How to Care for a Red-Eared Slider? Keeping Methods and Precautions

The red-eared slider, also called the red-eared turtle or yellow-eared turtle, is the most widely kept reptile in the world. It likes water and is a type of aquatic turtle. Today, large-scale red-eared slider farming can be seen in many regions, and with the development of modern logistics, they can be sold to various places. In many areas, integrated farming models combining breeding, sales and processing have taken shape. So how do farmers breed red-eared sliders on a large scale? Let's take a look at their keeping methods below.

1. Building the Farm

The red-eared slider is an aquatic turtle, so most farms are mainly ponds, although they also come onto land at times, just not for long. Generally we use pond farming, and we place some small stones in the pond to form shallows so they can play on them. The breeding pond also needs some aquatic plants planted in it to provide shade and purify the water. The pond should be built with cement, and an appropriate amount of mud should be kept at the bottom of the pond.

2. Selecting Breeding Red-Eared Sliders

The selection of red-eared sliders is mainly observed from these aspects. First, observe the appearance of the turtle: check whether its shape is neat, whether the shell and plastron are intact with no damage, whether the body surface is ulcerated, whether all four limbs are complete, whether the eyes bulge outward, and whether there is white discharge at the corners of the eyes. Second, observe the turtle's activity: it should move fairly quickly and sink when it jumps into the water. Finally, check the turtle's feeding situation and whether its limbs are strong. Only those meeting all the standards can be selected.

3. Managing Water Level, Water Quality and Water Temperature

We all know that turtle farming has strict requirements for water level, and they can only be kept in shallow water, but the red-eared slider actually has few requirements for water level, though it still needs reasonable control. Especially for young turtles, the water level generally should not be higher than 5 cm. For adult turtles, as long as the water is not too deep, they can survive. Red-eared sliders have very high requirements for water quality. Generally, in artificial farming, if a filter and purifier are added to the pond, changing the water once every half month is enough. But if there are none, then it is best to change the water every day; of course, changing it once every three to four days is also possible. The temperature suitable for red-eared slider growth is generally between 20 and 30°C, and under normal circumstances it is best to keep the water temperature between 25 and 30°C.

4. Feed Selection and Feeding

The red-eared slider is a rather strange creature: in its juvenile stage it is carnivorous, while as an adult it prefers foods such as vegetables and fruits. So the feed we choose for red-eared sliders differs at different stages, and at the same time the quality of the feed must be guaranteed. The feeding time and place are generally fixed. Red-eared sliders generally hibernate only in winter, and the hibernation period is fairly long; once the temperature drops below 15°C, they are very likely to enter a hibernation state. The feed should not consist of only one kind of food, as this will cause malnutrition, so it should be changed regularly, but the frequency of changes should not be too high, to avoid causing discomfort.

5. Managing Escape Prevention and Disease Prevention

To prevent red-eared sliders from escaping, the walls around the breeding pond are generally built fairly smooth, so they basically cannot climb out. Second, a layer of farming netting can be covered over the pond, which is also a good escape-prevention measure. We all know that turtles generally have a fairly long lifespan and rarely get sick, so the main focus should be on prevention. First, increase the red-eared slider's amount of exercise to strengthen its physique; second, you can give an appropriate amount of vitamins each week; and also change the water frequently, etc. These can all have a disease-preventing effect.

The keeping methods for red-eared sliders are actually much the same as those for ordinary turtles. It is a very easy creature to keep, which is why many people like red-eared sliders. That is all the content we wanted to share with you today; if you like it, you can keep following us.