Red Eared Sliders are Bad Pets (For most people) - Pet Turtles

Consider sharing this video somewhere people who don't usually care for reptiles may see... just in case any of them ever run across a teeny tiny turtle and end up with something that outgrows their fishbowl and outlives their entire family.

Shit, I've been keeping my red-eared for 18 years, NEVER getting rid of him, he's the best.

I got my RES as a baby, my cousin had one that hatched the same day I was born and she is chilling with me right now I love her, we are both 29 years old now

Turtles, tortoises, hermit crabs, bettas, fresh water tropical fish, hamsters, parakeets... Most abused pets in America.

Those who love thr turtle hit the like button

I can just see him as a 70 year old man who still has that turtle 😂

I mean my mom tried to release mine while I was at my school Then he came BACK! After 1 week Maybe because he was hungry idont really know now its been 3 years now and he doesn't bite we adopted him after a flood he was standing outside my gate the police actually thought it was ours

Not to mention, hardly any pet supply company makes a basking dock that is suitable for an adult turtle. Even the extra large sizes are pretty inadequate for an adult slider. Great video!

I have a rescued red eared slider, and she may be the best thing that happened in my whole life, keeping her is A PAIN IN THE ASS. People get so offended when I tell them not to buy one. They’re expensive, they need special lighting and heating during the winter, they need good filters, they have a special diet, and they need a lot of space and time. It’s not just something you can just have and keep there. They are A LONG TERM COMMITMENT. If you want a pet turtle, you must really want it and you MUST be sure you can take care of it. It’s not as simple as pet shops make it seem like.

I've had a red EAR slider for 35 years AN still REAL healthly

OMG YES. I work in a pet store and since NJ doesn't allow to sell turtles, we just get those customers who already bought them and are looking for food and stuff. When I ask what their setup is they literally have them in mini critter keepers. And when I tell them that they get really big and need a big tank with filtration and lights they look at me like I'm crazy. Like I've had one for over 6 years I know what I'm talking about and it infuriates me when people just buy it and think it'll live in that little shit w nothing else

I got my female red-eared slider when I was 11. We've had our ups and downs, she fell off the balcony on 4th store 18 years ago, her shell broke and she just 'walked it off' like a champ. She's at least 28 this year. I've had her for 25 years and she was an adult when we got her. Best pet ever! She's witty, stubborn, kinda smart - she knows where the doors are, she recognizes her feeding tub (and color red, since the tub is red) get's excited on the sound of splashing water and she hates rocks and she always trolls the cat when she roams. She almost bit my cheek off when I was little and tried to kiss her and she bit off a part of my mum's finger when she failed at feeding her :D

Thank you for making this video. I rescued a Red eared slider from the little boy that lives across the hall last year. He found it and was keeping it in a Tupperware bowl. :{. I had to do research to learn how to take care of it. They are more work than keeping fish but I love him so much. For me he is the best pet. My dream is to someday build him a pond so he can live a good life outside. Everyone should do their homework and learn about any animal before you take one into your home. That is another life you are caring for and they are counting on you for everything. Animals are not toys they are living beings.

I got my turtle in 2012 and it was the size of a quarter. I didnt know anything about it or what i was getting into. I got it a ten gallon and a filter and basking area. Right now it is in a 30 gallon ready to switch to a 40 gallon with a sump. I have spent about a thousand dollars on my turtle and in the last 6 years. I am about to spend another $1000 on getting her a new tank and sump. All i have to say is i am ready to spend more!

I like them. I've taken some people's big ones before. Definitely people need to imagine the large size. I prepared for that, but not everyone does

Agreed, most people don't see what comes into the future with their slider. Some girl literally dumped her turtles on me since she couldnt care for them anymore (they were about 3 inches each and living in a 3 gal when I got them). I tried to get them to a bigger tank pronto, and managed to take a 15 gal off of a friend who used to have leopard geckos. Now 15 gal isn't much, but it was definitely more room than that blasted 3 gal that I only use to make water changes now. And so I got them a filter, basking lights, and a heater, and helped cure one of them's shell rot. Now, it's been 3 years, and they're about 6-7 inches each, living in a heated 20 gal (I know I'm gonna need to upgrade them, but my mom won't let me, so I try to let them swim around the pond in the backyard when it's warm out). Just remember that these little turtles live a long while, and they're quite the commitment X3

Welp i just realised i fekd up

The thing I like about this guy is he doesn’t hype his content it’s a plain simple vlog as he tells you facts about the animals I love it his videos are plain is such a good way

I’ve had a red eared slider that has lived in my family filtered pond with koi fish since 01’ All she had for so many years was living in the water 24/7, until two years ago when we put a rock for her to sit on. She, yes she, loves this rock. She’s very good with the fish, she only started eating a fish when the fish was floating (not yet dead) when it was very sick. She doesn’t have special lighting and her shell sheds every spring. She’s wonderful and comes to the side of the pond to eat, she’s quite cool, and I grab her from time to time to hang out on the grass and she and my lab get along great! Love her. So, I don’t know what else I could do for her but she’s very low maintenance and she’s a joy!

I think it's great you're discouraging most from getting these turtles. They simply aren't for everyone, nor are they an expendable novelty. It's very much like getting a parrot/cockatoo. And you're absolutely correct in saying "you're stuck with" the animal. The trick is to figure out if you want to be stuck. We rescued a female red-eared slider who we named Gertie May about 10 years ago. We were novices regarding aquatic turtles (we'd had iguanas before she came along so we at least understood right away her care and housing would be full commitment), but were determined to save this beautiful lady so we educated ourselves promptly, happily invested the money and within a week after getting her she was in turtle paradise. We're not sure how old she is, but our vet and a friend who has raised turtles in the past estimated 20-25 years old at the time. Her shell is a bit over a foot around, and she was suffering some shell rot and was being housed in a 20 gallon tank with a couple inches of filthy water, and nothing else. Yeah. INSANITY. How she survived this, got to be as big as she did never knowing filters, enough space to dive or proper nutrition is beyond me. And we're baffled as to how she maintained such a brilliant social disposition through it all. When we gave her the proper tank (100 gallons) with a filter and beautiful decor, she was utterly overwhelmed. She couldn't contain her excitement or confusion and wouldn't stop exploring and diving with vigor for days...The filter tubes pissed her off at first though (ha!)- she kept attacking them like she was Jaws but eventually accepted their presence. People just do NOT know the investment, commitment and devotion it takes to care for these beautiful animals. We're proud to say Gertie is thriving and is very loved by all of our friends and family. Some of the kids in the neighborhood come visit her when she's out playing in her swimming pool in the back yard in the summer with her rubber duckies and they bring her romaine and other treats. She's a beloved family member and loves her brothers and sisters (we have two dogs, 4 elderly cats, a cockatiel and two doves) and she loves to interact with them. I've also taken her to a couple local elementary schools for their science classes on occasion. The kids loved meeting her, getting to pet her shell and in general learning about turtles. But I must say that over the years many people have expressed interest in getting a turtle like her, and as flattering as Gertie's inspiration is, we've strong cautioned and/or discouraged those who've mentioned wanting one themselves and as to what's all involved. People just do not realize the gravity of it, or even the fact when you have an animal like this...you have to literally put provisions in your will for them in case something happens to you, which we've done. Be smart about getting any animal. Educate yourself, and make well thought decisions before acquiring them- especially those like Gertie. :)