Do you mind having a pet with whom you won't be able to interact much?
Can you provide a large tank (75 to 100 gallons) for your turtle?
Can you provide adequate UV lighting year-round for about 12 hours per day?
Can you provide an adequate temperature (80 to 100 degrees F basking spot and 75 to 80 degrees F water)?
Can you provide a wide variety of both animal and plant-based food for your pet?
Do you have an exotics veterinarian who specializes in reptile care in your region?
Like most turtles, yellow-bellied sliders do not like handling. This can cause undue stress for them. Over time, you might be able to get them accustomed to handling, but when they feel threatened, they will bite. If you wish to have a cuddly pet like a dog or cat, a yellow-bellied slider is not for you.
Aquariums are good for young sliders, but as these turtles mature, their size makes housing them a bit more challenging. The ideal tank size for an adult slider is 75 to 100 gallons. The tank should have a basking dock and clean water. If you have an outdoor pond and a securely fenced yard to keep your turtle in and predators out, you might consider putting it outdoors for at least part of the year.
Turtles need adequate UVA and UVB rays. They typically get these UV rays from unfiltered sunlight or a special lamp. Aquatic turtles will need these UV lights year-round for about 12 hours per day. Replace UV light bulbs every six months. If your yellow-bellied slider lives outdoors, it will not need supplemental UV lighting; the sun's rays will be sufficient.
As cold-blooded creatures, turtles need to self-regulate their body temperature. To control their temperature, turtles seek out basking spots to soak up the sun's warm rays. You will need to replicate a sunny basking spot that can reach 80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Either a 60-watt or 100-watt basking bulb should be sufficient. Their water also needs to be at a constant temperature of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. A water heater will be required to keep the water warm. It should be maintained day and night.
Yellow-bellied sliders are omnivorous creatures. Turtles of all ages should get a wide variety of both animal and plant-based items. Juveniles and hatchlings should eat twice a day. Once a turtle reaches adulthood (age 2 to 5), feed once a day.
You can take care of a yellow-bellied slider turtle as a pet!
Yellow-bellied sliders are prone to health issues that require veterinary inspection. A turtle that is always floating can be a sign of a problem, such as pneumonia. Turtles with eyes that are closed or puffy may indicate a respiratory infection or a similar issue. Wheezing and drooling also are signs of respiratory ailments. Shells that are soft, not smooth, or covered in algae might have shell rot, which is a painful condition caused by fungus. Exotics veterinarian who specializes in reptile care should be consulted on the first signs of an illness.
https://www.thesprucepets.com/yellow-bellied-sliders-1238384
Sreten null
Hi! I’m Sreten Filipović. I graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Belgrade, with a master's degree in Environmental Protection in Agricultural Systems. I’ve worked as a researcher at Finland's Natural Resources Institute (LUKE) on a project aimed at adapting south-western Finland to drought episodes. I founded a consulting agency in the field of environment and agriculture to help farmers who want to implement the principles of sustainability on their farms. I’m also a founding member of the nonprofit organization Ecogenesis from Belgrade whose main goal is non-formal education on the environment and ecology. In my spare time, I like to write blog posts about sustainability, the environment, animal farming, horticulture, and plant protection. I’ve also published several science-fiction short stories.
You can find me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreten-filipovi%C4%87-515aa5158/
