Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Short answers

Red-eared slider: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Aqua-terrarium from 150 × 75 cm for a female (1997 expert report: length 5 × shell length, width half the length), water depth 40+ cm; a garden pond is better.

Red-eared slider: What temperature does it need?

Daytime water 24–26 °C, basking spot 35–40 °C (basking spot), at night 18–22 °C.

Red-eared slider: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential.

Red-eared slider: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30–40+ years.

Red-eared slider: Is it suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner to intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

water 24–26 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

35–40 °C (basking spot)

Humidity

—

UVB

Essential

Enclosure

Minimum size

Aqua-terrarium from 150 × 75 cm for a female (1997 expert report: length 5 × shell length, width half the length), water depth 40+ cm; a garden pond is better

Substrate

Bare-bottomed or sand; a large dry land section

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: juveniles are carnivorous, adults increasingly plant-eating (water plants)

Feeding interval

juveniles daily, adults 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

females 20–30 cm, males 15–25 cm carapace length

Life expectancy

30–40+ years

Origin

The central and south-eastern USA (the Mississippi valley)

Protection status

On the EU list of invasive species (since 3 August 2016): trade, breeding and new acquisitions are prohibited – animals already held may be kept

Brumation

Brumation from December to February (4–8 °C)

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the least stressful option; they do not need company. Groups only work with plenty of space: one male to several females, or females only, and plan for a way to separate them. Two males harass each other and the females; under constant courtship a female visibly loses weight.

Notes

Invasive in the EU – no trade, no breeding, no release. The commonest animal handed in at rescue centres; a large basking spot plus a filter are essential.

Do you keep this species?

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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
• Mesoamerican slider (Trachemys venusta) – 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 Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (Aqua-terrarium from 150 × 75 cm for a female (1997 expert report: length 5 × shell length, width half the length), water depth 40+ cm; a garden pond is better), substrate (Bare-bottomed or sand; a large dry land section), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.