8 to 12 inAdult shell length
30 years or moreLifespan with good care
100 galWater at full size
AquaticNeeds a tank with a dry dock
Grows just as large as a red-eared slider.
The enclosure at full size
75 gallons minimum for one adult, 100 to 125 for a female or a pair. Ten gallons per inch of shell. A dock large enough to hold the whole turtle out of water.
Water
75 to 80°F, heated and guarded. Canister filter rated at two to three times tank volume. Weekly 25 to 50 percent water changes.
Temperatures
Basking surface 90 to 95°F on a probe thermometer. Air above the water 80 to 85°F.
Light
UVB 10.0 over the dock, 12 hours a day, replaced every six to twelve months.
Diet
Juveniles daily, protein-leaning. Adults every two or three days with at least half the diet as leafy greens and aquatic plants.
Handling
Tolerant but not fond of it. Wash hands after every contact.
The law
4-inch rule on sale. Several states regulate sliders as a group, so check yours. Never release.
Where to go next
Read the 4-inch rule, explained before buying any turtle, and the basking, heat and UVB guide before the first day home. Nothing here replaces a reptile vet.
