Hobbies And Interests
In The Wild
The red-eared slider is an aquatic species of turtle. Humans are most likely to come across sliders in local ponds or marshes as the turtles prefer sluggish waters to rivers or lakes. Like most reptiles, the cold-blooded sliders need access to dry land in order to bask in the sun, which speeds up their metabolism.
Domesticated Turtles
Many pet owners underestimate the level of care required to look after a red-eared slider. As an aquatic animal, sliders require large tanks of water. Sliders can grow as large as 12 inches in length, which requires a 120 gallon tank. In addition, it's essential to provide a dry area for the turtle to bathe and a UV light lamp if the turtle is kept indoors. Depending on local weather patterns, the turtle may need a box to hibernate in for the winter.
Location
The highest concentration of red-eared sliders is along the Mississippi River and in and around the larger rivers in southern Iowa. Naturally-occurring populations have also been found in Illinois, Mexico, Texas and along the East Coast. In general, sliders prefer hot and humid conditions in the southern states.
Other Habitats
In the 1960s and '70s, many owners abandoned their pet turtles into the wild, meaning that the red-eared slider populations now exist in many northern states, far away from their natural habitat. These sliders can endanger other species of turtle native to the local area as they compete for the same food sources and territory. Sliders in these areas of the country have learned to hibernate during the cold winter months by burrowing down into the earth.