Oct 14, 2012 my turtle red eared slider fell out of her tank last week. Red eared slider illnesses and injury like cats, dogs, and all other pets, red eared sliders have a litany of health conditions which can coming up in the course of their life. Some types of shell and skin disease can develop due to inadequate nutrition or injury. Mild cases can be treated at home with chlorhexidine cleanings, dry. Here is how to clean a redeared sliders turtle shell. How bad does red eared slider shell rot have to be to kill my turtle. Sh ell rot is the common way to say a turtle has an infection of its shell, which can be secondary to damage or poor husbandry. So i discovered this turtle at a persons house when visiting with a friend, a red eared slider.
Just like humans, turtles need to eat healthily, and the redeared slider is no exception. Aug 12, 2014 this is my red eared slider turtle tank that i designed for my one turtle, koopa. Why cracked shell condition happens to a red eared slider. If your turtle has had a previous illness, infection, injury or improper habitat, it is. The tank itself is 10 gallons, which is a good size for young turtles. The minimum enclosure size for hatchling reeared slider should be a 20gallon aquarium. A general guideline is to find the adult size of your turtle and multiply the turtles adult length by 5.
Just like humans, turtles need to eat healthily, and the red eared slider is no exception. A veterinary specialist trained to treat exotic pets like aquatic turtles will be able to supplement any baby red eared slider care sheet you have already received, help you begin to build a health record and history for your baby turtle and give you specific recommendations about diet, supplements, turtle tank setup and much more. So if your turtles are even half that size that means that you need a 100 gallon aquarium. Fungal infections fungal infections are fairly common among redeared sliders, especially younger ones. For the cracked shell i have a suggestion that may not work for you. If your turtle has had a previous illness, infection, injury or improper habitat, it is possible that is has developed into septicemia. Hi, i have a res and a florida soft shelled turtle. They seem ok, loving the clean water, new filter system, seem to eat ok, loving the sun they on deck waiting for outdoor pond to be finished but im finding a. If you notice black spots on the shell of your red eared slider, there is a possibility the red eared slider has shell rot. I generally pick whatever foreign material i can discover out with bayonet or ear forceps. Nonnative species during this covid19 pandemic, ontario turtle conservation centre is permitted to continue caring for the turtles at the centre and also for injured turtles brought to the centre. Necessary emergency supplies for your red eared slider. While they are mostly aquatic, these diurnal turtles also enjoy a dry, warm place where they can climb out and bask under a heat light.
Compared to other aquarium creatures, redeared sliders require a relatively large amount of space. Baby red eared slider turtles for sale underground reptiles. Although these are serious injuries, the shell is bone and can be repaired. Id suggest a bigger variety to what your feeding your turtle though. I keep them both in the same tank and they dont seem to have any problems with eachother. Make sure the shell is clean and isnt cracked, missing scutes plates or has any signs of infection. Things to remember when feeding your redeared slider.
Fixing a turtles broken shell requires veterinary assistance to ensure the wound. If the shell rot breaches the shell, bacteria can enter the blood and cause a septicemia. The daytime ambient air temperature in the tank should be between 75 and 80 degrees fahrenheit, with a basking spot between. Plan on a tank size of 10 gallons of water per inch of the turtle as a general rule of thumb, with a minimum size of a 20gallon for hatchling redeared sliders. The best red eared slider tank in the world turtleholic. Recently hatched res will have a slightly soft carapace that is a lighter green shade. If your red eared slider falls on hisher shell from a considerable height, there is a high possibility of shell cracking. Since it can be difficult to look into a reluctant turtles mouth, a visit to the appropriate vet is recommended to get the correct treatment. Wide ranging turtle living in a variety of climates but sticking to slow moving rivers, humid habitats, and hot temperatures. Using a plastic tub, kiddie wading pool, waterland tub, or pond would be much more practical and easy to deal with. I just got my red ear slider and geographic map turtle they are in good. Box turtles are excellent escape artists, and if yours escapes from a habitat you have set on a table, he could fall onto the floor and crack his shell. They naturally range from from the southcentral to southeastern u. Numerous studies provide evidence that redeared slider turtles can outcompete native turtles for food and nesting and basking sites.
The ultimate guide to caring for a baby red ear slider turtle. Shell problems can be quite serious, especially in baby turtles. This can make your redeared slider prone to infection or even lead to internal problems. If your turtle has a cracked shell, it needs to go to a vet. I have a baby red eared slider and i think he has shell rot. Wild turtles generally present dehydrated and in poor body condition with a mosscovered malodorous shell.
Another pet may attack and hurt your turtle, a child could open the turtles tank and drop the turtle, or any number of awful circumstances. The general recommendation for tank size, which no doubt youve read, is as follows. Size appropriately sized habitat, at least a 40 gallon breeder tank with a screened lid so the turtle cant escape. You can donate and support this wonderful wildlife rescue at. The filter wasnt running and the room was cold, and he didnt have a basking area, just a small led light that was broken. Shell problems now can impact the turtle for the rest of its life, so its not something to take lightly. Jul 07, 2008 the following are some of the most common medical problems among redeared sliders. Turtle tank 29 gallon setup for redeared slider youtube. If a car or any massive force hits your turtle, hisher shell can get cracked.
Though many such issues are a result of improper food or housing, sometimes the unexpected happens. How to fix shell rot in red eared sliders tiny underwater. In truth, a tank is not a practical or usually appropriate enclosure for a turtle. Keep in mind that redeared sliders can grow to be 10 to 12 inches as adults, so its likely that youll eventually need a very large tank. It was small and was literally sitting in a cracked, bear bottomed tank with just about two or three inches of dirty water. Red eared slider illnesses and injury exotic petquarters. Product title tetrafauna 20gallon deluxe aquatic turtle tank starter kit average rating. A pleco will become a potential meal itself and contribute to the waste. The redeared slider, also called the redeared terrapin, is an american breed of turtles widely spread across the usa, and is quickly becoming an invasive species in many parts of the world. To make their new pets comfortable, sam and sue are setting up a turtle terrarium. Three main points are responsible for this condition of a red eared slider. Since youre not sure what is wrong with your slider, i would recommend that you take it in to see a herp veterinarian for appropriate diagnostics.
I recently got a turtle at the pet store for free because she is to large to fit in their tank after someone left her there. Redeared slider turtle facts, habitat, diet, pet care. With the right setup, red eared sliders can be pretty easy to take care of. Red eared slider turtles red eared slider for sale petco. The kit includes a screen lid, a heat lamp, a pump and filter, and a large basking area so theres no need to construct one. In captivity they usually accommodate to their humans and will come to the top of the water or side of the tank inquisitively. The ideal water temperature for sliders to feed in is somewhere in the upper 70s 2426 degrees celsius. It is important that you vary your redeared sliders diet, feeding it a mix of vegetables, insects, meat, fish, and. This can make your red eared slider prone to infection or even lead to internal problems.
How to easily clean a red eared sliders turtle shell. In most cases, a red eared turtle survives cracked shell situation if it is not severe. Tetrafauna reptoguard turtle health conditioner 3 count, slowrelease 19514 4. Redeared sliders are hearty omnivores, but they have to be nice and warm in order to feed. A redeared sliders shell is remarkably strong but it can be traumatized. If a red eared slider appears to be in good condition but is kept under poor conditions improper temperatures or lighting, overcrowding, dirty tank, etc. Your tank or aquarium size should be at least 10 gallons per carapace shell length. As a general rule, the water depth should be at least 2 times the turtles length, with several extra inches of air space between the surface of the water to the top edge of the tank to prevent escapes. They also need clean water, so expect to change their water and clean their filters roughly once a week. A variety of problems can arise when you have a red eared slider.
Jul 01, 2008 the minimum enclosure size for hatchling re eared slider should be a 20gallon aquarium. How do you i known if my red eared slider turtles shell is. So in this article, i will explain red eared slider shell problems and how to. Thus, if your slider is 6 inches, you should aim for a minimum 60gallon tank.
Pet turtles tend to have more subtle signs but these can include a red tinge to areas of the shell, slime over the shell, a bad smell, flaking of. The water in a red eared slider turtle tank should be kept at about 7478 degrees fahrenheit, and up to 80 f for hatchlings. Wild redeared sliders often bask in groups, but are fine on their own in captivity. What is the best tank size and configuration for red. May 28, 2019 just like the rest of reptiles, red eared slider shed. Once the scutes on the shell start itching, the shell will clean itself. This problem is most common in aquatic turtles since theyre in and around water often. A cracked shell is a serious health problem for your turtle that requires immediate veterinary attention to repair. Shell rot is the result of bacteria or fungi colonizing wounds in a turtles shell. A healthy turtle is usually active and alert, feels heavy and retracts its head and limbs into its shell when handled. I own a red eared slider and have only just realised that he is shedding. This aquarium kit is designed for turtles, making it a good choice for the best tank for red eared slider. Red ear slider skin and shell looks like its peeling my. As a general rule, the water depth should be at least 2 times the turtle s length, with several extra inches of air space between the surface of the water to the top edge of the tank to prevent escapes.
How to set up a tank for your redeared slider turtle. Turtle fell out of the tank and cracked her shell and is. So not only is your tank too small for one of the turtles but it is too small for even one turtle. A few days of fasting for a healthy turtle should be no problem. The shell of a red ear slider should be hard and relatively smooth. In certain situations, however, you may need to, and in many cases, that is a signal that there is something wrong with your tank or habitat. A good place to start is a commercial turtle diet that will provide adequate nutrition for growth and overall health. The infected area depends on how much the bacteria or fungi have spread. In almost all cases, the best course is to immediately consult a vet. The stress of improper care may make the reptile susceptible to illnesses that might not be. A turtles shell is a critical part of its anatomy, and the shell needs. It is a good idea to plan on having a tank of at least 20 gallons for your baby redeared slider. The daytime ambient air temperature in the tank should be between 75 and 80 degrees fahrenheit, with a basking spot between 90 and 95 f over the land area of the tank. Redear slider turtle, shell with white patches and peeling, advice please just rescued 2 large redear turtles, teenboy owned them they had no sun or lamps, dirty filter, small tank.
The majority of the issues explained here are related to improper housing and diet. Sh ell rot is the common way to say a turtle has an infection of its shell, which can be secondary to damage or poor husbandry wild turtles generally present dehydrated and in poor body condition with a mosscovered malodorous shell. It is a semiaquatic turtle that is the most popular turtle to have as a pet in canada and usa, and maybe some places in europe. Turtles are social animals and can be kept together as long as you provide enough space in their habitat.
Compared to other aquarium creatures, red eared sliders require a relatively large amount of space. Redeared slider turtles are considered a significant threat to native turtle species they mature more quickly, grow larger, produce more offspring and are more aggressive. Make sure the shell is clean and isnt cracked, missing scutes plates or has any signs of infection often seen as shell discoloration or moldy growth. With the right setup, redeared sliders can be pretty easy to take care of. I have large river rocks in my aquarium instead of sand for my fss is. Shell rot is basically the softening and crumbling of a turtle s shell. I took her out of her tank to let her dry and maybe heal.
Explains how to repair a turtle or tortoise with a cracked shell. Nonnative species ontario turtle conservation centre. Because these turtles are coldblooded, they need to come out of water from time to time. You should still place more food than normal, youre turtle doesnt really have to fast. The redeared slider trachemys scripta elegans, also known as the redeared terrapin, redeared slider turtle, redeared turtle, slider turtle, and water slider turtle, is a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family emydidae. I rescued a baby slider a year ago from someones garden which was next to the highway and i raised it until the next spring then released it into a creek because i just couldnt take care of it because i have a 7 inch female red eared slider already and i was constantly changing the babies tank because it got dirty fast because of the. Something your turtle tried to eat may have caused an injury, there may be a vitamin k deficiency or it can be a symptom of mouth rot stomatitis. Both turtles ended up falling out of the tank onto the hard tile floor. Apr 01, 2005 hi, i have a res and a florida soft shelled turtle. Nevermind tank parameters right now this is just a theoretical question. If a redeared slider appears to be in good condition but is kept under poor conditions improper temperatures or lighting, overcrowding, dirty tank, etc. The water in a redeared slider turtle tank should be kept at about 7478 degrees fahrenheit, and up to 80 f for hatchlings.
We are concerned about more than the turtles, of course, and we want to do everything we can to keep everyone safe while caring for them. Whether it is a crack, a hole or missing scutes, this is a complex problem. You can observe these types of defects on the scutes or scutum. You need to figure on 10 gallons of aquarium per every inch of turtle. Redeared slider turtle trachemys scripta elegans petmd. Wild turtles may be found on the side of the road having been hit by a car and they can have serious shell fractures. Even minor cracks may lead to longterm health problems or infection, which may lead to serious illness or death. The redeared slider is also known as a redeared terrapin and its latin name is trachemys scripta elegans. Redeared sliders can grow up to 12 inches in length. It is the most popular pet turtle in the united states and is also popular as a pet across the rest of the world. Considering the total number of turtles and tortoises traded globally, this breed is the most.
If you notice what looks like a light layer of cotton on your sliders shell or eyes or in its mouth, this is most likely some form of fungal infection. The main part of this terrarium is a large plastic box. Since red eared sliders require a high amount of water in their tank at all times, theyre as susceptible to shell rot like any other aquatic turtle. The red eared slider turtle is an omnivorous animal that likes to eat small fish, aquatic vegetation, and even decaying materials in the wild. The stress of improper care may make the reptile susceptible to illnesses that might not be apparent until later when you have the turtle at home. Redeared slider turtle facts, habitat, diet, pet care, pictures. In most cases, you simply arent going to need to clean your redeared slider turtle shell.
Turtle shell peeling is a normal, natural process that all turtle species go through. May 17, 2012 the general recommendation for tank size, which no doubt youve read, is as follows. Red ear sliders are initially carnivorous turtles but they eventually turn mostly herbivorous. If you find a turtle that has been run over, try to find your local wildlife reserve to take it to and they should be able to provide aid there. Choosing a healthy red eared slider the spruce pets. Can redeared slider turtles have tankmates they wont eat. Once the tip of the needle emerges from the underside of the shell, the 18ga wire fits snugly within this needle and the wire can be advanced until it has emerged above the shell and the needle then backed out.
Just like the rest of reptiles, redeared slider shed. If the water in the tank contains high ammonia, the redeared slider may suffer. Redear slider turtle, shell with white patches and peeling. When i make holes in a turtle shell to accommodate a length of 18 ga wire snuggly, i use 1. Fresh, clean, chlorinefree water should be available at all times. The animal will need anesthetic and professional care to ensure it is properly taken care of and no infections form. Anytime your turtle experiences problems with his shell, veterinary.
The back of the shell is called the carapace, and the belly of the shell is called the plastron. A good rule of thumb is that youll need about 10 gallons in tank size per inch of the turtles body length. In my opinion, its best to simply get the biggest tank you can afford as soon as possible, even if your turtle is still a hatchling. The carapace should be dark green and the plastron should be bright yellow. Like repairing a broken shell, treating shell rot usually requires veterinary assistance. Red or pink coloring on shell or skin this coloring on the skin, on or between the scutes, on the carapace or on the plastron can be an indication of septicemia blood poisoning. It is also the most popular breed of pet turtle in the us and is widely kept as pet around the world.
Red ear slider skin and shell looks like its peeling. If your turtle seems to shed constantly, or if you notice cracks in his shell or skin, see a vet. Another pet may attack and hurt your turtle, a child could open the turtles tank. A glass enclosure that has enough water to allow the turtles to swim around a minimum of 10 gallons for every 1. Did you know that the red eared sliders can grow to a full size of 12 inches long. Therefore, you can feed your turtle a variety of foods. Simple and cheap red eared turtle terrarium tank diy youtube. My turtle red eared slider fell out of her tank last.