We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Don’t forget that turtles are very messy and have to drink and swim in the water that they eat and expel waste in. Here are some examples of indoor ponds that others have built: How do you create an outdoor turtle pond? Well, for one, we offer reptile care information that you can actually trust. However, you need to be careful. Every red-eared slider will grow to be about 10-12 inches long. You can put fish in your red-eared slider tank, however, it often results in fish being eaten. Tank Dividers & Containers Maintenance & Repair Adhesives & Sealants Brushes & Tank Cleaners ... Due to size and/or weight, certain items bear a shipping surcharge or special handling fee, which will still apply. Artificial ponds are easier to access and maintain, are generally less expensive, and can be just as beautiful as an aquarium (if not more so). Since most red-eared sliders top out between 8-11”, ReptiFiles recommends 100 US gallons (379 liters) as the minimum acceptable red-eared slider tank size. It’s really up to you. The first thing that probably came to your mind was the question: What’s the right red-eared slider tank size? eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'aquaticpals_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_3',109,'0','0'])); No, 10-gallons tank is not big enough for a turtle. They are aquatic animal, therefore their tank mates should be aquatic animals, as well. Having that being said, you are going to want to have 10 gallons (40 liters) for every inch your turtle grows. The average size of a red-eared slider is roughly 12 inches in length. What’s the best red-eared slider tank size? It also tends to be easier to provide a spacious living space for your pet, since you don’t have to worry about weight and you don’t have to sacrifice any of your indoor space. Slider Care- This care guide works for red eared sliders, yellow bellied sliders, and Cumberland sliders. Ideally you should provide 10 gallons of water for each inch of shell length for each turtle. If you want to have a pond with multiple red-eared sliders, here are some rules to follow to reduce the likelihood of injuries, cannibalism, and other problems that can occur: Example: “ReptiFiles.com is the best place to learn about correct reptile husbandry.”. That was the short answer to the question. This size is more common, making it more reasonably priced, and your turtle gets more space in the process — it’s a win-win! Free Shipping by Amazon. A 1 inch turtle should have 10 gallons, a 2 inch turtle should have 20 gallons, and so on. Increase the size of the tank, as the turtle grows older. As a rule of thumb, a red-eared slider turtle requires 10 gallons of water for a 1 inch of length. Of course, bigger is always better. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'aquaticpals_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',106,'0','0'])); Red-eared sliders don’t necessarily need glass aquariums. Update: My husband had me test the water from that container. The depth of the water should also be at least the length of the turtle’s shell, preferably deeper if you can provide it. 1. First on our list of best filters for the red-eared slider is this amazing Zoo Med Turtle Clean Filter. Let’s get one thing straight here: There’s a common misconception that red-eared slider tank size limits how large the turtle grows. Turtles are extremely dirty so that would definitely help with the … If you do it right at the beginning, everything that follows will be much easier. How many turtles can live in a 10-gallon tank? Red-eared sliders don’t always get along with other animals. Other sizes up to 500 gallons are also available for relatively low prices compared to other options I’ve observed on the market. Red-eared slider turtles are the world's most commonly traded reptile, due to their relatively low price, and usually low food price, small size, and easy maintenance. One important consideration to make as you plan your red-eared slider’s enclosure is location. My name is Mariah Healey, reptile husbandry specialist and consultant. For example, a red-eared slider with a size of 4 inches, will require at least a 40 gallons tank. The good news here is that red-eared sliders are incredibly hardy. Red-eared slider turtles prefer to have a lot of room in the tank to swim around. Animals such as dogs, cats, raccoons, birds, opossums, and rats (as well as neighborhood children, although they’re not really “predators”) can invade your turtle pond and cause serious harm to your pet. Your email address will not be published. One common scenario that I’ve seen on several occasions is when people ask pet store owners the question: What tank size do I need for a baby red-eared slider? In a glass aquarium, however, going underwater doesn’t offer that same sense of security, which can cause stress. Red-eared slider tank setup. Land area is a separate requirement, as red-eared sliders spend most of their time in the water. Make no mistake: red-eared sliders … For example, a 4” turtle would need 40 gallons/150 liters of water to swim in, and a 12” turtle would need 120 gallons/450 liters. Tank stands are strong enough to support the weight of all of that water, plus they’re attractive and bring the enclosure up to eye level. I have found that GlassCages.com seems to have the most accessible pricing for a standard 120 gallon, 48” x 24” x 25” aquarium (base price $580 USD as of  January 2021). First, you need a tank. AquaticPals.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Choosing The Red Eared Slider Tank Size First of all, you need to know how big a red-eared slider can actually get and at what pace is growing in size. One of the many reasons for this is the fact that they are chronically kept in enclosures that are far too small for them. NOTE — Water is HEAVY! A good rule of thumb is that you'll need about 10 gallons in tank size per inch of the turtle's body length. If you are in the process of purchasing a baby red-eared slider, naturally, you want to prepare yourself and learn everything about these animals. More turtles in your tank mean more space. Tank size- 50 gallons minimum for a male, 75 gallons minimum for a female but sizes larger than these are better. Increase the size of the tank, as the turtle grows older. This is my 20 gallon long red eared Slider tank that I just upgraded from a 10 gallon. The above “minimum” may seem enormous to you, and possibly even unreasonable compared to examples you’ve already seen. Outdoor ponds are convenient because you can get heat and UVB “for free” from nature. So what size of enclosure should you get to start out? All information, content, materials on this site, or obtained from a website to which the site is linked are provided to you “as is” without warranty of any kind either express or implied. AquaticPals.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to. What’s your opinion on this matter? For the first year, you can get by with a 50 gallon (190 L) tank for a baby, but … Petsmart has a surprisingly good deal on a 125 gallon Aqueon LED Aquarium & Stand combo. 4. Commercial turtle treats and freeze-dried krill may be given as treats. 49. For smaller red eared sliders a 30 gallon is the absolute minimum tank size. Males stay smaller than females but they still grow to be seven to nine inches long. If you have any questions please ask and please subscribe. A recommended minimum size of tank for red-eared sliders is 30 gallon, however, it can live in 20 gallons for a short period of time. So, if your red-eared slider’s shell is 6 inches long, the tank size of your red-eared slider should be at least 60 gallons of water. 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,486. So, housing a turtle in a tiny tank in an effort to keep it small forever will inevitably fail, and in the process you will be providing woefully inadequate care for your pet. Make sure the floor can support the setup’s weight — the ground floor or basement of your home typically works best. ReptiFiles is not a veterinary website, nor is the author Mariah Healey a veterinarian. Remember: bigger is ALWAYS better! Otherwise you risk warping and possibly even breaking the floor! Practically, the tank should be 12-inches deep, 20-inches tall and 48-inches wide to hold the 55-gallons of water. That means for a 12-inch full grown red eared slide r, you will need a 120-gallon tank. For a juvenile red-eared slider you need at least a 30-gallon tank. Generally, you should provide an area with water that is five times longer than their size, four times wider and 1.7 deeper than their longest dimension. But keep in mind that higher quality means more expensive, so this would definitely be a major long-term investment in your red-eared slider’s husbandry. You’ll also want to dig your fencing deep into the ground as an additional precaution against escape. Also make sure that the material you are using is strong enough to hold water without leaching chemicals into it. Set up a bigger and longer tank from the beginning, or start small and gradually increase the size of the turtle tank with time. The red-eared sliders need to eat, sleep, swim, and expel in the same water. Enjoy ! Rather than stepping down to the more common 90 gallon size and potentially sacrificing your pet’s quality of life for convenience, I recommend stepping up to 120-125 gallons instead. Tank Size. Just like an indoor enclosure, you need to customize an outdoor pond to fit a red-eared slider’s specific needs, or else you risk your turtle becoming sick and possibly dying. One common scenario that I’ve seen on several occasions is when people ask pet store owners the question: What tank size do I need for a. Even a bare minimum, 100 gallon/379 liter glass aquarium with nothing else in it weighs ~831 lbs (377 kg). The information, content and material contained on the site is intended to be of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute professional/medical advice. Bigger is always better. Now I’d like to hear from you. GlassCages.com also offers reasonable-priced custom tank stands to go with their aquariums, which I recommend taking advantage of if you’re not inclined to build your own. Size: The adult male red-eared turtles can grow up to 7-9 inches by size. A red-eared slider can live happily by itself, and unlike humans or other obviously social animals, they don’t seem to need “friends”. eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'aquaticpals_com-box-4','ezslot_1',107,'0','0'])); Oftentimes they’ll sell you the inappropriate size of the tank. Skip to content. Now, I’ll explain everything steps by step. So if you have a 150-gallon tank for a red eared slider, your filter should be rated for 300 gallons at least. What is the Right Tank Size For a Red Eared Slider? And a full-grown adult red-eared slider needs a minimum tank size of 125 gallons. The females can attain a length of 10-12 inches. I added a photo of the ammonia result. [34] [35] As with other turtles, tortoises , and box turtles , individuals that survive their first year or two can be expected to live generally around 30 years. Even if the turtle is small, the minimum recommended size for a juvenile red-eared slider is 30 gallons. What’s the best red-eared slider tank size? Especially for animals that spend their fair share of time in the water, such as the red-eared slider. What’s the best red-eared slider tank size? Beware of fine netting, as this may filter solar UVB too much, and any gaps between fence slats should be too narrow for the turtle to fit through for escape. Take this into consideration when planning where to set up the turtle’s enclosure. And unfortunately, there is no one perfect formulate for determining the “perfect” enclosure size for captive reptiles. Ideal for: Young red eared sliders. Most pet store owners want to just make quick money and will sell everything they could. 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