In 1975, red-eared slider turtles with shells measuring less than four inches were banned in the United States because they were found to be a major source of human salmonella infections, especially in children.
Children tended to put their hands in their mouths after handling their pet turtles or even giving their pet turtle a kiss.
For many years, these small turtles were sold in pet shops, and their habitats were a kidney-shaped enclosure with a plastic palm tree in the middle for the turtle to sun themselves, called a “turtle lagoon.”
Many readers will remember their beloved pet turtles and their turtle lagoons.
Red-eared sliders are a non-native species. In California it is illegal to release them into the wild.
They tend to out-compete native turtles — such as the Southwestern pond turtles found here in Los Padres National Forest — for food, sites to lay their eggs, and areas to bask in due to the limited habitat and resources found in the wild.
You can buy red-eared sliders that are larger than four inches at most pet stores. If you plan to keep your turtle indoors, you will need a spacious tank with 10 gallons of water per inch of the turtle’s shell. Remember, turtles need good water quality, an area allowing them to bask and have UVB lighting.
Be cautious of the “turtle tanks” sold on Amazon as they are ridiculously small, way too small for a baby turtle.
Red-eared turtles typically need a large tank, minimally 75 to 125 gallons for an adult turtle.
Turtles outgrow a 20- to 40-gallon tank very quickly. A turtle needs to swim three to four body lengths before turning around.
Red-eared turtles are cold-blooded, which means they rely on external heat sources such as UVB light and natural sunlight to warm them up and for vital bodily functions for at least two hours a day.
Providing your turtles with many basking areas at different heights lets them warm up and get to the surface easily for air.
Here in Santa Barbara, red-eared sliders are often kept in people’s homemade ponds. They love to swim, dig and bask in the sun.
They are omnivores, meaning they eat small animal prey such as fish and edible plants. They will feed on mosquito larvae and insects, so your turtle will reduce your mosquito bites and nuisance bugs.
In captivity, they feed on aquatic plants, small fish, turtle pellets, inexpensive cat kibble, leafy greens, carrot tops, squash, green beans, crickets, earthworms and fruits (apples, berries and melon).
Clients have often asked me why their turtle came out of their pond and “ran away.” This is a big concern, not only for the turtles getting injured but because they are non-native and may lend up in the local creek.
Typically, they leave their ponds trying to escape poor quality of water, or water that is too hot or too cold, predators, looking for food, looking for a mate and/or laying eggs. Female turtles make nesting sites on land and lay their eggs on land.
Because they are non-native, be sure your pond has physical barriers, such as rock barriers with vertical faces a few inches above the water line so the turtle cannot climb out.
An overhanging ledge around your pond made from rocks and/or treated lumber prevents them from climbing out, too.
Another option is a fence around the pond buried at least a foot deep so they cannot dig under it and at least one or two feet above the ground with a smooth vertical surface so they cannot climb over.
Also, be sure your turtles are out of reach of your playful dog.
Red-eared sliders are diurnal, which means they are most active during the day. They are fun to watch in your pond and will bring you hours of enjoyment.
They have a good life in an outdoor pond. They also are funny to watch with their little heads poking out of the water while they swim.
They may also recognize the person who feeds them and approach you, but typically they do not like to be “pet.”