In the wild, they have been reported to live for 60 to 70 years. As a matter of fact, lifespans in the wild tend to be longer than in captivity. Most red-eared sliders in captivity will live for about 20 years, with some making it to The shorter lives in captivity are usually due to poor care and improper conditions. If you want your red-eared slider to have a long and healthy life, you need to make sure you are caring for them properly.
When it comes to caring for your red-eared slider, you have control over many things that can help them live a longer life. Exercise, nutrition, and habitat all impact the overall health of your turtle. There are also health risks red-eared sliders are susceptible to. Knowing these can help you spot the signs of illness before it becomes a bigger problem.
It may seem silly to say your turtle needs exercise, but they do! Red-eared sliders need access to both land and water areas where they can move freely. The land area can be made of sand or gravel. It should allow them easy access to fresh, clean water. Having access to both gives your turtle plenty of room to exercise and move around. This gives them the mental and physical stimulation they need for optimal health.
Veterinarians recommend that pet turtles be fed a combination of turtle food and leafy greens, such as romaine lettuce, kale, spinach, and other greens. Hi Cameron, We have raised a slider turtle since a hatchling. We keep him very clean, feed him in a separate area and play with him daily.
He is very social and he knows when we get company. He gets all excited and all guests must go over and talk to him. He is totally part of our family. He eats very well and loves to sun himself under his lights.
Your email address will not be published. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Like most animals tortoises need to sleep, but unlike most animals tortoises have a very interesting way of sleeping. Tortoises prefer to sleep in safe spots that will keep them safe from Skip to content.
How the Environment Influences How Long a Red Eared Slider Turtle Lives The environment of a turtle is the area where it lives, and everything that lives in that area, not just the red eared slider turtle. Predators Any animal that wants to catch a turtle and eat it, or do anything harmful to it, can be considered a predator. The Tank The first thing that people provide for their turtle is a place where it can live, and that is usually a tank.
The Basking Area Another essential thing that you have to provide for your turtle to maintain good health, and live a long life, is a basking area. Related Questions Can turtles live up to years? Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Leave this field empty. The question must have popped into your head if you thought about having them as your pet animals. Generally, in captivity, a red eared slider can live up to 40 to 50 years.
But unfortunately, the species has a shorter lifespan of 20 to 30 years in the wild. It is essential to know some basic information about the red eared sliders before you want to commit to them.
The more you know, the better you can care for them in the long run and have a wonderful experience with these cute animals. Although it can be hard to pinpoint the exact lifespan of a red eared slider, there are instances of these animals living up to their 40s. Red eared sliders can have a potential lifespan of more than years if they live in the wild.
Basic facts about the red eared slider:. You should keep in mind that if you fail to take proper care of your pet turtles, they may not live longer than 4 or 5 years. Once you manage to construct the optimum habitat for the red eared slider and feed them with food that they are accustomed to, then your turtles can live long and healthy lives.
Even though a red eared slider has a lifespan of 40 to 50 years in captivity, it can not pull off that many years in the wild. While on its own, a red eared slider barely lives up to 20 to 30 years. Why is this gap? The life of a captive red eared slider differs in many ways from the wild one.
I admit the wild red eared sliders get the natural environment to thrive in, which is indeed good. But what about the other essential factors of life?
When a captive red eared slider is getting its feed every day, the wild turtle is fighting against the odds to collect its meal. There is zero assurance and food guarantee, especially for the baby and young red eared slides in the wild. It is because, in their primary ages, these turtles prefer an animal protein-based diet. The adult red eared sliders can survive on the vegetation and herbs.
A poor diet leads to a weak immune system. So, the wild red eared sliders tend to fall sick more often than the captive turtles. The suffering turtles lose years due to diseases and lack of medical care.
The problems of the wild red eared sliders do not end here. These turtles not only struggle for food, but they also fight to stay alive. As being an aquatic species, red eared sliders are often the focus of predators. If a red eared slider ever falls under attack, it hardly gets away with it. Even when the turtle makes it out alive, it will be severely injured.
If you want to get a printable version of this amazing chart, click here! Turtles are known to have a very slow rate of metabolism, which means that their aging happens at a different rate when compared to other animals. True estimates are hypothetical at best.
Why turtles live so long also tends to be somewhat of a mystery. It also helps them live for extended periods without food or water. In turn, turtles are able to enter states of brumation and aestivation, hibernation-like states during hot and cold temperature extremes.
One study published in the scientific journal Genome Biology , decoded the genome of a western painted turtle, finding some 19 genes in the brain and 23 in the heart that are activated in low-oxygen conditions. The biggest factor in achieving a long lifespan for pet turtles is proper care. As Mitchell notes, that care begins first and foremost with temperature. In conjunction with a proper heat source, turtles should also have access to a light source that provides UVA and UVB ultraviolet light, along with an area for basking and shelter to help minimize stress.
The enclosure itself also plays a role, and owners should expect to purchase larger glass enclosures as their turtles grow.
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