Red-Eared Slider, The Best Pet Turtle?

The red eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is probably the most popular aquatic turtle available today. They are beautiful, intelligent, and easy to find turtles. But you might of noticed that they haven't been on any of our lists of the best pet reptiles. Why not? Do red eared sliders make good pets? Is the red eared slider the best pet turtle for you?

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Clint is a professional biologist and educator, but above all, Clint LOVES reptiles and he loves to share that love with everyone he meets. Whether you're lover or a hater of reptiles, you can't help but get excited with Clint!
We post a new video every Saturday morning! So stay tuned!


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You guys are so RAD!

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Fan mail? Yes Please!
Clint's Reptiles
770 East Main Street #127
Lehi, UT 84043

[nothingtoseehere]

My grandma's would "give paw" for food and follow her whenever she let him out. Watching a little old Mexican woman with a turtle trailing after her was always the most hilarious thing 😂

[snitcheyes]

I got my Red Eared Slider Turbo when she was approx 1-2 years old, from a cousin who didn't want her anymore. That's her, my icon picture. She had to have an x-ray. I had no idea what I was in for, but I wouldn't trade her for the world. She's been with me now for 17 years, most of my life. She lives in a 110-gallon Tuff-Tub, for which I have custom-built a landing platform and heat and light rig for her. Full-spectrum + UVB + ceramic heat emitter + a canister filter rated for a 500-gallon outdoor pond. Here's what they don't tell you: when you have a turtle this big they don't make habitat supplies for you. You have to get very comfortable thinking outside the box, breaking out the power tools, and making late-night trips to your local hardware store sometimes. But I love my baby! She's smart, stubborn, the vet always complements her on her beautiful carapace, and she's afraid of precisely nothing. She's the perfect fit for me as a companion animal.

[capitanpredapool]

Hi Clint! My red eared is about 29 years old, and is my birthday present when I was 4. 😃

[ReannaLovelace]

I had my turtle since I was 15 years old and now I am 29. I bought her at a dime size. I'm not gonna lie to you and say this journey has been pleasant caring for her. Shes super expensive and very high maintenance. She is very HUGE and I am very afraid to pick her up.

I live in an apartment and I wish she can have a better home in an outdoor pond outside. She currently lives in a 75 gallon tank. Changing the water and filter I challenging. I'm running out of options so this video has given me a lot of hope.

[melskunk]

We had one growing up, but not for the typical reason. My dad was offered a RES that had a 4 inch shell size from someone who didn't want it anymore. He set up a tank in his own personal office and meticulously cared for it for years until it grew too big to be comfortable for it. He then dug a pond in the back yard for it, which it stayed in for another decade, well cared for. After he'd had it for at least twenty years he had a local biology teacher offer a very good setup for it (I believe the carapace was 8-9 inches though at that point) with the promise of giving it back should they no longer have a home for it. I believe it is still alive at almost 30 years right now!

[Ferrucci_]

I've had my red eared slider for 11 years now. He's 12" long and 8" wide. He grew out of his 100 gallon tank so i gave him my bathtub. Now he swims, dives and does tricks. It's easy for me to drain the water and clean it. I only use my stand up shower for myself.

[nicholaslienandjaja]

Proud owner of one here! As long as you KNOW what you're doing and take good care of them, you should be able to keep red-eared sliders.

[RayeKennedy]

I purchased a Red Eared Slider for my 6 year old son...$10 while exiting the 4 train in NYC. "He" was so cute!! After I had exchanged $ for pet, I asked, "what does it eat?" "How do I take care of it?" The seller had no idea..."feed 'em lettuce..." So my turtle educating began. First, "what kind of turtle is this???" Then, the shock of my life!!! A HUGE tank, basking lights, UV lights, a turtle dock, a filter (a BIG filter!! Yuck!!), food, etc... Next, a trip to the pet store...$400 later....I SHOULD HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PURCHASE, however, all thanks to God, I got everything needed to properly care for a split-second costly decision!! And, my son loves his boy "Windy" (who, upon education, I believe is a female!!)

[raymondjacque]

Him: turtles are generally easy to handle




Me: glares deeply at my snapping turtle

[KTQ]

I love my red eared turtle Frankie! She has brought so much joy to our household. One of the joys of my days are walking up to her tank and she comes flying right over! Love her

[GreenFire]

“Holding a red ear slider is kind of like holding a hamburger that sometimes kicks at you with pointy claws”
Yup, that’s a pretty dead on description of handling almost all turtles. My eastern box turtle does the same if she’s not chilling on your palm. My Russian tortoise can only be held like a grumpy hamburger.

[angeeshinee]

My parents bought two of these little guys at a mall kiosk for me. We didn’t have do much research, I was about 8. We didn’t have them long and they were given to another family. Being informed on your pet is so important. Thanks for your content. Hopefully impulse pet buys at petco and the mall can decrease with more education.

[dyndor]

My female is smaller than my male, although full grown. She is dwarfed as she was really neglected before I rescued her. I love my turtles so much! Their names are Jeremy and Lily. Jeremy was turned into the Humane Society as a stray, which Is so strange since I live in central Alberta, Canada. It gets to -40 Celsius here. Also, Jeremy has a scar on his shell. He was cracked open in the past. I wish he could talk, because I would love to hear his story. At least he is safe and loved now.

[Jenny-ngil]

Mine was the very first pet I was allowed to keep because it was cheap and my parents didn't think it'd last long. I got her at dime size when I was seven, and now she's been with me for 16 years ♥️
Really interesting video!

[raelonewolf]

I appreciate that you pointed out that there are plenty of these turtles already in need of homes. One thing I wish you had added was the reason why these turtles are actually illegal in some places. Here in the Pacific Northwest, red eared-sliders are invasive, competing against our native painted and western pond turtles. People will either intentionally let their pets loose, or they will put their pets in a pond or stream in their yard, and it's not too hard for them to find their way to other bodies of water. Like you said, they are really hardy reptiles, which unfortunately makes them really good at establishing invasive populations, so it is important for people to be aware of just how hardy (and potentially harmful) they can be.

[fabianalejandrodiazjimenez]

"you will need a uv light and a heater"
Me: leaves the sun make all the work for free

[Merlijn]

Oh wow they get a higher score than I'd expected. Still absolutely not a pet for me but loved learning about them and I have to say, they are absolutely gorgeous turtles

[isaiahbonilla]

Had a "friend" who never fed his 2 turtles. One day I saw that one was already dead and the other was hiding on the other side of the tank scared. Needless to say I jacked the poor little thing and I'm taking care of him now! He always looks at me when I'm moving about my room. He LOVES to eat his worms from my hand. I love my little guy so much and im happy he is in a better home.

[adamwoehrle]

My partner's 10 year old RES moving in with me when we got a place together rekindled my love of reptiles. We've found that shrimp, snails and plants all help with aquarium maintenance AND double as a food source. Also, alternatives to goldfish that don't share the same issues include livebearers, such as guppies and platys, which are not only a more natural diet, but look beautiful in the tank AND reproduce prolifically with little encouragement. They tend to eat algae and leftover turtle food scraps as well!

[zenmartian]

I've had mine since i was 13( I'm turning 34 this year). He was a fully grown rescue a friend of the family brought us so you can add a few years to his potential age. He only had one eye and a bit of a dark side from his past, since he tends to eat only the fins of feeder fish and leaves the rest to flounder for his amusement. Even though he is a bit of a psychopath he is highly intelligent to the point i can call him like a dog when i let him out and about in the yard (feels bad to leave him in his tank 24/7). All in all my petrie has been an excellent pet.