Red-eared sliders (also called red-eared terrapins) have been the most popular and commonly kept pet turtle for decades. They are the original dime-store turtle—until the Federal Government banned the sale of babies and juveniles smaller than 4 inches due to salmonella concerns in 1975, that is.
The red-eared slider is a subspecies of the pond slider, and as such doesn’t have its own recognized subspecies.
While most people may think of red-eared sliders as being small turtles, they can actually grow to almost two feet in length with proper housing and care! Adult males have longer tails than females and display distinct sword-like front claws, but females will grow to a larger size than their male counterparts.
On average, male red-eared sliders grow to be about 7.9 inches (20 cm) and females to about 11 inches (28 cm).
Red-eared sliders can be especially long-lived, enjoying a lifespan of well over twenty years. The oldest recorded captive red-eared slider lived to be forty-one years old! In many cases, pet red-eared sliders are even passed down in families from generation to generation.
Red-eared sliders are quite attractive and rather flat turtles, with disc-shaped round carapaces (shells) in bright greens with thin yellow striping or blotches. They have yellowish underbellies and green skin, with yellow stripes or dots on their legs and faces.
Red-eared sliders get their name from the red spot or wide red stripe that’s found behind each eye. There are other types of turtles that look similar to the red-eared slider but which are lacking the red “ear.” The patterning of red-eared sliders begins a bright green but can stretch, darken, and fade as the animal grows and ages.
Another interesting fact about red-eared sliders is that, unlike other turtles, when they withdraw into their shells they are unable to seal off their shell entirely, leaving them vulnerable. So, in order to avoid predators they rely more on diving into deep water.
As a red eared slider owner, you may be curious about whether your pet turtle is male or female Knowing the gender of your turtle can help with naming, breeding, identifying egg-laying behaviors, reducing aggression from territorial males, and more. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to identify the sex of your red eared slider.
When Do Red Eared Sliders Reach Sexual Maturity?
Red eared sliders reach sexual maturity at different ages depending on their gender
- Males reach maturity between 2-5 years old when they are about 4 inches long.
- Females reach maturity between 5-7 years old when they are about 7 inches long.
This means you can begin identifying gender in young red eared sliders, but the differences become more pronounced once they are mature adults.
6 Ways To Tell If Your Red Eared Slider Is Male Or Female
Here are the most reliable methods for sexing a red eared slider turtle:
1. Check The Tail Length And Thickness
This is the easiest way for beginners to identify gender.
- Females have short, thin tails.
- Males have longer, thicker tails. The male’s cloaca (vent) is also closer to the end of the tail.
However, be aware that tail nibbling can make some females appear to have shorter tails. Examine the tail closely to ensure it hasn’t been nibbled or damaged.
2. Look At The Shell Shape
Examining the plastron (bottom shell) shape is another simple way to identify gender.
- Females have flat plastrons.
- Males have curved concave plastrons to fit onto the female’s back during mating.
3. Compare The Size
Mature female red eared sliders are significantly larger than males.
- Females reach 10-14 inches long.
- Males reach 8-10 inches long.
If two same-age turtles are different sizes, the larger one is likely the female.
4. Check The Claw Length
Males develop longer front claws than females as they mature.
- Male claws are elongated to grip the female during mating.
- Female claws remain short and stubby.
5. Examine The Cloaca Position
As mentioned above, the male’s cloaca is positioned farther down the tail than the female’s. This facilitates mating.
6. Note Any Color Changes
Mature males tend to get darker than females, sometimes even turning nearly black. This is more useful for identifying gender in older red eared sliders.
Caring For Male vs Female Red Eared Sliders
Caring for male and female red eared sliders is mostly the same, with just a few differences:
- Females may lay infertile eggs even without a male present. Provide an adequate nesting site with damp soil.
- Females eat slightly more than males since they are larger.
- Males are sometimes territorial/aggressive toward other males. Provide ample space and basking areas if housing males together.
Determining the gender of your red eared slider is straightforward once you know what to look for. Focus on tail length, shell shape, size, claw length, cloaca position, and coloration. These visible characteristics make sexing red eared sliders easy for both novice and experienced turtle owners.
Red-Eared Slider Care Level
Because of their specific needs, keeping requirements, and long lives, red-eared sliders are recommended for intermediate to advanced herpetoculturists. However, if you’re interested in the animal and dedicated to providing the right kind of care for great lengths of time, beginning herpetoculturists can successfully raise red-eared sliders.
When deciding on a red-eared slider, or any other semi-aquatic or aquatic turtle, you must plan ahead and prepare for your pet before bringing it home. Any water turtle is generally much more difficult to care for since its environment strongly influences its health.
Red-eared sliders are hearty omnivores, but they have to be nice and warm in order to feed. The ideal water temperature for sliders to feed in is somewhere in the upper 70s (24-26 degrees Celsius). It is important that you vary your red-eared slider’s diet, feeding it a mix of vegetables, insects, meat, fish, and earthworms.
When you purchase your pet slider, ask questions of the seller to familiarize yourself with its usual food items. Oftentimes, turtles’ diets vary according to their local environments.
Always feed your pet slider a nutritionally rich diet and avoid food items that have little to no nutritional value, like iceberg lettuce. Above all, remember to provide variety.Even if an individual turtle shows preference to a certain type of food, don’t allow it to become fixated. It’s the variety of foods that will give your turtle a complete and balanced diet.
Supplementing your red-eared slider’s diet with commercial turtle food and trout chow is a wise idea since it is fortified with the vitamins and minerals required for the turtle’s long-term health.
Be aware that if your turtle is new to commercial turtle food, it may take a period of acclimation before the turtle starts eating it. If you keep multiple red-eared sliders and feed them all together, keep an eye during feeding time and separate them if they nip at each other.
Feed young red-eared sliders daily, but only as much as they will eat in a few minutes. Adult red-eared sliders should not be fed daily; limit feedings to once every second or third day. Overfed red-eared sliders will become fat and unable to lift their head and limbs. Since red-eared sliders are aquatic turtles and feedings can get messy, feed your turtles individually in a separate container to prevent bits of food from clouding up the water if possible. Most hobbyists feed the turtles their dry food on a platform or ledge
Like all turtles, there is the danger of salmonella when housing red-eared sliders. Proper hygiene and hand washing should always be practiced. Aside from concerns related to salmonella, there are several other health issues common to the red-eared slider. These are outlined below, but we recommend always taking your pet turtle to the herp vet if they show signs of sickness. Though no vaccinations are required, it may be wise to bring your pet turtle to the vet initially for guidance, and yearly for examinations.
Dietary issues are a major source of illness in pet turtles, and in most cases they boil down to the animal becoming fixated on one food item in particular. This is why a varied diet is so important, as well as periodically supplementing your pet’s diet with calcium in the form of a calcium block. Without proper sunlight and a calcium-containing diet, your turtle can easily get metabolic bone disease. Signs include a soft shell, twitching, and bone fractures. Another supplement you’ll need to provide if your turtles are indoor turtles is Vitamin D3, necessary for proper bone development and maintenance.
Incidental infections and parasite infections are the second most prevalent health issue seen in red-eared sliders. The good news is that these can both be almost entirely eliminated with careful monitoring of the turtle and its environment. This includes regular, thorough cleanings of the habitat, regular water changes, quarantining any new animals as they arrive, and weighing the turtle regularly. If you spot any parasites in your turtle’s fecal matter or in the water of the tank, consult your veterinarian for the right prescription treatment. Remember that parasites are usually microscopic, so don’t just assume that they are not present.
Signs of respiratory infections include bubbles from the turtle’s nose, sudden loss of appetite, an inability to swim properly, and difficulty breathing.
Finally, there are injuries related to improper cage design and possible aggressive interactions with other turtles. Examine your turtles regularly for signs of injury. If there is an extensive injury or if you aren’t sure what exactly is ailing your turtle, seek veterinary help at once.
Red-eared sliders are friendly—for turtles. They have shown levels of intelligence and owner recognition, and will frequently greet their keeper during feeding time, sometimes even eating out of the palm of their hand. Red-eared sliders aren’t aggressive with people, but they will bite if scared or handled roughly. And don’t forget about their claws, which can easily inflict cuts and scratches. Their nails can be cut, but just as with dogs and cats, be careful of the blood vessel in each nail.
Red-Eared Slider Habitat and History
Red-eared sliders are native to North America, where they spend their days lounging on the banks of the Mississippi River and other permanent, slow-moving bodies of water. They love to sun on rocks and logs and hide from predators by diving deep into the water. They are also widely distributed in the American southwest and parts of Mexico.
Red-eared sliders are immensely popular, but due to large numbers of them being released into the wild by overwhelmed pet owners, they are considered an invasive species in much of the United States.
This article was verified and edited for accuracy by Dr. Adam Denish, VMD.
How to Differentiate Male and Female Red Eared Slider Turtles
FAQ
How can I tell if my red-eared slider is male or female?
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Tail:
- Males: Have longer, thicker tails with the cloaca (the opening for waste and reproductive organs) extending further down the tail.
- Females: Have shorter, thinner tails with the cloaca closer to the base of the tail.
- Males: Have longer, thicker tails with the cloaca (the opening for waste and reproductive organs) extending further down the tail.
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Claws:
- Males: Possess noticeably longer, sword-like front claws.
- Females: Have shorter, more rounded front claws.
- Males: Possess noticeably longer, sword-like front claws.
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Plastron (Bottom Shell):
- Males: May have a slightly concave (curved inward) plastron, which helps them grip the female’s carapace during mating.
- Females: Have a flatter plastron.
- Males: May have a slightly concave (curved inward) plastron, which helps them grip the female’s carapace during mating.
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Size:
- Females: Generally grow larger than males.
- Males: Typically reach a smaller size than females.
- Females: Generally grow larger than males.
How to tell the gender of turtles?
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Males:Possess longer, thicker tails with the cloaca (vent) positioned further down the tail.
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Females:Have shorter, thinner tails with the cloaca closer to the base of the tail.
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Male sea turtles develop a long tail that extends past the hind flippers, while females have a shorter tail.
Do red-eared sliders recognize their owner?
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Learned Behavior:Red-eared sliders, like many animals, can learn to recognize their owners by sight and sound.
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Positive Association:They often associate their owners with food and care, leading them to swim towards their owner when they approach the tank or call their name.
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Subtle Interactions:While they may not greet their owners with “affection” in the way a dog might, they can show signs of recognition and engagement, such as swimming towards you or basking near you.
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Bonding Takes Time:Building a bond with a red-eared slider requires patience and consistent interaction, spending time near their tank, talking to them, and creating a routine.
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Not a High-Interaction Pet:Red-eared sliders are not known for being highly interactive pets, but they can still form a bond with their owners through positive interactions and consistent care.