slider that way. They will do what you want them to do so. I have been keeping turtles as a pet for many years now. Aquatic turtles are fun to watch, and I totally agree with you. However, species like Mississippi map turtles can be hard to pet due to their neat lifestyle. But if you love challenges, then this What can be more heart-warming than getting a baby Sulcata tortoise? But wait. Owning a tortoise is not everything.
You have to ensure top-notch care for the pet. Most beginners struggle to find Skip to content. Mating In Tanks If you are recently familiar with red eared sliders as your pet, then it is strongly recommended to not let it give birth.
So you should prevent them from mating. Red eared sliders mate between March and July. Try to keep them separated during this period. But if you place your turtle outside the tank you have to make sure it has access to water and UV light. Put a barrier in the tank but keep basking place on both sides.
It is mandatory for a turtle to bask. It is as necessary as eating. You can consider abortion. Watch out for the eggs. Dispose of the eggs as soon as you find them.
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