Secrets to Caring For a Baby Red Eared Slider

Baby Red Eared Sliders Are Equipped For Survival

Baby red eared sliders are born with most of the tools necessary for their survival. Most turtles lay their eggs and then abandon the nest, leaving the newly hatched turtles to fend for themselves. As such, millions of years of evolution have equipped your baby turtle to survive. However, this is not an excuse not to put the effort into making sure your baby red eared slider is safe and healthy. Remember that in the wild most baby turtles don't make it, so it's up to you to give them the support and comfort they need.

Feeding Your Baby Red Eared Slider

What to feed your turtle is an important consideration. You'll find food specific to your turtle at most pet food stores. Babies can also be fed dried krill or small insects. Although most turtles tend to become more herbivorous as they mature, baby turtles tend to have a diet higher in animal products. In addition to commercial turtle food, young turtles can also eat leafy greens and aquatic plants, although these are not enough alone. A good mixture of commercial food, animal products and vegetation seems to be the best mix for your turtle.

Housing Your Baby Red Eared Slider

Housing baby red eared sliders can be expensive. You will need several items to get started. An aquarium or tank is the first thing. As a general rule, you should have ten gallons of water for every inch of your turtle. For example, a seven inch turtle would require a seventy gallon tank. Remember that your turtle can grow to 12 to 14 inches when fully mature. As such, you should start with a minimum twenty gallon tank. But realize that your turtle will quickly outgrow that and you'll need to adjust. You will also need materials for "land" in your tank. Although red eared sliders are aquatic turtles, they cannot breath under water and you will need to have a "land" area for them to rest and bask. You will also need heat lamps and a way to clean and filter the water in the tank.