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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)

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.

  1. 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

  2. Care of Aquatic & Semi-Aquatic Turtles

    LafeberVet

    veterinary

    Husbandry, water temp 75-82F, diet balance, Ca:P ratio.

    Published: 2019-09-01

  3. 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

Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) care sheet — Herpetoverse