Red-Eared Sliders As you design your turtle's newhome, remember that the basic idea is to recreate its naturalhabitat. In the wild, these aquatic reptiles thrive in warm freshwater, usually surrounded by abundant vegetation and within reachof a sunny dry spot for their favorite activity, basking. Yourtask, then, is to replicate these conditions. Choosing a Tank First, obtain a 20-gallon glassaquarium with adequate space for the turtle to swim and bask. Thedepth of the tank should be enough to accommodate sufficient waterfor the turtle to right itself if overturned (1½–2 times the lengthof the carapace, or top shell), plus an additional three to fourinches to prevent escapes. Inappropriate water depth may cause yourturtle to drown. Heat and Light Both wet and dry areas must beprovided and maintained within an appropriate temperature range.Construct a gentle slope leading from the wet area to the dry, orinstall a stationary platform or floating raft to allow the turtleto completely dry out from time to time. Turtles need warm air temperature(75°–85°F), and they need plenty of full-spectrum light for propervitamin synthesis. In the wild, natural sunlight would suffice, butinside your home the essential UV rays are filtered out by glass inthe windows and aquarium; they must be provided by an artificialsource of full-spectrum light, such as a reptile light. Additionalheat may be provided with a 50–150-watt light bulb positioned overthe dry basking area. Remember to follow the rhythm of the sun,turning the light(s) on in the morning and off at night to simulatea natural environment. Water Water cleanliness is the singlemost important factor affecting turtle health. Water can appearclean, but pH, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels may beinappropriate or even dangerous. You should install an excellentfiltration system to remove visible particles, change the waterregularly, and scrub out the tank to remove harmful bacteria andmicroorganisms. Some herpetologists recommend changingthe water and scrubbing the tank and its components weekly, whileothers believe that a 25% water change each week and monthly tankscrubbings would be sufficient. Water temperature is probably thesecond most important factor in turtle husbandry. Turtles inunsuitably cold water will lose their appetite and are moresusceptible to disease, and turtles in excessively warm water willcook. Red-eared sliders need clean water warmed to between 75 and86 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also important to maintain aconsistent water temperature, as a drastic temperature change couldkill the turtle. Purchase a high-quality submersible water heaterand thermometer to help you maintain and monitor water and airtemperature. Feeding Red-eared sliders are omnivores,mostly carnivorous when young and becoming increasingly vegetarianas they age. They enjoy a varied diet and eat just about anythinghumans eat. One excellent food source is the commercially availablepellets that are specially formulated for reptiles and do notdecompose as fast as other treats. Your turtle can survive onreptile pellets alone, but it is a good idea to supplement the menuwith assorted vegetables such as leafy greens, shredded carrots,squash, green beans, and an occasional morsel of shredded rawfruit. If you are adventurous, feel freeto serve up live feeder fish, earthworms, and/or insects. But becareful: these turtles often bite at fingers. All turtles shouldalso have access to extra calcium in the form of cuttlebone, whichturtles seem to enjoy nibbling on throughout the day, or calciumsupplements from your local pet store. Juveniles need to be fed everyday, but adults can cut back to once every two or three days. Donot feed them more than they can devour in 45 minutes. Scoop outany excess food after 45 minutes to avoid unnecessary soiling ofthe water. | 
