Care sheet

Red-eared Slider

Trachemys scripta elegans

Also known as: Red-eared Terrapin

Emydidae · Testudines

BeginnerIUCN LC

Activity: ☀️ Diurnal
Temperament: Hands-off
Adult length: 6–12 in
Adult weight: —–3200 g
Lifespan (captivity): 20–40 yrs
Native range: South-central & southeastern USA and NE Mexico (widely introduced/invasive elsewhere)

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Care guide

Overview

Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) — a hardy aquatic turtle that is easy to keep but routinely underhoused: adults need large water volume, powerful filtration, a heated basking dock, and UVB. They grow large and live for decades. Critically, they are a highly invasive species — never release one into the wild. Wash hands after contact (Salmonella).

Environment

Climate

Cool side

75–82 °F

Basking spot

85–90 °F

Nighttime

70–75 °F

Environment

UVB lighting

Required?

Yes — provide UVB

Fixture type

T5 HO

Replacement interval

Every 12 months

Housing

Enclosure

Orientation

Semi-aquatic

Bioactive setup

Not ideal

Minimum size by life stage

HatchlingNot specified
JuvenileNot specified
Adult40 gal min per adult (vet); 75+ gal recommended. Dry basking dock + strong filtration.

Housing

Substrate

Safe options

bare-bottomriver stones too large to swallow

Avoid

small gravel (ingestion/impaction risk)

Nutrition

Diet & feeding

Dietary type

Omnivore

Feeding frequency by life stage

JuvenileDaily (juveniles are more carnivorous)
AdultEvery other day / 2-3x weekly; shift toward greens with age

Supplementation

Ca:P >= 1:1 (2:1 preferred); cuttlebone common; quality aquatic pellets + greens + limited protein.

Care

Water & behavior

Water

Aquatic setup: heater to 75-82F water, canister filtration, weekly partial water changes, dry basking dock.

Legal & ecology

Conservation

IUCN Red List

LC · Least Concern

Wild populations

Species-level Least Concern, but among the world's worst invasive species (EU-banned; sale restricted in many areas). NEVER release non-natives. A US CITES Appendix III history exists — verify current listing before asserting one.

Citations

Sources

Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.

Care Of Red-eared Sliders
Mesa Veterinary Hospital
veterinary
Merck 40-gal minimum, water 75-80F, basking 85-90F, UVB 6-12 mo, shell-rot vet guidance.
Published: 2022-01-01
Care of Aquatic & Semi-Aquatic Turtles
LafeberVet
veterinary
Husbandry, water temp 75-82F, diet balance, Ca:P ratio.
Published: 2019-09-01
Trachemys scripta elegans — GISD profile
IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group
government
Invasive status, native range, listed among 100 of the world's worst invasive species.
Published: 2011-01-01