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Is a red-eared slider the right match for you?

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Red-eared sliders can grow to be a foot long and live to be 70. (Courtesy photo)

Red-eared sliders are one of the most common types of turtles found in pet stores. On top of that, the price to purchase one is usually ridiculously low, often around $10. As a result, red-eared sliders are often purchased on a whim and then abandoned as soon as their new owners realize just how much is involved in their care. Red-eared sliders can make wonderful pets, but anyone interested in bringing one of these turtles home must do a lot of research first and be prepared for their turtle's growing needs.

In pet stores, red-eared sliders are usually very young and, as a result, significantly smaller than they will be as full-grown adults. What's most alarming about red-eared sliders is just how large they can become. While you may have originally brought home a 5-inch long turtle, in just a few years it can grow to the size of a dinner plate. The problem with large turtles, especially if you weren't prepared for your turtle to grow significantly larger than it was the day you brought it home, is that it requires a much larger living space.

The larger the tank you can provide, the better. As a general rule of thumb, the tank size for a red-eared slider should be ten gallons for each inch of the turtle's length. For a turtle that can grow to be 12 inches long, that's a massive tank, and certainly one that's much larger - and more expensive - than many people can accommodate in their homes. Beyond the size of the tank, red-eared sliders are semi-aquatic and require their habitat to include lots of water as well as a dry basking area.

A common concern with turtles is the risk of contracting salmonella from them. While some turtles may carry salmonella, the risk of contracting it is minimal if you practice good hygiene, which includes washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you handle them. Another concern potential owners have is that turtles are, in general, pretty filthy. Even with a heavy-duty filtration system, your turtle's tank will get really dirty incredibly fast and require at least partial water changes weekly.

A major contributor to the filthy tank water is uneaten food. It is recommended that you feed your turtle in a separate tub so the uneaten food is left out of the main tank, which will help extend the tank water. While young red-eared sliders are mostly carnivorous, eating things like mealworms and crickets, adult red-eared sliders are omnivorous and eat a diet that is mostly vegetation, like collard greens, shredded apples, and sweet potatoes.

With proper care and nutrition, red-eared sliders can live 20 to 30 years and even as long as 70 years. Much like owning a parrot, owning a red-eared slider is typically a lifetime commitment. If you can provide a good home for a red-eared slider, they make wonderful pets. What's important to remember is that while red-eared sliders may not require an initial large investment, they will require an extensive amount of care and a commitment from you to care for them for the duration of their lives. Because so many people aren't willing to make that commitment, many red-eared sliders end up at rescues in search of a new home. If you're looking to add a red-eared slider to your family, consider visiting a shelter and adopting a rescue pet.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, a cat, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.

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