Red-Eared Slider
Place to admire: Tropical Paradise
Scientific name: Trachemys scripta elegans
IUCN-status: Least concern
Habitat
The Red-Eared Slider is a species native to the United States and Mexico. This species inhabits inland wetlands with permanent rivers, streams, creeks, scrublands, pocket forests, swamps, fens, seasonal freshwater lakes, seasonal freshwater pools, seasonal freshwater springs, permanent freshwater marshes and oases.
Appearance
A female has a size of 25 to 30 centimeters and a male of 20 to 25 centimeters. This Turtle has red stripes on both sides of the head. The head, neck, legs and tail contain an olive to brown hue. There are also cream to yellow-colored stripes on these body parts.
The carapace has a brown to olive hue, with yellow markings. The underside of the carapace is called the plastron. The plastron has a yellow color, with 12 scales. These have distinct markings from spots to intricate patterns.
Diet
The Red-Eared Slider is an omnivore. This means that this Turtle eats both plant and animal matter.
The plant diet consists of green plant species and aquatic plants. The Red-Eared Slider additionally feeds on animal material such as Common Earthworms, Frogs, Crayfish, small Fish, Tadpoles and other Arthropods.
Natuurlijk gedrag
The Red-Eared Slider forages during the day. This Turtle uses its eyesight and sense of smell to search for suitable food. The Red-Eared Slider usually searches for food in shallower water with more sunlight.
The daily schedule of the Red-Eared Slider consists of walking, swimming, grazing, foraging and sunbathing.
Sunbathing is an important part of thermoregulation of body temperature. The Red-Eared Slider maintains body temperature by getting energy from the sun. The habitat should be between 10°C and 32.22°C. If the temperature drops below the critical level (10°C – 15°C), this species goes into hibernation. This is also called “brumation. Most Red-Eared Sliders go underwater during brumation, surviving only on oxygen taken in through their skin. When temperatures rise, Red-Eared Sliders come back out of hibernation and start sunbathing on tree trunks and foraging again after a long period without food.