what to feed my baby red eared slider turtle

• Controlled Temperature: Baby red eared sliders are sensitive to sudden changes in temperature. Drops in temperature can cause pneumonia. ...
• Omnivorous Diet: Baby sliders eat vegetation, moths, earthworms, crustaceans, tadpoles, snails, and any other small animal they can catch in the wild. ...
• Clean Water: Young red eared sliders need very clean water for swimming and drinking. Use an aquarium pump to circulate and filter tank water. ...
• Stress-Free Tank: Even if their tank setup is perfect, your baby red ear can still become stressed if the environment around the tank is too noisy or busy. ...
• Tank mates: Sliders can share a tank with fish, but this adds some extra challenges for tank cleanliness and turtle health. ...

How to take care of a baby red eared slider?

Provide your baby turtle with 1 to 2 leafy greens daily. Young red-eared slider turtles may not show interest in vegetables, but you should introduce them to their diet early. Lettuce, dandelion plants, and water lilies are safe to give your young turtle every day along with its protein and pellets. Method 3

How do you feed a red eared slider turtle?

Drop food into your turtle's tank to feed it. Since red-eared slider turtles are aquatic turtles, they eat and swallow with their heads underwater. (In comparison, land turtles or tortoises are herbivores and eat on the ground.) Gently drop your turtle's food into their tank, and they'll happily eat and digest it there.

What do baby red-eared slider turtles need?

In addition to their regular diet, baby red-eared slider turtles need supplements, as well. Vitamin or mineral deficiency is a serious thing that can lead to severe health problems. Calcium and Vitamin D are important elements for the health of the turtle shell and should be mixed in the regular diet of your turtle.

What nutrients do Red Eared Sliders need?

Nutritional Supplements for Red-Eared Sliders A vet may recommend that a good reptile multivitamin with calcium and vitamin D3 be mixed with the turtle's food a couple of times a week.

What can I feed a baby red-eared slider?

What Do Baby Red-Eared Sliders Eat?Mealworms.Earthworms.Shrimp.Snails.Tadpoles.Crickets.Small fish.

How do you feed a red-eared baby turtle?

4:2215:23What To Feed Baby Red Eared Slider Turtles!!! | DIY Reptiles - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMeans is that they eat both plant matter. And animal matter like these insects. So these guys willMoreMeans is that they eat both plant matter. And animal matter like these insects. So these guys will kind of scavenge in the wild they'd eat like much larger dead fish and stuff or maybe some other type

What vegetables can baby red-eared sliders eat?

Like humans, red-eared sliders are also omnivorous and have a very varied diet. Sliders can eat many types of vegetables- such as green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, and squash- but also a wide range of fruits – skinned apples, bananas, berries, melons, nectarine, and mango.

How do you take care of a baby red-eared slider turtle?

0:555:01Basic Baby Red Eared Slider Turtle Care 2020 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAlways use a treatment such as rough to safe which gets rid of chlorine. And make sure that theMoreAlways use a treatment such as rough to safe which gets rid of chlorine. And make sure that the water is more safe for a turtle. It might seem like five gallons is not enough space for swimming. But

Can baby red-eared sliders eat fruit?

Some experts recommend fresh fruits such as bananas, berries, apples, and melons. However, this isn't a natural staple in the red-eared sliders diet, and it may cause diarrhea. If you offer any fruit at all, limit it to very small quantities as a special treat. Don't feed frozen fish, or at least not very often.

How many times a day should I feed my baby red-eared slider?

Baby red eared sliders grow quickly and need to eat more often than adults. Feed them a portion of food the size of their head. This will be around a full tablespoon for a four inch turtle. Feed them every day until they reach six months of age, after which you can then switch to feeding every other day.

How do I feed my baby turtle?

In general, you should feed a baby turtle a little more protein than you would an adult turtle. You can replace some fruits and veggies with a little more pellets and feeder fish if your turtle is still growing. Pellets are a great option here, but you could opt to feed him live food instead.

What can red-eared sliders not eat?

Avoid These Red-Eared Slider FoodsFeeder fish.Crickets.Earthworms.Crayfish.Ghost shrimp.Krill.

Can baby red-eared sliders eat lettuce?

Many turtles will stop eating out of boredom if they are fed the same diet. Providing a variety of foods in their diet is key to keeping a healthy appetite. Adult red-eared sliders can be fed: Dark leafy greens: romaine lettuce, kale, dandelion greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, or swiss chard.

How old is a 1 inch red-eared slider?

Baby red-eared sliders are very small. In the first months of their life, they are no bigger than 1 inch in length.

How long can a baby red-eared slider go without food?

Baby or juvenile red-eared sliders would not be able to last more than a week or so without food, whereas older red-eared sliders will be able to last a month or two. A well-fed adult will be able to live without food for up to two months, three at an absolute stretch, but that really is not advised.

How old is my baby red-eared slider?

Usually, the rings form twice a year because turtles generally go through two natural feast and famine cycles. So, counting rings and then dividing by two can give you some idea of the turtle's age. However, older turtles can have rings that are very close together, resulting in counting errors.

Do red-eared sliders like to be petted?

Turtles are arguably the cutest of all of the reptiles. Because of this, they are often desirable pets. However, turtles don't really enjoy being handled and petted the same way other domestic animals do.

How much water do baby red-eared sliders need?

Ideally you should provide 10 gallons of water for each inch of shell length for each turtle. So a 4 inch long turtle would need about 40 gallons of water and two 4 inch long turtles would need around 80 gallons of water.

Do red-eared sliders need to be in water all the time?

The answer is, yes. Red-eared sliders need to be in the water. For starters, red-eared sliders lack saliva and need water to swallow their food. They can eat without water, it's just a lot more difficult.

Do red-eared sliders like to be handled?

Generally speaking, red-eared sliders dislike handling and prefer to be left alone. One of the easiest and most effective ways you can build trust with your pet red-eared slider is with tong feeding. Don't hand-feed — this is likely to get you nipped!

What do red-eared sliders eat?

Mojkan/Getty Images. Red-eared sliders need a diet that is a mixture of both animal and plant materials. Young red-eared sliders eat more animal protein, so babies should start with a diet that's more on the carnivorous side. 1.

What is the best way to feed a turtle?

A variety of fresh food offers a wider range of nutrients in different forms, which may even be absorbed better when fed in the natural state. Feeding a variety of items is also more stimulating to the turtle and a good form of enrichment.

What do turtles eat?

They often eat submerged plants like anacharis, water hyacinth, water lettuce, duckweed, azolla (fairy moss), and frog-bit.

Can turtles eat goldfish?

Larger turtles can be offered larger prey, such as tadpoles or feeder fish, though some experts warn that feeder fish may carry parasites and other undesirables, and some fish (like goldfish) are too fatty to be fed regularly. 1.

Is it better to drop turtle pellets in a commercial?

Commercial pellets are fairly nutritious, convenient, and beneficial since they contain a good mix of vitamins and minerals. However, as the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. Offering a wide variety of foods is better than just dropping in a commercial turtle pellet for your little guy. A variety of fresh food offers a wider range ...

What does a baby red eared slider need?

Baby red eared sliders need a proper and safe habitat to stay healthy and happy. Before getting a turtle make sure you can provide them with everything in the list below: Controlled Temperature: Baby red eared sliders are sensitive to sudden changes in temperature. Drops in temperature can cause pneumonia.

How to keep a red eared slider healthy?

A varied diet is both nutritionally and mentally enriching. It also helps them to get a full range of vitamins. Clean Water: Young red eared sliders need very clean water for swimming and drinking. Use an aquarium pump to circulate and filter tank water .

What is the difference between a baby red eared slider and an adult red eared slider?

A major difference between adult and baby red eared sliders is their diet: Adults eat primarily a 50/50 balance of plants to meat. Babies and juveniles need a 30/70 ratio of plants to meat. One quarter of your baby slider’s protein content should come from commercial turtle food pellets.

Why do red eared sliders refuse food?

It is very common for a baby red eared slider to refuse food during the first three days. This is due to the stress of being introduced to a new environment.

Why don't turtles bask?

Even if they can reach the basking spot, turtles will not bask if the water temperatures are too high and/or the air and basking temperatures are too low. 4. How To Care For Baby Red Eared Slider Turtles. Babies are more likely to get sick because of their developing immune system.

How much does a red eared slider baby cost?

The most common red eared slider baby is the wild-type. Most wild-type sliders sell for $30 to $60. Private breeders sell specialty morphs like hypo pastel, albino, ghost, leucistic and piebald too. Rarer morphs like caramel and charcoal are sold for $1,000.

What is the most popular pet turtle in 2021?

April 13, 2021 Johnathan David. A red eared slider is a fun, unique, and interesting pet. They are one of the most popular pet turtles in the world. Baby red eared sliders are one of the cutest reptiles, it is tempting to get one as a pet. But before you do, take time to consider the care and feeding needs of these tiny turtles.

What Red Eared Slider Turtles Eat

Since red eared slider turtles are omnivorous they can eat a huge variety of ailments. So to make things simpler I will divide them in 5 categories:

How to Properly Feed Your Red Eared Slider Turtle

Over the years I’ve read about countless methods of feeding turtles. But out of all of them two stood out the most, as being the most used and the most efficient. And they are the 15 minutes method and the size of the head method.

Red Eared Slider Turtle Feeding Schedule

The first thing that you have to take into consideration when thinking how often you have to feed your turtle, or when making a feeding schedule, is the age of the turtle. Baby red eared slider turtles need a different amount of food than juveniles, and juveniles need a different amount of food than adult red eared slider turtles.

Occasional Treats

Another thing that I want to address is that you can occasionally give your red eared slider turtle treats. As long as they are not too consistent, you can give your turtle a few live fish, fruits, vegetables or dried insects, without worrying that you disturb their feeding schedule.

Final Thoughts

While red eared slider turtles can eat a lot of things, not all of them can be good for them.

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How to care for a baby red eared slider turtle?

Provide The Right Minerals and Vitamins for Your Turtle. As you are learning the ropes of baby red eared slider care, there are three main ways to ensure your tiny charge gets all of the vitamins and minerals required for optimal health and shell growth. Provide a full spectrum UV-A/B bulb for basking.

What are the signs of a red ear slider turtle?

As part of red ear slider turtle care for babies, you must be especially vigilant in watching for any signs of a developing respiratory illness, shell rot and bacterial or parasite infestation (loose stools, apathetic behavior and lack of appetite are all potential indicators).

Why do sliders pack mealworms?

On the flip side, if you’re not in a cold climate, they pack the mealworms loosely so they don’t overheat each other from friction and too much contact. This prevents them from overheating and dying. Your baby slider will definitely enjoy following the natural instinct of going after live worms. Live Mealworms!

Why is it important to watch for baby turtles?

Because your baby turtle’s shell will be weaker than an adult’s of the same species, it may be more apt to sustain an injury while climbing up or down off its basking ramp or enjoying play time outdoors. This is important to watch for because shell rot is a common health concern for hatchlings in particular.

What causes shell rot in turtles?

Also, your baby turtle will be more vulnerable to toxins, poisons or pesticides from food sources and bacterial build-up from unclean tank water.

How often should I change my turtle's bulb?

Here, be sure to change the bulb every six months. This will give your turtle the ability to absorb calcium fully to grow a strong, hard adult shell. Dust your baby’s food with supplements. Use a calcium with D3 powder and a non-D3 aquatic turtle multi-vitamin/mineral supplement.

Is a turtle's immune system still developing?

system concerns are the other. Your hatchling turtle ’s immune system is still forming and so your baby turtle is more susceptible to a full range of potential health risks than an adult would be. Just like parents with a human baby, you want to be cognizant of your hatchlings developing immune system.