Red Eared Sliders (Turtles)

Date:11/24/08

Time:3:39pm

Place:My Kitchen

I have had a red eared slider turtle for about 5 years now.  It is a great animal to have that does not disturb you much.  It likes to mind its own business, just like cats.  Red eared sliders are land/water animals. Ocassionally they like to go and hang out on the rocks to get away from the water.  They like to get sunlight and "tan".  When they are in the water, they seem to take it easy be swimming very gentle back and forth through the tank.  They do not look like they are in a hurry.  I tend to like relaxed animals that you do not have to take care of much.  I don't have much time, therefore, I cannot depend my whole day on taking care of animals.  I do have to occasionally clean out the tank about once every two months.  The turtle has to keep nice and clean and that's my responsibility.  My tank has gravel on the bottom and is sourrounded by many rocks to keep the turtle busy.  I used to have two turtles but the girl turtle died about two years ago.  I wish she stayed alive to keep the other turtle, "Timmy", company.  They always say to keep animals together, with a mate this way they do not get bored.  Its better to have a girl and a boy animal, rather that two boys or two girls.  Mating is a good thing, but if you want to neuter them thats perfectly fine too.  This isn't really done to turtles but when they want to have fun with each other they do on the side.  Most of the time you don't even know what going on with them.  When I did have the girl red eared slider, she used to go on the males back once in a while.  We had no clue what was going on, but who knows.  I feel bad because now Timmy is lonely.  Many for Christmas we will buy a need one to keep him company.  With turtles you have to be very careful not to catch salmonella.  Our red eared slider with kept free of they because they were raised on a farm, given organic food but you always have to watch out and keep clean.  Every time I touch them I wash my hands after words.  Red eared slider turtles are a great pet to have and you should get some of your own too!