Getting a red eared slider is very exciting. This is especially true if you get one as a baby, as you can watch them grow into an adult. One of the questions I am most frequently asked is in regard to the growth stages of a red eared slider.
In particular, many people are worried that their red-eared slider isn’t growing fast enough, or not growing at all. In today’s article, I will explain everything you need to know about growth stages for a red-eared slider.
Why is my red eared slider not growing?
There are many factors which might be the reason why your red-eared slider is not growing. The main causes are environmental conditions, diet, illness, and misidentification.
Diet
Improper diet is the main reason why red-eared sliders do not grow properly. Your turtle’s diet should consist of around 25% pellets, 25% protein (worms, crickets, fish, etc.), and 50% vegetables. The biggest problem I see with pet turtles is that they are not fed enough protein. If you suspect your turtle isn’t getting enough protein, you should try feeding them this high protein turtle food.
Some other important nutrients for your turtle include calcium, phosphorous, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E.
If you don’t follow these guidelines, you turtle might not get the proper nutrients and their growth might be stunted.
Environmental factors
Environmental factors are another common reason why your turtle’s growth can be stunted. This could be a result of your tank being too small. A turtle that lives in too small of a tank will experience a lot of stress, which will effect their hormones and ultimately their growth rate.
Additionally, improper water temperature can also stunt your turtle’s growth. You should remember that the temperature of the water should be between 75 and 80 degrees fahrenheight for a red eared slider.
You should also make sure your red-eared slider has a proper basking set up. This is essential for your turtle to get enough vitamin D3. If your turtle is not able to bask, they might suffer from a vitamin D3 deficiency, which can stunt their growth.
Illness
Your turtle might also not be growing because they are sick. One of the main illnesses in turtles is respiratory illness. Signs of repiratory illness include discharge from the mouth, nose, and ears. When a turtle suffers from a respiratory illness, they might lose their appetite which will certainly stunt their growth.
It is also common for a red-eared slider to chirp when they are sick.
Misidentification
While it sounds crazy, it is not uncommon for a pet store to misidentify the species of turtles. Red-eared sliders are commonly mistaken as painted turtles, and vice versa. Painted turtles are much smaller than red-eared sliders, and usually only reach a length of 6 to 7 inches.
Another mistake that is not uncommon is for a pet store to have the wrong age of a turtle. This is especially true if the turtle is rescued. If you turtle is younger than you think it is, you might think it is not growing fast enough.
How big do red-eared slider get?
Red-eared sliders typically reach a length of 12 inches. Female red-eared sliders actually grow a bit larger than male sliders. You should also know that it is common for pet red-eared sliders to be a bit smaller and only reach a shell length of 10 inches.
How long does it take for a red-eared slider to grow?
While this depends on their environment and diet, most red-eared sliders will reach their full growth at around 8 years of age. You should know that it can sometimes take 3-4 years for a red-eared slider to reach a length of 4 inches. A red-eared slider does most of its growing in between the ages of 4 and 8 years of age.