Baby yellow belly turtle food

Yellow-Bellied Slider Care, Diet, Size & Tank Setup

Yellow-bellied sliders are one of the most common species of turtle in the eastern United States. If you have ever seen turtles basking on a log near the east coast, there is a good chance you have already seen one!

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These common turtles also make great pets. Their striking yellow and black colors, high activity levels, and unique aquatic lifestyle make them a standout pet.

However this unique lifestyle also makes them difficult for beginners to keep. They need a very large enclosure with lots of fresh water and eat a diet of mostly fresh vegetables.

If you are interested in owning on a slider then keep reading for tips on their care, diet, tank setup and more…

Table of Contents

Species Introduction
- Are Yellow-Bellied Sliders Good Pets?
Yellow-Bellied Slider Care
What Do Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtles Eat?
Tank Setup
- Enclosure Size
- Water
- Lighting and Heating
- Substrate
- Décor and Plants
Health and Lifespan
Appearance
- How Big Does A Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtle Get?
Behavior
Handling
Buying Guide
Facts
Summary

Species Introduction

Male Yellow-Bellied Slider

Yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta) are members of the Emydidae family. This family is home to over 50 different turtle species and includes terrapins and marsh turtles.

Originally named Testudo scripta in 1792 the species was renamed to Trachemys scripta scripta in 1857 by American biologist Louis Agassiz.

In the wild, yellow-bellied sliders are found in the southeastern United States near bodies of water like estuaries, lakes, marshes, and swamps. The name “slider” comes from their tendency to slide off logs and muddy banks into the water at the first sign of danger.

These turtles are a vibrant yellow and black with striped legs, neck, and head. The bottom part of their shell (i.e. plastron) is bright yellow with dark smudges or spots. The top is normally dark green or black.

Hatchlings are born about the size of a quarter and grow to be a foot in length after eight years. But, they continue to grow slowly for their entire lives and can end up weighing over seven pounds.

As they grow, sliders change their diet from primarily protein-based to a plant-based one. Pet species should eat mostly leafy green vegetables, supplemented with protein from insects. Pelleted turtle food is also a good choice.

Yellow-bellied sliders are a semi-aquatic turtle. This means they spend most of their time swimming, but sometimes they come on to land to bask and rest in the sun. To accommodate their lifestyle, their tank setup will need to be mostly water that is deep enough for them to fully submerge.

Are Yellow-Bellied Sliders Good Pets?

Yes, they make great pets and are charming, cute and active. Slider turtles became popular pets in the 1950s as hundreds of turtle hatchlings were sold throughout the United States.

Sliders are great pets for those who are not afraid of taking on a long-term commitment. Be prepared to go through a lot of fresh vegetables and do not expect to have a cuddly pet. These turtles are not a good choice for keepers who want to handle their pets. They become easily stressed if held and are known to carry salmonella.

Luckily, they are just as entertaining when left in their tank and are usually bold and inquisitive.

Sliders are entertaining reptiles with a lot of personality, perfect for an intermediate reptile keeper! They are very active during the day and are known to dive, swim, bask and dig.

Yellow-Bellied Slider Care

The trickiest part of caring for this turtle is keeping their enclosure clean. Unfortunately, many first time owners keep these pets in poor conditions which can cause outbreaks of salmonella. But, this should be no problem for intermediate and experienced herpetologists.

They make fantastic pets if given enough space and fed the right diet.

What Do Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtles Eat?

Yellow-bellied sliders are opportunistic feeders who eat whenever and whatever they can. This is not surprising given similar species, such as the snapping turtle, are also opportunistic feeders.

What is surprising is that their diet changes as they age.

Young turtles are primarily carnivores that feed on aquatic insects, worms, and small fish. As they grow into adults, their diet shifts to one that is made up almost entirely of plants!

Good Foods

Carrot Tops
Parsley
Kale
Turnip Greens
Collard Greens
Apples (As A Treat)
Green Beans
Water Lilies
Red Bell Pepper
Duckweed
Waterweed (Elodea)

Bad Foods

Iceberg Lettuce
Feeder Fish
Raw Meat
Spinach
Beets
Rhubarb Greens
Potato Greens

There are several high-quality aquatic turtle diets that are usually in the form of pellets. But, keep in mind that most of these diets are made for adult turtles rather than hatchlings. They can lack the protein needed by juveniles.

Baby turtles do best when fed small crickets, mealworms and cockroaches four times a week. You can also feed pieces of Romaine lettuce, dandelion greens and other vegetables, so that 1/3 of their diet is plant-based.

Growing turtles can be given two small meals every day. Gradually introduce more fruits and vegetables into your turtle’s diet, along with food pellets formulated for adults.

Fully grown turtles should be fed mostly pellets and leafy greens, along with some aquatic plants like duckweed.

Adults can also be fed crickets, shrimp, mealworms, and earthworms if you are not feeding pellets. Unlike juveniles, adults only need one meal every other day, with only 50% of their diet consisting of protein. To ensure proper nutrition, dust your turtle’s food with a multivitamin once each week.

Tank Setup

Yellow-Bellied Slider In An Aquarium

Yellow-bellied sliders are mostly aquatic and live in brackish and freshwater marshes, wetlands, lakes, and ponds in the southeastern United States.

Keeping sliders in a tank is relatively easy, provided you have the proper setup and equipment. They need a tank with water deep that is deep enough to submerge in with plenty of plants along the bottom.

Enclosure Size

When you first get a turtle hatchling you will need a 30-gallon tank. But, this should be changed for a larger tank after four years. Adult sliders need at least a 100-gallon enclosure to be healthy. Some owners use a standard glass fish tank to house their slider, while others use plastic pond liners to create a more natural setup.

Water

The tank water should be kept at 72 to 80°F with an underwater heater, and must be properly cleaned with a powerful aquarium filter. Sliders can thrive in freshwater, though brackish water can also be used. Brackish water for turtles can be a simple 50/50 mix of fresh and salt water (around 1.01 SG).

Water should be treated with a turtle-safe dechlorinator and be free from heavy metals and other pollutants. If you use brackish water, make sure to measure the salinity frequently, as the salt levels will increase as water evaporates.

Lighting and Heating

Turtles need to warm up before they can become active. Your Yellow-Bellied slider should have a basking spot on land that reaches 90 to 100°F, as well as a cooler area that is 72 to 76°F. Both UVA and UVB lights are essential for sliders metabolize calcium. A 5% UVB bulb, often marketed as a “tropical UVB” bulb, is ideal for sliders.

Substrate

Yellow-Bellied sliders need mostly water in their tank. In the water, the best substrate for sliders is no substrate or fine sand. Turtles can accidentally ingest gravel or pebbles, which can cause gastrointestinal impaction.

Some land should also be provided for basking. Adding a plastic or wooden platform to the side of the tank is important. It should be large enough for your slider to sit comfortably on.

Décor and Plants

Yellow-bellied sliders enjoy having plenty of hiding places. On land, live plants, flowerpots, plastic boxes, leaf litter and wooden logs are great décor options.

Live plants like waterweed, anubias, and mosses can be used in the water portion of your tank, but keep in mind that they may be munched on.

Health and Lifespan

Yellow-bellied sliders live for an incredibly long time. Many are able to live for 40 years! In the wild, their long lifespan is partly because of their tough shell, which prevents attacks from other animals.

Unfortunately, this protection comes with a downside. As their shell is their main line of defense, slider turtles put less energy into their immune systems. This makes them more vulnerable to bacterial diseases like mycoplasmosis and shell rot.

Mycoplasmosis is a bacterial infection that causes respiratory irritation. Infected turtles have a runny discharge from the nose, bubbles around the mouth and audible breathing.

This disease is extremely infectious and passes from turtle to turtle through mucus. If you suspect your turtle may be infected, make sure to isolate and take it to a veterinarian.

Shell rot is also a bacterial infection that affects turtles.

Also known as ulcerative shell disease or ‘rust,’ it is caused by bacteria from dirty water. Shell rot appears as gray, white, or red flaky or slimy spots on the top and bottom of the shell. If left untreated shell rot can cause open sores and secondary infections. The best way to prevent shell rot is to keep your turtle’s tank clean and monitor it for any injuries.

Regular cleaning and tank maintenance is the best way to keep your turtle healthy.

Signs They Are Healthy

Even-colored shell with no abrasions.
Strong, active swimming.
Eating lots of food.

Sickness Symptoms

Red and white patches on the shell.
Floating at the top of the water, inability to dive.
Closed or puffy eyes.

Appearance

Female Yellow-Bellied Slider

Yellow-bellied sliders are beautiful turtles with black and yellow markings.

They are named after their yellow shell. The bottom and sides of their shell are a bright yellow with three to four black spots on each side. The top of their shell is a dark brownish green with orange and black wavy lines.

As they age, their shell often becomes darker in color, especially on the top. Males in particular can become almost black!

Sliders have shells that are flattened and smooth. This makes them more aerodynamic for swimming and provides a larger surface area to soak up the sun when basking.

To help them swim yellow-bellied sliders have strong legs with webbed toes. They also have long sharp claws that help them build nests as well as climb on logs, rocks and muddy banks.

Yellow-bellies are recognizable for the V-shaped yellow mustache on their beaks, as well as a bright yellow spot behind the eye. This spot stands out more in juveniles and females.

This species is not bred for color morphs, but you can sometimes find albinos for sale. Albinos lack pigment in their skin, and so are pink and yellow instead of the typical black and yellow.

How Big Does A Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtle Get?

Sliders are large turtles with an average shell length of five to nine inches. However, they are a sexually dimorphic species, meaning there is a significant difference in size between males and females. Males average seven inches long and females are closer to ten inches.

Because of their long lifespan, this species grows very slow. Males reach maturity in five years and females take eight years. Females mature slower in order to build up enough energy to produce eggs.

Behavior

Yellow-bellied sliders are diurnal, just like humans. They are most active during the day. In the wild, they are often found in groups clustered around the best basking spots. However, these turtles can be territorial and prefer to live alone as pets.

As a pet, this species is very active and spends most of its time swimming, diving and basking.

When startled, sliders will quickly “slide” into the water to escape. Though more suited to swimming, these turtles are surprisingly quick on land and can sprint short distances.

If tank temperatures are warm enough, you will most often find your Yellow-bellied turtle in the water rather than on land. Sliders are great swimmers and often sleep underwater, but they still need access to land to survive.

Yellow-bellied sliders like to rest on logs and banks throughout the day to bask and raise their body temperature.

Your turtle will move in and out of the water to keep its internal temperature at a constant level.

The cooler your turtle is the slower its movements and activities will be. In the wild sliders hibernate during the cold winter months, but in captivity, where temperatures are constant, they are active year-round.

Handling

Yellow-bellied sliders are not the most affectionate pet. Holding them can cause stress, and a stressed turtle will not hesitate to bite any fingers it can reach. Their long, flexible necks give them a surprisingly long reach.

If held yellow-bellied sliders will normally pull their heads and arms into their shell.

With regular and gentle handling your slider may become more relaxed, but they do best if left alone. If you must pick up your turtle, grasp it firmly with two hands as if it were a hamburger.

Always wash your hands before and after handling turtles, and avoid letting small children hold them. Pet turtles are a significant cause of salmonella cases in the United States, which can be deadly to children and people with compromised immune systems.

Buying Guide

The sale of turtles with a shell length of fewer than four inches is illegal in the U.S.

Juvenile yellow-bellied sliders are commonly sold online and at reptile shows. Depending on the seller they can cost $30 to $80.

It is also easy to find adults for sale because of their long lifespan. It is not unheard of for people to sell 20-year-old turtles. Buying an adult is not only more responsible, but also gives you a greater chance of getting a healthy pet.

The most expensive part of owning a slider is the tank and its setup. A 100-gallon tank and accessories will cost over $300.

When looking to purchase a yellow-bellied slider, make sure you are buying a captive-bred turtle from a good breeder. Healthy turtles should be alert and try to escape if approached by a person.

Facts

Quick Summary Table
Common Name (s)	Yellow-bellied Slider, Pond Slider, Yellow-bellied Terrapin
Scientific Name	Trachemys scripta scripta
Family Name	Emydidae
Genus Name	Trachemys
Range	North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, northern Florida
Adult Size	5 to 12 inches in length 1.5 to 7 pounds
Lifespan	20 to 40 years
Similar Species/Popular Alternatives	Red-Eared Slider, Painted Turtle, Box Turtle

Summary

Yellow-bellied sliders make great pets. They are energetic, beautiful to look at and have many interesting behaviors. They also enjoy swimming and are very active during the day.

If you are interested in purchasing a yellow-bellied slider, expect to take home a lively, engaging pet that will remain active for over 20 years.

But, do not adopt one of these turtles without thought.

To meet their needs, they need a lot of space and clean water. This requires lots of equipment, such as an aquarium filter, pump, heater and 100-gallon tank. These attractive turtles also like variety in their diet and thrive on a mix of insects, fresh vegetables and pellet food.

Already have a yellow-bellied slider? Let us know your experience in the comments!

Feeding Yellow Belly Slider Hatchlings

By Ben Team

i Zedcor Wholly Owned/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images

Turtles are long-lived creatures who in captivity or otherwise are susceptible to nutritional deficiencies and diet-related health problems; feeding is one of the most important aspects of their husbandry. The natural diet of turtles varies by species, age and sometimes gender. Hatchling yellow-bellied slider turtles need a varied diet of insects, fish and plant material.

Yellow Bellied Biology

Yellow-bellied slider turtles (Trachemys scripta scripta) are native to the southeastern United States, where they inhabit lakes, rivers, ponds and man-made canals. They are dietary generalists that consume insects, fish, amphibians, aquatic vegetation, algae and carrion. Despite their dietary flexibility, yellow-bellied sliders exhibit age-related shift in food habits; while young turtles are largely carnivorous, adults primarily consume plant material.

General Feeding Procedures

Yellow-bellied sliders eat in the water. When providing food, drop a few items into the water near the turtles. Healthy turtles will usually swim right over and immediately begin eating. Don’t saturate the tank with food items; provide only as much food as your turtles will consume within five to 10 minutes. Young turtles should be fed at least once per day, but if it is feasible, two meals will encourage faster growth.

Insects

Insects -- especially aquatic larval stages -- are an important part of the diet of yellow-bellied sliders in the wild, and they should form a high percentage of your pet’s diet as well. You can feed your pet crickets, mealworms, super-worms or roaches, and it is a good idea to rotate them to provide a more varied diet.

Fish

Fish are an excellent dietary component for turtles, though some turtles may have trouble catching them. The turtles will usually catch slow swimming species, but frozen-thawed or freshly killed fish allow the young turtles to catch their dinner easily. While live fish do provide supplemental exercise and stimulation, they can spread parasites and disease to your turtles; obtain live feeders only from reputable sources.

Fruits and Vegetables

It is good practice to get your young turtle accustomed to eating plant material; older turtles who refuse vegetables and consume a completely protein-based diet may develop health problems. Offer your pet small pieces of strawberries, blueberries, collard greens or squash. Prevent spoiling the water quality by removing any uneaten fruit or vegetables after 12 to 24 hours.

Commercial Foods

Many commercial foods are available for pet turtle owners. While commercial turtle pellets can be a quality component of your yellow-bellied turtle's diet, they should not form the entire diet. The mess that commercial pellets cause partially offsets the convenience of these products. When a turtle bites into a pellet, numerous particles are released into the water. Counteract this by selecting the smallest pellet size that is practical.

References

North Hampton Reptile Centre: Yellow Bellied Slider Care Sheet
Austiin's Turtle Page: Yellow Bellied Slider
The Turtle Source: General Care of Sliders and Cooters
United States Geological Survey: Trachemys Scripta Scripta
Animal Diversity Web: Trachemys Scripta
TurtleTails. com: Feeding Baby Turtles

Resources

Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: How Do Baby Turtles Survive Winter?

Photo Credits

Red-eared turtle: maintenance and care at home

This type of turtle is classified as a freshwater reptile. Its main feature is longish red-orange spots that are located just behind the eyes. Despite the fact that they do not have ears, they hear perfectly. Since the shield on their belly is colored bright yellow, they are also often referred to as yellow-bellies. The females of these animals are usually much larger than the males. Puberty of these animals occurs at 4 years.

Red-eared slider conditions

To keep such a reptile, you will definitely need an aquarium or terrarium, with a volume of 150-200 liters. Make sure the turtle has enough water to move freely. Ideally, the more swimming space she gets, the better.

In addition, artificial land must be created for it, on which the reptile can get out to warm itself. The island must have a sloping rise, stability, as well as the absence of burrs and sharp corners.

The island should occupy at least ¼ of the surface of the terrarium and meet certain requirements.

Heating . The temperature on it must be set at least 10 ° C higher than in water. Too high a temperature also does not need to be set, as the reptile can overheat.
Flooding . On an island, at least one side must be in the water.
Safety . The reptile should move freely and not get stuck between the island and the glass.
No toxicity . No toxic substances should be released from it.
Stability . The land must stand very securely, since this type of turtle is very strong and can easily turn it over.
Textured surface .

What do I need to buy to keep a turtle?

The most necessary things:

200 liter turtle tank.
Aquarium Water Heater 100W.
Aquarium filter (can be internal, but external is better).
UV lamp for turtles with UVB 10%.
Heating lamp.
Aquarium lamp.
Thermometer.
Land, coast, island.

Red-eared turtle feeding

Omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of food. Variety is important as it keeps the turtle healthy. You can feed: food for turtles, food for aquarium fish, vegetables, aquarium plants, insects, fish, invertebrates. In addition to variety, it is important to give a balanced diet high in calcium. Like all wild animals that live at home, there is a tendency to overeat.

The composition of specialized feeds is selected in such a way as to give turtles all the necessary substances. The high protein content of commercial feeds allows them to be fed in small portions.

To make the feeding more balanced, add calcium and vegetable foods and your turtle will be quite happy. Please note that calcium supplements are most often already included in commercial feeds, read the labels on the packaging.

Red-eared turtles need water to swallow because they do not produce saliva. They may take food on land, but will drag it into the water to eat. You can use this to your advantage and feed them in a separate container, so the water in the aquarium will remain clean for a longer time.

Tetra, Fiori, Sera food is perfect.

As for hibernation, which the reptile can fall into during the winter period, it is desirable to avoid it. The thing is that if you are new to keeping this type of turtle, then you may simply not have enough experience in caring for it in this period. Therefore, it is not necessary to stimulate hibernation in this reptile! Firstly, unfavorable conditions can be created for it for this period, and secondly, weakened animals may simply not survive it. To keep it from hibernating, keep the temperature at a level of at least 25 ° C, and the reptile will not even remember the long winter sleep.

Turtles that hibernate under natural conditions tend to burrow into plants or silt at the bottom of a reservoir that has a shallow depth and large dimensions. During this period, reptiles remain at the bottom all the time, oxygen is absorbed by them through membranes located in their mouth, pharynx and cloaca. In addition, the depth of the reservoir, the temperature regime and the level of oxygen in it are of great importance.

Baby care

Most turtles that appear in a home aquarium are still babies. They are still very tender and it is important to make sure they eat well and are comfortable. Cubs have a high mortality rate, are susceptible to disease, and can die for no apparent reason.

If you notice something on your turtle's plastron, it could be the yolk sac. Newly hatched turtles consume nutrients from it and should not be removed or touched. They may refuse food during the first time, and begin to eat after the yolk sac is completely resolved.

Try not to hold small turtles in your arms. Of course, they are beautiful and elegant, but at the same time they can get scared, get stressed and get sick. Do not stand over the aquarium and do not knock on the glass, let them get used to it for a few days, start eating. It is very important that the temperature of water and air (land) be stable.

It is impossible to put an aquarium with a red-eared turtle in direct sunlight or in a draft. Make sure that she has free access to land and that this place is heated with a special lamp. Keeping temperature for baby turtles should be slightly higher than for adult turtles! This is 26-27 ^o C for water and up to 32 ^o C for land. Water should be as clean as possible and if there is no good filter, then change every couple of days

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Turtle diseases - main types, symptoms and treatment

Land tortoises, like all living organisms, are susceptible to various diseases. The main diseases of turtles are infections and inflammations, shell diseases and eye diseases. Let's consider them in more detail.

Respiratory tract infections

Respiratory tract infections are very common in these reptiles. The carriers of the viruses that cause these infections are healthy turtles. It is they who infect weaker individuals.

The first signs of infection are almost invisible. They are manifested in the fact that a sick turtle has a discharge from the nose. But this symptom should not be ignored. Indeed, despite the innocent external signs, the infection affects the internal organs of the reptile: kidneys, liver, heart. If treatment is not started in time for a sick turtle, the infection will progress and greatly weaken the immune system. As a result, the animal will be susceptible to new diseases and die.

Respiratory disease is very difficult to cure. To begin with, a sick reptile is shown to a veterinarian. He takes the necessary tests and prescribes treatment. As a rule, a sick animal is prescribed systematic and replacement therapy. Vitamins and antibiotics are prescribed to maintain immunity. It is necessary to clean the eyes and mouth regularly so that the turtle does not get sick with a second infection.

Healthy turtles should be taken to the vet. After that, they need to be placed in a separate terrarium for 6 weeks in quarantine. If suddenly any turtle shows signs of illness, it should be immediately isolated from healthy animals.

A turtle that has had a respiratory infection can carry the virus throughout its life.

Internal infections

Bacterial infections occur in turtles. Especially often they become infected with reptiles that live in captivity. Due to bacterial infections, the internal vital organs of the animal are affected: heart, liver, kidneys. Turtles can develop hepatitis.

Internal infections cause certain illnesses. With prolonged illnesses of turtles, organ failure is manifested. If the infection is left untreated, cirrhosis of the liver or kidney problems may develop.

Turtle shell deformity and disease

This disease occurs in captive tortoises. The cause of deformation is often malnutrition, lack of vitamins and calcium in the body. Therefore, you need to give the turtle a good balanced diet. Do not overfeed your pet with lettuce - this can cause softening and deformation of the shell.

Shell decay

Occurs with mechanical damage. For example, if a turtle fell or was bitten by a dog, and a crack formed on the shell. When microbes and dirt enter the wound, rotting occurs. Also, this disease can cause various infections.

Abscesses

Often they look like bumps on the body. Pus usually collects under the skin. Abscesses are caused by blows and wounds to the soft parts of the turtle's body. A veterinarian can treat this disease with surgery. To do this, you need to make an incision over the affected area so that pus comes out from there. The wound must be treated with hydrogen peroxide. With further treatment, the wound is continued to be treated with peroxide and a course of antibiotics is prescribed to the turtle.

Foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract

Small turtles can sometimes swallow sand and other small objects with their food. To avoid this, it is best to keep your pet on a hard, uniform surface. It is necessary to watch what the turtle swallows. After all, to remove a foreign object, an operation is necessary.

Urolithiasis

Adults are more likely to suffer from this disease. The reason may be malnutrition. Stones can form over many years. At the same time, every year they increase in size and cause reptiles pain when walking and urinating. Stones can be identified using x-rays. Treatment requires surgery.

Hemochromatosis

This is a disease in which iron metabolism is disturbed in the body and it accumulates in the liver. As a result, cirrhosis and hepatitis develop. It is necessary to monitor the diet of sick animals. Do not allow high iron content in food and water.