Mesoamerican slider (Trachemys venusta)

Short answers

Mesoamerican slider: How big does the enclosure need to be?

200×80 cm aquarium.

Mesoamerican slider: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot 35 °C, at night 21–24 °C.

Mesoamerican slider: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0).

Mesoamerican slider: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30–40 years.

Mesoamerican slider: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

21–24 °C

Basking spot

35 °C

Humidity

Aquatic

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

200×80 cm aquarium

Substrate

Water 40–60 cm deep, sand, planting, a basking spot

Feeding

Food

Water plants, fish, insects, pellets

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

25–38 cm

Life expectancy

30–40 years

Origin

Mexico to Panama

Protection status

Not on the EU list of invasive species (unlike Trachemys scripta!) – check the legal position before buying anyway

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keep singly. In nature aquatic turtles are loners that only meet for mating and basking; single housing is the least stressful form. A pair or small group is possible with a lot of space, then better one male with several females than two females alone, and several males stress each other badly; if you must be able to remove the male, plan a second tank.

Notes

The tropical relative of the red-eared slider, to be kept warmer and without a winter rest. It grows very large – the space requirement matches that of the large Pseudemys species. Do not confuse it with T. scripta, which is banned from trade EU-wide.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Mesoamerican slider (Trachemys venusta) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Cumberland slider (Trachemys scripta troostii) – Intermediate
• D'Orbigny's slider (Trachemys dorbigni) – Intermediate
• Yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) – Beginner to intermediate
• Mexican slider (Trachemys cataspila) – Intermediate
• Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) – Beginner to intermediate
• Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra) – Intermediate
• Barbour's map turtle (Graptemys barbouri) – Intermediate
• False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Mesoamerican slider (Trachemys venusta) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (200×80 cm aquarium), substrate (Water 40–60 cm deep, sand, planting, a basking spot), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.