Turtle Care

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I hold him?

• No. Well, technically yes, but I don't let any student handle Tyrone because of safety concerns. He does not like being handled and will do everything he can to get away from you. He scratches with his long claws and can potentially snap at you. He is not easy to hold on to and a fall to the ground could seriously injure him. Reptiles can also be carriers of bacteria, so if you do come into contact with him or his water, just be sure to wash your hands with soap and water immediately after.

What does he eat? Can I feed him?

• Tyrone came to me a very picky eater. He likes Reptomin sticks and ZooMed turtle sticks. He loves shrimp and meal worms, but these are only treats. Adult red-eared sliders are supposed to eat mainly aquatic plants and vegetables, but Tyrone wants nothing to do with those. I keep trying to feed him some, just in case he changes his mind. He also eats his sand and potentially other things he finds in his tank, which is why it is important not to put anything in there that doesn't belong. The sand is small enough that it passes right through his digestive system and causes no harm. Turtle should not have any aquarium gravel, they will eat it and it could get stuck causing serious health issues. Tyrone eats twice a week, usually Monday and Friday. Most pet turtles are overfed because they often beg and their owners give in. However, this causes many health problems in captive turtles and often leads to a shortened life-span. Feedings are almost always before or after school on those days, so feel free to stop by and watch him eat!

Why doesn't he have a friend? I feel so bad for him! He must be so lonely.

• As much as we humans like to interact with others, turtles are not social animals. They often get aggressive and attack each other if they are housed together. Some owners will buy two little turtles, only learning a year or two later that they will have to be separated to avoid one of them from seriously harming the other. Turtles also need a lot of space in their environments. The recommendation is at least 10 gallons of water for every inch of their shell. So a turtle that is 10 inches long should have at least a 100 gallon tank. Adding more turtles would require even more space.

Will he get any bigger?

• I don't think he will at this point. His shell length is slightly longer than 7 inches. Tyrone has grown about an inch or two since I first got him, and that was all in the first year I had him. Male red-eared sliders usually end up between 7-9 inches in shell length, while females usually grow between 10-12 inches. Turtles will not stay small if you keep them in a small environment, they will keep growing despite the size of their tank!

Can he breathe under water?

• No. Turtles have lungs just like we do, and need air to survive. However, they can hold their breath underwater for hours. Tyrone even sleeps underwater.

Does he need to stay in the water?

• No. Aquatic turtles are able to live on land and can be frequently seen traveling from one pond to another. But he does need water to drink and to eat. Red-eared sliders, like many other aquatic turtles, do not make their own saliva to chew and swallow food. They need to be in the water to eat so they do not choke.

How long will he live?

• The life-span of red-eared sliders is about 30 years. If Tyrone is as old as I think he is, then hopefully he will be with me for the rest of my career! Captive red-eared sliders can live just as long if they have the proper environment and care. However, due to lack of knowledge, captive red-eared sliders don't always make it that long.

I found a turtle outside, can I keep it?

• It's really not a good idea to take turtles from the wild. Here's some more information: Turtlesurvival.org

I want a turtle, how much does it cost?

• More than you probably think. Turtles at the pet store are fairly cheap, and a lot of pet stores don't have a good understanding of the care turtles need. They sell cheap starter sets that are not suitable for long-term care. Red-eared sliders need to have about 10 gallons of water per inch of shell length. A male red-eared slider should have a minimum tank size of 75 gallons, while a female red-eared slider should have a minimum tank size of 90 gallons. Other species of turtles don't grow as big, but they are harder to find in pet stores. Turtles are dirty animals and should have a filter that is rated for at least twice their tank size. They need a basking area that is completely out of the water and that has both a heat bulb and a UVB light bulb for their health. Below is a spreadsheet that has the breakdown of the costs involved with Tyrone, all of which was paid for by me. Some of the items were on sale at the time of purchase, so timing helps out as well. Also please keep in mind, this is only one particular example, many turtle owners have more or less elaborate set-ups and their turtles do just fine!