What do red eared slider turtles need in their tank?

What do red eared slider turtles need in their tank?

A 20-gallon aquarium or plastic container (minimum size for a young turtle, adults may need 40 gallons or larger) Basking area supplies such as rocks, stones, or a plastic floating shelf. Heat light and ultraviolet light. Good quality aquarium water filter.

What should I put in my turtles water?

De-chlorinated water needs to be used for the swimming area and filtered water for your turtle to drink. Adding a teaspoon of salt per gallon of water will reduce the level of “bad” bacteria and protect the turtles better from shell and skin diseases. Turtles can carry Salmonella.

Is it OK to put turtles in tap water?

In most cases you are perfectly fine using tap water, but you should use a water conditioner unless you’ve really investigated your local area’s water supply. A water conditioner will neutralize the worst chemicals in tap water.

Can I use tap water for my red eared slider?

If you’re not sure what type of water your red-eared slider needs, look no further than the tap. Tap water is appropriate for these sliders, but only if all of the chlorine is properly taken out of it. Always take your red-eared slider’s water needs seriously.

Can I put bottled water in my turtle tank?

Yes, you can use bottled water for turtles. Just use a water conditioner, or let the water sit for 24 hours in a separate container. If your tap water is safe, and without any chemicals, that’s probably the best way to use water for your turtle tank.

How deep does a red eared slider turtle need to be?

At a minimum, the water should be about twice as deep as your turtle is long—a 4-inch turtle should have a minimum water depth of 6-8 inches. Red-eared sliders are strong swimmers, so you don’t need to worry about drowning as long as the turtle can get out of the water and there is no place it can get trapped underwater.

Do Red-Eared Sliders need water all the time?

Red-eared sliders are aquatic turtles, or to be more precise semi-aquatic turtles. It means that they spend most of their lives both in the water and on the land. To answer the question above, no, they don’t need to be in the water all the time. However, they do need plenty of water in their tanks.

Is it legal to collect red-eared slider turtles?

Collecting turtles from the wild may not be legal where you live. Because turtles produce relatively few eggs each year, the removal of an egg-laying adult female could be incredibly damaging to the success of wild populations. However, where red-eared slider turtles are not native, it may still be legal to collect them as pets.

What to do if your slider turtle gets wet?

Keep in mind the fact that your slider breathes air, not water. So don’t bring one home in a container of water, where they could drown. Instead, simply place your turtle inside a small shoebox or plastic containe r that has been lined with a slightly wet material, such as dampened paper towels or shredded newspaper.