Red Eared Sliders are Bad Pets (For most people) - Pet Turtles 

Consider sharing this video somewhere people who don't usually care for reptiles may see... just in case any of them ever run across a teeny tiny turtle and end up with something that outgrows their fishbowl and outlives their entire family.

I got my RES as a baby, my cousin had one that hatched the same day I was born and she is chilling with me right now I love her, we are both 29 years old now

Shit, I've been keeping my red-eared for 18 years, NEVER getting rid of him, he's the best.

I mean my mom tried to release mine while I was at my school Then he came BACK! After 1 week Maybe because he was hungry idont really know now its been 3 years now and he doesn't bite we adopted him after a flood he was standing outside my gate the police actually thought it was ours

I can just see him as a 70 year old man who still has that turtle 😂

I've had a red EAR slider for 35 years AN still REAL healthly

Turtles, tortoises, hermit crabs, bettas, fresh water tropical fish, hamsters, parakeets... Most abused pets in America.

Not to mention, hardly any pet supply company makes a basking dock that is suitable for an adult turtle. Even the extra large sizes are pretty inadequate for an adult slider. Great video!

Those who love thr turtle hit the like button

I got my female red-eared slider when I was 11. We've had our ups and downs, she fell off the balcony on 4th store 18 years ago, her shell broke and she just 'walked it off' like a champ. She's at least 28 this year. I've had her for 25 years and she was an adult when we got her. Best pet ever! She's witty, stubborn, kinda smart - she knows where the doors are, she recognizes her feeding tub (and color red, since the tub is red) get's excited on the sound of splashing water and she hates rocks and she always trolls the cat when she roams. She almost bit my cheek off when I was little and tried to kiss her and she bit off a part of my mum's finger when she failed at feeding her :D

OMG YES. I work in a pet store and since NJ doesn't allow to sell turtles, we just get those customers who already bought them and are looking for food and stuff. When I ask what their setup is they literally have them in mini critter keepers. And when I tell them that they get really big and need a big tank with filtration and lights they look at me like I'm crazy. Like I've had one for over 6 years I know what I'm talking about and it infuriates me when people just buy it and think it'll live in that little shit w nothing else

Thank you for making this video. I rescued a Red eared slider from the little boy that lives across the hall last year. He found it and was keeping it in a Tupperware bowl. :{. I had to do research to learn how to take care of it. They are more work than keeping fish but I love him so much. For me he is the best pet. My dream is to someday build him a pond so he can live a good life outside. Everyone should do their homework and learn about any animal before you take one into your home. That is another life you are caring for and they are counting on you for everything. Animals are not toys they are living beings.

I have a rescued red eared slider, and she may be the best thing that happened in my whole life, keeping her is A PAIN IN THE ASS. People get so offended when I tell them not to buy one. They’re expensive, they need special lighting and heating during the winter, they need good filters, they have a special diet, and they need a lot of space and time. It’s not just something you can just have and keep there. They are A LONG TERM COMMITMENT. If you want a pet turtle, you must _really_ want it and you MUST be sure you can take care of it. It’s not as simple as pet shops make it seem like.

I got my turtle in 2012 and it was the size of a quarter. I didnt know anything about it or what i was getting into. I got it a ten gallon and a filter and basking area. Right now it is in a 30 gallon ready to switch to a 40 gallon with a sump. I have spent about a thousand dollars on my turtle and in the last 6 years. I am about to spend another $1000 on getting her a new tank and sump. All i have to say is i am ready to spend more!

I like them. I've taken some people's big ones before. Definitely people need to imagine the large size. I prepared for that, but not everyone does

The thing I like about this guy is he doesn’t hype his content it’s a plain simple vlog as he tells you facts about the animals I love it his videos are plain is such a good way

I’ve had a red eared slider that has lived in my family filtered pond with koi fish since 01’ All she had for so many years was living in the water 24/7, until two years ago when we put a rock for her to sit on. She, yes she, loves this rock. She’s very good with the fish, she only started eating a fish when the fish was floating (not yet dead) when it was very sick. She doesn’t have special lighting and her shell sheds every spring. She’s wonderful and comes to the side of the pond to eat, she’s quite cool, and I grab her from time to time to hang out on the grass and she and my lab get along great! Love her. So, I don’t know what else I could do for her but she’s very low maintenance and she’s a joy!

Welp i just realised i fekd up

I had two of these and they were amazing! Then I had to go on vacation and my grandma was supposed to watch for them. RIP my friends, I miss you

I got my turtles from a neighbor who hadn't given them any lighting uvb or water conditioning. I almost lost them because of the lack of uvb the kids who had them used to always handle them without care. Because of that now they are scared and always shy away could you please do a video on teaching RES. not to bite or hiss.

I’m so glad I watched this! I was thinking about asking my grandma to get me one of these, thinking that they didn’t get that big and weren’t mobile. Now I know. So when I get one of these I’ll know what to get it

Way to go kid! So glad you took the time to do this video. People too often get pets without doing the homework and it never ends well for the pet. Every pet I have used to be someone else's with the exception of my fish. I have had several that I have taken from people who drug them home from float trips and couldn't care for them. Usually hatch-lings that quit eating. Fortunately they are native to my state so they spend summers in my koi pond and winters in my aquarium until they are big enough to leave. Usually one winter two summers and then one night they leave and go to the nearby creek.

Thank you for really spelling it out for people. They are amazing little buddies for people who have the time, space, money, and know-how but they are definitely not an "easy" pet. It breaks my heart to see them abused, even if unintentionally, by uninformed pet owners. RES are a life long commitment! Hell, my little turtie girl has outlasted 2 marriages 😂

Thank you, Alex. I very much appreciate your knowledge. As I had "inherited" my Aunt's turtle due to her passing. Your insight has helped me make this a healthy RESORT for the Shelled One.

Agreed, most people don't see what comes into the future with their slider. Some girl literally dumped her turtles on me since she couldnt care for them anymore (they were about 3 inches each and living in a 3 gal when I got them). I tried to get them to a bigger tank pronto, and managed to take a 15 gal off of a friend who used to have leopard geckos. Now 15 gal isn't much, but it was definitely more room than that blasted 3 gal that I only use to make water changes now. And so I got them a filter, basking lights, and a heater, and helped cure one of them's shell rot. Now, it's been 3 years, and they're about 6-7 inches each, living in a heated 20 gal (I know I'm gonna need to upgrade them, but my mom won't let me, so I try to let them swim around the pond in the backyard when it's warm out). Just remember that these little turtles live a long while, and they're quite the commitment X3

Hola Turtle Lovers! I host a river turtle sanctuary and sea turtle protection program in Mexico. We have RES and others,some indigenous. While we have a pond and are outdoors,we utilize sun instead of lamps. Just wanted to share a few things learned over the years. Turtles love lettuce,carrots,cucumbers,some cherry tomatoes and some dried unsalted fresh water fish! Also if you have females( short claws,shorter tails) they have to lay,even if they aren't with males or breeding. They like to lay in hard pack dirt that would normally be along sides of river or lakes. This is important to note as it can become a health issue. Please take this into consideration with turtles as pets. Gracias for this informative video,good job amigo!(0)

thank you for this video!! My aunt got me a red-eared slider/yellow-bellied slider for me when my goldfish died a few years ago. However neither she, nor my family, realized how much work a turtle would be, and I have certainly been a neglectful turtle parent, and it is not something I'm proud of. now that I'm home from school, I really plan on giving my buddy a better life!

Wow, what an AMAZING young man, so compassionate and knowledgeable. I will be rescuing a large red eared slider this week and am doing as much research as I possibly can, I know some of the basics, but I'm hoping I can come back here with any questions or concerns I might have. This turtle has lived a dreadful life and I want to do my best to give her EVERYTHING wonderful in this life that she needs. Thank you.

They're cute when you buy them until you realize the cost and needs

I've had my buddy snowy ( I got him as a 9 year old and it was snowing out so i just named him snowy lol) but I've had him for 13-14 years and I will never get rid of him.

Hey all,my turtles are around 1 and a half years old, and now they have a basking light.however,previously, I did not have a uva/uvb light,so they got some shell rot.now that I have a light, will the shell rot cure on its own? Or do I have to apply medication? Pls reply asap. Thanks for reading. :);)

I'm so happy to see a video like yours helping to educate people about these animals and other reptiles. I have 4 turtles, a dragon 2 geckos and a ball python all rescues that were being abused, they all all healthy now but it's been a long road I blame alot of the problem on these pet stores not explaining that that tiny animal is going to get alot bigger and need special care.

I think it's great you're discouraging most from getting these turtles. They simply aren't for everyone, nor are they an expendable novelty. It's very much like getting a parrot/cockatoo. And you're absolutely correct in saying "you're stuck with" the animal. The trick is to figure out if you want to be stuck. We rescued a female red-eared slider who we named Gertie May about 10 years ago. We were novices regarding aquatic turtles (we'd had iguanas before she came along so we at least understood right away her care and housing would be full commitment), but were determined to save this beautiful lady so we educated ourselves promptly, happily invested the money and within a week after getting her she was in turtle paradise. We're not sure how old she is, but our vet and a friend who has raised turtles in the past estimated 20-25 years old at the time. Her shell is a bit over a foot around, and she was suffering some shell rot and was being housed in a 20 gallon tank with a couple inches of filthy water, and nothing else. Yeah. INSANITY. How she survived this, got to be as big as she did never knowing filters, enough space to dive or proper nutrition is beyond me. And we're baffled as to how she maintained such a brilliant social disposition through it all. When we gave her the proper tank (100 gallons) with a filter and beautiful decor, she was utterly overwhelmed. She couldn't contain her excitement or confusion and wouldn't stop exploring and diving with vigor for days...The filter tubes pissed her off at first though (ha!)- she kept attacking them like she was Jaws but eventually accepted their presence. People just do NOT know the investment, commitment and devotion it takes to care for these beautiful animals. We're proud to say Gertie is thriving and is very loved by all of our friends and family. Some of the kids in the neighborhood come visit her when she's out playing in her swimming pool in the back yard in the summer with her rubber duckies and they bring her romaine and other treats. She's a beloved family member and loves her brothers and sisters (we have two dogs, 4 elderly cats, a cockatiel and two doves) and she loves to interact with them. I've also taken her to a couple local elementary schools for their science classes on occasion. The kids loved meeting her, getting to pet her shell and in general learning about turtles. But I must say that over the years many people have expressed interest in getting a turtle like her, and as flattering as Gertie's inspiration is, we've strong cautioned and/or discouraged those who've mentioned wanting one themselves and as to what's all involved. People just do not realize the gravity of it, or even the fact when you have an animal like this...you have to literally put provisions in your will for them in case something happens to you, which we've done. Be smart about getting any animal. Educate yourself, and make well thought decisions before acquiring them- especially those like Gertie. :)

Yeah when I get interested in a type of snake or other reptile I like to learn a little bit of what their temperament is, how big they get and how much space they need. Then if I am still interested i will do even more research. If I decide I do want one, I try to hold one in person before getting it. I did that for Kenyan sand boas, I really want one now and have everything planned out. I found out about Kenyans from one of Alex's videos and fell in love

Hi, I had a situation here. My turtle just recently had something sticking out from the rear end, what can I do, maybe prolapse of some sort? I had my turtle for over 10 years already.

My aunt rescued my red eared slider a year and a half ago and I and a week later she gave it to me and my care has constantly improved for her. I'm am also proud we rescued it instead of buying one. My aunt has a pool and she also lives on a ranch so there is a pond some what close to the pool and she saved the baby turtle from getting stuck in the pool filter.

Red Eared Sliders have so much personality!! My family has had one for years and we love her :)

I have 2, and they are very tidious to take care of and are very large, but I do think they are worth keeping if you can properly take care of them.

When you hold it like this, does it urinate on your hand? Mine sometimes did, especially after staying in the water and having a big meal.

My red eared slider has black and white marks on its shell. If i buy a uvb light would it remove the marks eventually or do i have to remove it MANUALLY?

I've had my red ear slider turtle for 6 years, I saved him for my mom's salt water pool and dog. We had a really bad flood that year and the turtles started to come out of the bayou 2 houses down, he was about an 1 wide. He went into my mom's salt water pool and the dogs seen him and went after him, they ripped his right back leg off. I took him to the vet. Now 6 years later I still have him and care for him.

"Can you calm down a little? Please...?" Lmao, love you Alex! Thanks for the informational vids, man. Really appreciate it.

the shot of the baby turtle on the big turtle was precious

I have one of those and its around 7 to 8 years old, he has variation in food (3 to 4 pellets 5 days a week and fruit or berries the other 2) and a light (its a normal lamp we bought, not anything special) but the thing is that he has lived in a 15 gallon tank for some years now and he is only around 3/3.5 inches, is it because of the tank or the light that he is that small? Or is that normal? Should I move him to a bigger tank?

I’m not rich my mom makes 29k a year but we care for reptiles I have a red rated slider I had for 9 years and we keeps her in a 40 gallon tank bcuz that’s what we can afford atm we have lights that they need. A heated rock and a filter

Best video to watch before buying one of these as a pet. 👍

So my wife and I were driving and one of these was literally sitting in the road. We picked it up to keep it from getting hit and Ive been taking care of it for a bout a week. Its about 8 inches long. Im trying to think of what I can do with it. not sure if i can afford an 80 gallon tank. I live in AZ? Is it safe for to release it to a pond or lake somewhere nearby. AZ gets HOTTT in the summers.

I happen to own red eared sliders. Had them for over 15 years, but you are right though, I had no idea what I was getting into, but I quickly came up to speed and learned to take care of them.

Hello, and thank your for this informational video. A student of mine (8th grader) just asked if our classroom would take a red slider. Before giving it much consideration, I agreed. So the turtle is moving in to the class in 4 days. There is a 55 gal tank in the room, but it is not quite ready. With your video and some other research that I have done, I am thinking that maybe my choice to take the turtle was a mistake. I am afraid to disappoint the student and renege on the agreement, but I fear that I won't be able to care for it over the summer or in the years to come. If I do attempt to take on this challenge, I feel ill equipped. I still don't know how to properly supply the basic aquarium in the classroom with a proper habitat. I will have to pay out of pocket for everything. Do you have any more resources that might help me out? Such as how to cheaply build a filter, or just ways to keep the costs down? Thanks so much.

I have a red eared slider named Clark and I love him so much like my dogs and cats. I will never release him. He is like my kid lol

Honestly hand on heart, you are the most honest genuine person to speak to about reptile care, you say the truth, even if it's something we don't want to hear but you are as raw and open as can be, fully respect your attitude buddy, if I need any advice I sure know where to come much love from Hampshire near London UK

My 5 year old and I have a Stinkpot turtle instead of the slider do to some of the reasons you said. We love your channel and thank you for trying to say the things everyone things but doesn't want to say. Alex you are awesome and thank you for sharing your love of reptiles with us.

Great video dude!! I ADORE my RES so so much, but I realize they arent for everyone. :/ I did take her from someone I found on OfferUp (imstead of buying from a breeder). He was keeping an 8-inch turtle in a 20 gallon tank with no lighting, heat, or out of water area. They didn't feed her anything except spinach three times a week. Thankfully I had her checked out by my exotic vet and she is mostly okay aside from a tiny bit of shell rot (thats gone now). Makes me happy to provide her with everything she needs for a long healthy life.

Ive been keeping my red eared slider -turtle since i was 4 now its 20 years old

Hey, I'm looking to get one and I have some questions! If I'm getting a red eared slider at the stage of a hatchling how long can it stay in a 10 gallon tank? And do u have any filter ideas? I need a cheap filter if possible

Thank you for this. I know someone who just found a big one in the backyard. And 'who' knows how poor thing got there. ??This is very informative. These beautiful guys are a commitment, and need love and care.

I used so have water turtles but I prefer land tortoises so much better now because they are easier to clean and care for than your basic painted turtle or RES. I would recommend a Russian tortoise instead for many people.

Do one of these on hermit crabs spread the real news.

Can i ask a question is it okay for me to put mine in a pond and also is it okay to ceep it in the pond

I have 2 turtles, a yellow bellied slider and a Floridian eastern mid turtle when it’s sunny I let them out I put a box with water in the garden I put them in it then I let them into the garden on the grass is it bad? Because I’ve been told the sunlight helps their shells.

I had to give mine away because of house reasons but if I didn’t give them away I would still have them Andy I know their still aliveness because I see them monthly at the store I gave them too

Horrible pets, i have 3 that i love to death but you shouldnt get them

Great vid! I have a pond that has 13 plus red ear sliders. Along with bass and other fish. Was saw a small baby turtle years back here. They sun on the banks and we watch from a long distance using our binoculars. Else the slide into the water fast. Lol! Fun to watch. With their heads out of the pond floating taking a breathing break. We enjoy them all!!!

So I rescued a turtle in the middle of the street and he was bleeding a few days ago. But now he seems fine. And I want to release him near the area where I found him. But I’m not quite sure if that would be safe since he was clearly hit by a bike or something. Do you think it would be safe to release him back to the wild?

I just got one on the street I’m worried

Mine always bite and looks aggresive.

Ok so i am exactly the guy u describe, I was walking down the street some people were selling some baby turtles and they told me they only grow the size of there environment , I believed them cuz I don’t know any better I bout 4 and I don’t have any lights or heater I will be able to get some in two weeks when I get paid but I’m wondering if they will last that long ? I’m needing some help with this cuz I’m gonna keep them so do u think two weeks will be fine with no lights or heater ?

I have a red eared slider ,and tbh i am scared touching it , pls do u have.any tips??? And i am feed them with pellets am i wrong???

My red eared is is the best i love him he is spoiled

me: i love how much im learning about turtle also me: IS THAT AN ODD ONES OUT PLUSH IN THE BACK

Absolutely amazing info!! This will totally clear things up for some people. Great vid!

Do you have any videos on their set up ? I’m having such a hard time building a healthy set up for mine. I have two little babies my dad found in an abandoned apartment. There’s not much info on caring for them and having a hard time finding a way for them to be able to bask being so small with such large rocks. I had them in a 10 gall not full of water obvs but a good amount and they seemed terrifed and stopped eating (could be from being stuck in a tiny plastic Tupperware for who knows how long) I put way less water and now they seem okay started to bask under the lamps. I’m so confused about the water to tank ratio I need help lol.

My cousin had one in a 5 g aquarium. When they left the room, I stole it. 🤭🤫😬

Owning Red Eared Sliders is illegal where I live (Ohio) unless you have a permit- so it's sad to see people here buying them illegally and not knowing how to care for them ;; EDIT: or not having the right legal requirements to own one, which isn't good either. not saying all- but a lot of people

can i keep my yelow bellied slider in an 80 gallon or is that to small

So how do I get rid of shell rot also I gotten my turtle from the perstore 3 years ago and But I also just gotten a quarter size yellow belly hatchling and the bigger turtle keeps trying to eat the baby

They are good pets not bad pets

At first I really wanted them. Then I did saw some real adult ones and I was like NOPE

Bro can u tell me what all thing are needed like the lamp etc for ared yeared slider

Bro my red ear slider has that yellow dry coat like thing on his shell what can i do? pls help

wasup

Excuse me?!?! I have 6 red eared sliders and they are the most walled behaved and innocent pets I've ever had!!!🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢😡😡😡😡😡😡 they are all mad now.

Thank you , i have had him for about 4 years now. This video has helped!

Hi, will you take in 2 older red ear sliders?

Hi I have a red rated slider at my house and she’s about 9 months old we have her in a 20 gallon tank and we usually feed her pellets but we don’t know if we should start feeding her meal worms or not can I get some advice on what we should feed her?

I have two turtles in the same tank. One is larger than the other but approximately the same age. Larger turtle as dry rot on his shell. I treated him for 14 days with iodine and it did not help. It seems to be getting worse. I have heating lamps and the specific Turtle lights. Not sure how to get rid of the dry rot? And why does the larger turtle have dry rot and the little turtle does not? They both bask Under The Lights.

I actually just got a baby red eared slider and he's living in an 80 gal tank that I've had laying around would that last him a great portion of his life?

ive had a red eared slider for about 4 years, we got him when he was a juvie (not completely a baby but still small) and we have him in this small 20 gallon tank because we could never afford more for him but now we're getting him a little mini pond to live in with some live plants (safe of course), and i've done a huge amount of research. we got him on a impulse buy at the time and did not know how much care he needed but now that we have more money, we're working on giving him a better life

Great video, we rehomed two a few years ago after doing the research on what it would take. They’re pretty chilled, but hate being cleaned out because they never remember the water will come back 😂😂

great video alex. very helpful. i hope that people take your advice. I just adopted 5 for my san diego pond after our 14 yr old red eared slider took off and never returned.

Can you do a video on your setup. I'm trying to switch from a tank to a tub. I feel like it would provide more space for my turtles but I'm not sure which direction to go.

So laid back yet so very intuitive..nice video 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Hey i have a 9 year old slider that i got when it was very tiny for my birthday when i was 3 and i love her she shows when she's mad or happy with me its awesome

is it ok that my turtle has room temperature water i give him warm water but it gets really chilly in my apt does that affect my turtle??

Great video. I love my RES, Chubby. I've had her for 20 years and she's still going strong! I take her to the vet 1x a year (unless she looks ill) and so far so good. They are wonderful, relatively low maintenance pets but you MUST be ready for a lifelong commitment.

I found one recently and have spent some money into it. Trying to find any rescuers in south texas?

So are plastic straws a good diet? My buddy is 5 years old and he loves them he’s thriving

I bought some when I was in middle school and 15 years later they've come back around the family to me. Thanks for the video 😂❤️ they are loved but I wouldn't choose them if I would've known

Thank you for making this! I was one of those people who did not know what it took to take care of a RES. I didn't have much choice because I got Squirtle when I was 6 and she was the size of a silver dollar. I just loved turtles and my parents did not know much about them and were told they make good pets for kids. Fast forward 15 years and Squirtle's shell is nearly a foot long and we are struggling to keep getting aquariums big enough. She was even too big for any floating dock I could find. We always had decent lighting and food, but I do not think we ever gave Squirtle the life she deserved. After realizing this, we contacted our family friend who cares for reptiles. He took Squirtle and let her go in a small sanctuary nearby where they take in turtles people can't care for anymore. I always tell my friends now not to get these turtles. I wish I would have known before! I have so much regret knowing this poor turtle was probably suffering a lot.

Are pellets ok to give them as their only food source and sometimes lettuce? How is it possible to get a tank that can self-clean for them? Changing their tank is starting to be every three days. Also where would be a great source to read up?