Reptiles & Amphibians
Red-Eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans
The tiny coin-sized turtle grows into a 30 cm tank-hog with serious filtration demands — budget accordingly.
- Difficulty
- moderate
Care tips
- Plan on 380+ litres of water for an adult, plus oversized filtration
- Keep water at 24-27°C with a dry dock basking at 29-32°C
- Mount UVB over the basking dock, not through glass
- Feed pellets, leafy greens, and occasional protein; adults eat more veg
- Do partial water changes weekly; lifespan runs 20-30+ years
Common questions
What should I know about caring for a red-eared slider? +
The tiny coin-sized turtle grows into a 30 cm tank-hog with serious filtration demands — budget accordingly.
Typical guidance for a healthy red-eared slider — your own conditions (and your vet, for animals) come first.
Related guides
- Ball Python A shy, slow-moving loaf of a snake whose occasional hunger strikes test your patience, not your skill.
- Bearded Dragon A dog-like lizard that genuinely seems to enjoy your company — the classic first reptile for good reason.
- Blue-Tongue Skink Part lizard, part vacuum cleaner: it bulldozes through substrate and eats almost anything you plate up.
- California Kingsnake Bold, food-motivated, and famously willing to eat other snakes — house this striped Houdini strictly solo.
- Corn Snake Hardy, gentle, and reliably hungry — the snake that forgives nearly every beginner mistake.
- Crested Gecko No heat lamp, powdered food from a cup, and eyelashes — keeping one is refreshingly low-fuss.