19 Red Eared Slider Turtle Fun Facts You Don’t Know

Red-eared sliders are not just adorable pets; they have some intriguing, fun facts as well. As you already know, I have a red-eared slider. A few days earlier, I thought about digging into some fun facts about them.

As a slider-parent, you will surely love these fun facts as much as I did. So, let’s go slipping and sliding with the red-eared sliders’ fun facts. 

Fun Facts about Red-Eared Slider 

Red-Eared Slider Physiology

Why Called Red Eared Sliders?

Why are they called red-eared sliders? Well, the distinguishing mark for red-eared sliders is the red mark behind their eyes. This long red mark from behind the eyes to the ears is the reason they are named red-eared sliders.  

Red Eared Slider Have Twin?

The red-eared sliders have bright marks and resemble painted turtles. However, while the painted turtles have a flatter carapace (top shell), the red-eared sliders’ carapace resembles an upside-down turned bowl.

Another noticeable difference is that the sliders’ heads, necks, and legs are greenish-brown with yellow stripes. The color and difference between these are important to look out for as both of them share the same habitat.  

Red-eared Slider Habitat 

No Red Eared Slider in Antarctica

The red-eared sliders are inhabitant to the Mississippi valley of the United States especially in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. A good amount of their population is found in Asia and Australia. However, due to the weather of Antarctica, there is no red-eared slider in this area. 

They Love Slow Water

The preferred habitat of these turtles is freshwater and slow-moving lakes and ponds with maximum exposure to the sun. 

Likes To Be In Groups

While sliders spend a definite period of their life in water, they also love to bask in the sun. in most cases, they bask in groups so that they can keep each other safe from animals like raccoons, foxes, minks, etc. those eat turtles.  

Good Observer, Bad Listener

The red-eared sliders are awesome swimmers but they spend most of their lifetime basking in the sun. They have great vision and poor hearing. Due to poor hearing, they are very sensitive to vibrations.

So, even under small threats, they quickly hide under the logs or rocks. Basking in the sun helps the sliders to get rid of parasites. Sun is as important as water to the red-eared sliders.  

Communication Through Touch & Vibration

Red-eared sliders become less active during the winter. In October, when the temperature hits 10⁰C, they go to the bottom of the lake. During this time, the sliders in the pond communicate with each other through touch and vibration. What an interesting way of communication! 

Red-Eared Slider Diet 

Where Are The Teeth?

The funny thing is that most of the turtles, including the red-eared sliders, do not have teeth. They have horny ridges with sharp groves. This makes their lower and upper jaws. 

Taste Changes With Age

The adult red-eared turtles are herbivores whereas the young ones are omnivores. Both of them prey on the invertebrates and the mollusks, such as crayfish, insects and their larvae, shrimp, worms, and small snails. Some of the big ones are also known to eat water snakes, frog eggs, small fish and tadpoles. Along with this, they also eat the algae and aquatic plants including the hyacinth. 

Birds, Yummy!

You must be amazed to know that these red-eared turtles also eat birds. Although birds are tough to get, they are capable of eating small birds. 

Red-Eared Slider Reproduction 

Temperature Determines Sex

The sex of the turtle depends on the temperature of the nest. Yes, you heard me right. The slider eggs incubated at a temperature of 2 to 7 degrees will turn into male turtles. While the turtle eggs incubated at a higher temperature will become female turtles. The baby sliders look exactly like the adult ones. How cute is that?  

Color Changes With Age

The females are slightly bigger than the males, but the males have more prominent, longer claws than the females. With age, the males, especially, change their color from dark brown to black. Therefore, you can assume the age with their color, which is funny, isn’t it?  

Only 1% Can Make It

Red-eared sliders reach sexual maturity at the age of 2 to 5 years of age. One of the surprising things about the red-eared sliders is only 1% of the hatchlings can make it to adulthood. The rest of the eggs often fall prey to birds, snakes, raccoons, and other animals. 

Fertility Goes Down 20% (or less)

The fertility of the female sliders drops to 20% or even less after the first year of mating. Females lay around 3 clutches (approximately 75 eggs) every season. 

Red-Eared Slider Care

Don’t Need Any Discipline

The sliders are very popular as they are easy to maintain. As the owner, you do not need to spend much time disciplining it. 

Sun Is As Important As Water

You need to let the sliders bask in the sun for a definite time every day. You need to keep in mind that the sunlight is very important for the good health of the sliders. With the help of sunlight, red eared sliders produce vitamin D3, which is extremely important for their health.

Other General Red-Eared Slider Facts

World’s 100 Most Invasive Species

Red-eared sliders have been named as one of the world’s 100 most invasive species. The reason behind this is a lot of people are adopting/buying red-eared sliders. As these adorable creatures have a long life span, often, owners release them into the wild. As a result, they made it to the list of the world’s 100 most invasive species. (Report by The Humane Society) 

Tougher Than The Dinosaurs

Okay, this fact is not specifically about the red-eared sliders but about turtles in general. The turtles are the authentic survivors of the prehistoric era. The difference between today’s turtles and prehistoric turtles is very little. The dinosaurs became extinct but the little turtles survived, well done! 

They Can Live As Long As You

Lastly, the sliders live longer in captivity than in the wild. They live up to 40 years in the wild, whereas 50-70 years in captivity.  

Red-eared sliders are common pets across the USA and Asia. With minimum care, you can provide this cute animal with a forever home. I hope these fun facts helped you to know your pet better.