Although there are many different wild species of water turtles living in the United States, the most popular in the pet trade, according to the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society, is the red-eared slider, or trachemys scripta elegans, a subspecies of the common pond slider. These are the most common turtles to be found in aquariums and are easily identified by the yellow and black stripes on the head, neck and legs, as well as the bright red ear patches that give this species its name.
For females, it happens even later, at 5 to 7 years. A male, however, might be mature enough at this size. In the wild, red-eared sliders and other pond turtles have distinct breeding seasons during the months of March and June, but pet turtles kept indoors might desire to breed year-round. At this time, you can place your turtles together. The male will do his mating dance and she will either be receptive or they will fight. You will know they are breeding when the male has mounted the female and their tails are entwined.
You can try red-eared slider breeding again in two days. Once red-eared slider breeding has occurred, give your female a gallon gestation tank with 4 inches of loose potting soil such as vermiculite for her to lay her eggs in. Make sure you keep her warm degrees Fahrenheit , damp, and disturb her as little as possible.
She may not eat during this time, but do not be alarmed, as this is perfectly normal. Once they have all dug out of the soil, put them in their own tank, which should be about 20 gallons per 12 hatchlings. All aquatic turtles have webbed feet to help make them fast and efficient swimmers. Red-eared sliders are semi-aquatic, fresh water turtles found in many streams, creeks, lakes and wetlands throughout the United States. Geographically, the species originated from around the Mississippi River and south to the Gulf of Mexico.
They prefer warmer climates, particularly the southeastern United States, typically in areas east of and below Colorado to Virginia and continuing south to Florida.
In the wild, they prefer habitats with calm, warm water, as well as logs or rocks for basking, suitable nesting areas, and plenty of vegetation to hide in and consume. Red-eared sliders are omnivorous, eating sub-aquatic vegetation, fruits, aquatic invertebrates, fishes, and amphibians like frogs and newts.
Young turtles prey mostly on small fish and amphibian eggs and tadpoles. Most turtles do not venture too far from their established fresh water habitat unless searching for a mate or nest site. First and foremost, you have to make sure that your female is ready to breed.
First, she needs to be about 5 years old and her shell needs to be about 6 inches across. To determine this, put her in a gallon tank with warm shallow water about 5 inches with your male and watch for the red-eared slider breeding dance. He may also strike the front of her shell with his front claws to really get her attention.
If the female is receptive, she will breed with the male, a process which will take about 15 minutes. If she is not receptive, the sliders may begin to fight. If the female is not receptive to his courting dance after 45 minutes, remove her and try again in a couple of days. She will lay eggs two months after copulation, as long as you provide her with loose soil to lay them in.
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