What do red-eared sliders eat to grow, and how to keep them safe through winter with this care method

The red-eared slider, also known as the mahjong turtle or emerald turtle, is a fairly brightly colored turtle that combines food, ornamental and medicinal uses, with good farming prospects, and many people like to keep one at home, so what do red-eared sliders eat to grow? How do you keep them safe through winter?

I. Introduction to the red-eared slider:

1. Can red-eared sliders be eaten?

Red-eared sliders can be eaten, and their meat is fresh and tender, with effects in treating hepatitis, pulmonary tuberculosis and kidney yin deficiency; regular consumption can effectively prevent high blood pressure, bronchitis, eye fatigue and other diseases, and many people specifically raise them to eat, though of course some keep them as pets.

2. How long do red-eared sliders live?

The lifespan of a red-eared slider is generally around 15 years, because according to ecologists' observations, among more than 10,000 red-eared sliders, 3.4% can live more than 25 years, 7.3% can live 20 to 24 years, 21.4% can live 15 to 21 years, and 68% can live less than 15 years, so most turtles can live around 15 years, though if raised well, living more than 25 years is not impossible.

II. What do red-eared sliders eat to grow?

Red-eared sliders are omnivorous, eating corn, wheat, rice, vegetables, meat and insects alike, so feeding should be reasonably balanced. The specific foods they can eat are as follows:

1. Foods small red-eared sliders can eat include: pork, pig liver, cooked egg yolk, small fish, small shrimp, dried small shrimp, river snails, chopped carrots, leafy vegetables, etc.

2. Foods adult red-eared sliders can eat include: adult red-eared sliders eat many foods, which can be divided into animal feed, plant feed and feed additives, etc.

(1) Animal feed they can eat includes: fish meat, eggs, silkworm pupae, meat and aquatic insects.

(2) Plant feed they can eat includes: corn, wheat, rice, soybeans, millet, vegetables, aquatic plants and various melons and fruits, etc.

(3) Feed additives they can eat include: calcium powder, cod liver oil, dried yeast, malt, multivitamins, etc.

III. How to raise red-eared sliders in winter?

1. Food feeding: feed more and better before hibernation

Red-eared sliders hibernate in winter and stop eating, so before hibernation, be sure to feed as much food as possible and feed better food, and only stop feeding one week before hibernation, to help them survive the winter safely.

2. Container treatment: put in some sand or looser mud

In winter, small red-eared sliders easily die during hibernation, so before overwintering, put some sand or looser mud in the container as much as possible, so they can survive the winter safely inside it.

3. Temperature requirements: temperature difference should not be too large

Red-eared sliders have relatively high temperature requirements; the most suitable temperature for hibernation is generally 7 to 10 degrees, and if the temperature is too high or too low, the turtle will die, so try to ensure the growing temperature is suitable, especially keeping the temperature difference from being too large, to avoid the turtle dying during hibernation. If conditions permit, it is best to buy a thermometer and constantly observe the temperature of the rearing box; if it changes too much, adjust the temperature according to the situation.

4. Environmental requirements: as quiet as possible

During hibernation, try to create a quiet environment for the red-eared slider to help it hibernate.

Overall, red-eared sliders are not picky eaters; as long as it is millet, corn, wheat, small fish, small shrimp and so on, they will eat it, so when feeding you do not need to worry about what feed to give. However, in winter, feeding should be stopped, and the growing temperature should be watched at all times to ensure they survive the winter safely.