A red-eared slider needs a deep tank of water to swim in and a dry, heated basking spot to climb out onto. RSPCA’s good sized tank allows 80 liters of water for every 5 cm of shell, so the tank grows with the turtle.
Shell length
Water it needs
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Tank size
At the very least, RSPCA says a slider needs enough water to swim without touching the sides or bottom of the tank or breaking the surface. Its good sized tank, 80 liters per 5 cm of shell, comes to 400 liters for a 25 cm shell. VCA’s 10 gallons per inch of shell works out at about 14.9 liters per cm against RSPCA’s 16, so RSPCA’s figure is the safe side. Larger volumes of water are easier to keep clean.
RSPCA gives female sliders about 25 cm of shell and males about 21 cm; RVC says up to 20 cm, and that they can live for over 30 years. These figures are amounts of water. A tank’s label is its whole volume, and the dry basking area takes up part of it. See why gallons don’t tell you the floor size.
If you keep more than one, RSPCA says each needs its own basking spot, and to make sure they all get enough food.
Heat and light
- Basking spot: 30–35 °C (RSPCA), 32 °C (RVC), 24–31 °C (VCA).
- Water: about 25 °C for hatchlings, down to 22 °C for adults (RSPCA); 24–26 °C (RVC); 24–29 °C (VCA).
- UVB: a 7–12% lamp over two-thirds of the tank, UVI 3.0–5.0 in the basking zone (RSPCA).
Heat sources go outside and above one end of the tank, over the dry basking area, so the turtle can’t touch them (VCA), with a guard and a thermostat (RSPCA). RSPCA heats the water with a guarded aquarium heater that has its own thermostat. RVC warns that underwater heaters are generally made for fish and can be broken by large, boisterous turtles, so use only the sturdiest.
Fit the UVB lamp over two-thirds of the tank for a wide area of UV. VCA says there must be no glass or plastic between the lamp and the turtle, with the lamp within 12–18 in (30–45 cm), and replaced every six months or as the maker directs. See UVB strength explained.
Water, filter and substrate
RVC calls a decent filter essential and says external canister filters are usually the most effective for adults. RSPCA changes 20% of the water every week and covers the tank with something that doesn’t hold in humidity, such as wire mesh.
The sources disagree on sand. RSPCA says fine sand can be used, while VCA says to avoid sand and gravel because turtles often swallow them, which can block the gut. Both rule out gravel and small stones.
Everyday diet
Sliders eat with their heads underwater. RSPCA feeds a slider every two days, only as much as it eats in five minutes, and nets out what’s left. The foods and the shares by age are on what do turtles eat.
Turtles can carry salmonella, so wash your hands after feeding, cleaning or handling. RVC’s salmonella advice says children under five should avoid contact with reptiles, and to empty dirty tank water down the toilet, not the bath or kitchen sink.
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