Both Red Eared sliders and Yellow Bellied sliders are medium to large sized turtles capable of reaching lengths of up to 9" in males and up to 12" in females. As sliders mature they typically develop darker colouration with more subdued shell patterns. With proper care they should live for at least 15 years, and may live up to 25 years.
Sliders live in diverse habitats ranging from barren ponds and mud holes to lakes and large rivers, although they prefer quiet water, soft substrate, abundant aquatic vegetation and dry basking areas.
Sliders are the highest volume bred pet turtle in the world and are often sold to people who believe they won't grow much bigger than a couple of inches. Therefore, they are also the most dumped species of turtle, endangering native populations and disrupting balanced ecosystems. Australia has outlawed them from the pet trade because of this. Please do not buy baby turtles unless you are prepared to care for them when they grow up!
Diet
Sliders are predominantly carnivorous as juveniles but become predominantly herbivorous adults. At any age, sliders will gorge on meaty foods making it easy for keepers to overfeed protein. This can cause rapid growth, pyramidal shell, liver and kidney damage and a shortened life span.
Turtles need a low volume, well rounded diet. Use a branded food for 80% of their diet and make the rest up with leafy vegetation such as kale, endive, romaine lettuce and aquatic plants. These can be left in the tank for grazing at will.
Bloodworm, earthworms and krill can be given as treats. After 6 months of age, you should feed your slider every other day. Over time, adjust diet content and frequency accounting for growth, activity level & appetite. While growth rate varies amongst turtles, at 12 months old they should be 2 - 3.5".
Lighting
If you keep your turtle indoors you will need to provide UV-B lighting such as the Arcadia Compact Reptile Bulb for your turtle. Standard tropical lights do not provide UVB light, but they do provide some warmth. UVB light rays are actinic (i.e. they produce a photochemical reaction) allowing sliders to manufacture vitamin D. UVB rays do not penetrate glass very well, so sunlight coming through a window is not sufficient.
Insufficient vitamin D or calcium (usually added to branded turtle food) can, over time, cause soft shell & skeletal disfigurement and death.
Conditions
Air Temperature: 24°C - 29°C
Basking Platform Temperature: 29°C - 34°C
Water Temperature: 22°C -24°C for sub adults & adults. 26°C - 27°C for smaller juveniles.
The above ranges are ideals but bear in mind that sliders are reasonably hardy and keeping water and air temperatures stable is far more important than worrying about exact degrees.
Sliders are not too fussy about pH or water hardness either, making them excellent turtles for a novice keeper.
All sliders will need a basking lamp & bulb, UVB light, basking platform, submersible heater, filter and decent substrate (although there is a certain amount of debate regarding the size and type you should opt for).
Young turtles can thrive in a small glass aquarium until they are 18 months or so. They will need at least 4 inches of water with room to swim, submerged resting areas and a basking platform.
A single adult male should be housed in a 75 gallon, long aquarium (e.g. 3ft x 2ft x 2ft). Adult females need a minimum of 125 gallons (e.g. 4ft x 3ft x 2ft). The water should be at least 12 inches deep with plenty of space for open swimming. Again, submerged resting areas are important as sliders like to stand in the water whilst poking their head above the surface.
When it comes to enclosures, the bigger the better!
For additional sliders, we would recommend you increase the size of the tank by half for each extra inhabitant, so 2 female sliders would need a tank capable of holding 190 gallons. Again, it needs to be long with plenty of room for swimming!
Basking platforms can be made from dirt, sand, gravel, smooth flat rocks, driftwood or anything that will support their weight and is non-abrasive. They should be easily reachable and large enough to offer both a warmer end nearer the heat lamp, and a cooler end for resting without heating up.
Males are prone to harass females and sometimes permanent separation is necessary. As with any species, an individual may be naturally aggressive or a pair incompatible.
Finally
Sliders, like other reptiles, cats, dogs, chickens and farm livestock can transmit Salmonella bacteria, although infection from pets to humans is rare. Children under 5, the elderly and pregnant women are most at risk.
Always practice hygienic pet care to minimise the risk of contracting it. Wash your hands after contact and if you clean your filter or scrub rocks etc. in the same sink you also wash your dishes in, be sure to rinse the sink with bleach afterwards.