How long do red-eared sliders live as pets?

Red-eared sliders can live a long life in captivity. When cared for correctly, they can easily live longer than 20 years. Red-eared sliders are omnivores. In the wild, they feed on aquatic vegetation, small fish and decaying material such as deceased fish and frogs, etc.

How old is the oldest red-eared slider?

Mike Conley was about 8 years old when his parents bought him a 49-cent drugstore turtle. Forty years later, Tiger could be the world’s oldest Red-eared Slider. The record had been 37 years, 9 months and 10 days, said Joseph Collins, herpetologist emeritus at the Kansas University Natural History Museum.

How do I know if my red-eared slider is dying?

If a turtle is very sick or dying, you may see a runny fluid or discharge coming from their nose or eyes. Discharge from the eyes or ears that has a thick, pus-like appearance, accompanied by swollen eyelids or ears, is often a sign of vitamin A deficiency.

How long do female red-eared sliders live in captivity?

about 20 years
The red-eared slider is one of the most common pet turtles and its lifespan fits the general expectation of longevity for turtles. However, if you have a pet red-eared slider, be prepared to have a pet for a long time. In captivity, the average lifespan tends to be about 20 years with good care and health.

How do I know if my turtle is dying?

The main way to tell if a turtle is dying if if they refuse to eat, swims sideways, has discharge from the mouth, has unhealthy skin, becomes sluggish, shows trouble breathing, abnormal feces, and shell rot.

Can I release my red-eared slider?

Realize that simply letting your turtle “loose” in the wild is illegal, unethical, and may cause serious damage to wildlife in your area. Most released sliders will die in the wild, and the survivors may choke out native turtles for food and habitat.

How long can a red-eared slider live without food?

An adult red-eared slider can go for several months without food. You should ensure that it is healthy and free from any prior health issues, but if the red-eared slider turtle is six months old and below, then all these conditions together with food are mandatory, otherwise, it may not live for a month.

How long can red-eared sliders stay out of water?

You must know by now that Red Eared Sliders cannot survive for more than a week outside of water. However, there are instances when it can go up to six months. This only happens during winter, when the creature is brumating.

How big is a 1 year old red-eared slider?

around 1.6 inches long
A 1-year-old red-eared slider will measure around 1.6 inches long.

Can a red-eared slider drown?

Red-eared sliders are strong swimmers, so you don’t need to worry about drowning as long as the turtle can get out of the water and there is no place it can get trapped underwater.

Can you leave a turtle alone for 3 days?

Anything can go wrong if a tank is left alone. As best you can, it’s never a good idea to leave your turtle without any food for more than a few weeks. Especially if it has become accustomed to this, and more so when it is still young and growing.

Can turtles throw up?

Reptiles usually vomit due to one or more of the following reasons: low temps, stress/anxiety, infection, GI obstruction, bad/spoiled food, food that is too large to eat, parasites or being disturbed/handled during or soon after eating.

Do turtles get tired of swimming?

Yes, turtles do sleep underwater. Most pet turtle species can sleep underwater for at least an hour before they have to swim up to get some air. … Aside from sleeping underwater, turtles also sleep at the top of the water surface.

How long can a turtle live?

How Long Do Turtles Live? According to the Turtle Conservation Society, most turtle species live from 10 to 80 years. But sea turtles and large land tortoises can live to be much older. Their lifespan can be 150 years or more.

Do red-eared sliders sleep?

Red-eared sliders are excellent swimmers. At night they sleep underwater, usually resting on the bottom or floating on the surface, using their inflated throat as a flotation aid. Diet: These turtles are omnivorous – eating a variety of aquatic plants, insects, snails, fish, carrion and other small aquatic prey.

Why does my turtle stare at me?

Their probably wondering what your up to or are interested in something that you are doing. I’ve more than once had my tortoise stop and stare at me. Here is a photo of a surprised tortoise, she wasn’t expecting me to be there and stopped to have a look.

How long can a turtle stay submerged?

Some species can only hold their breath for about 30 minutes, whereas many freshwater varieties can hold their breath for up to 45 minutes. Sea turtles can hold their breath for much longer times. The record for a sea turtle holding its breath underwater is a little over 7 hours.

Can red-eared sliders eat watermelon?

Feeding your turtles watermelon is absolutely fine.

Turtles can safely eat watermelons, as well as many different types of fruit. It is a tasty, nutritious, and healthy treat for them.