ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Red-eared Slider

 Red-eared Slider

Red-eared slider

Here is the little green turtle that has been sold by the thousands in pet and variety stores.
 

Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans

At-a-Glance

• Peak Breeding Activity: March-July

• Gestation period : 85 days

• Number of offspring : 4-23 eggs

• Typical Foods: plant matter, insects, and tadpoles
Description
Perhaps the most distinctive marking is the broad reddish patch behind each eye. In rare instances, the red is replaced by yellow.

Habitat and Habits
Although these turtles are common in areas far south of Ohio, isolated communities have been discovered in some northern states. Whether released captives or remnants of an ancient population from a warmer age, they manage to hold their own. Two such colonies of red-eared sliders have been reported in Ross and Pickaway counties.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
The reproductive biology of turtles is fascinating. With the exception of softshell turtles, the sex of all species of Ohio turtles is dependent on the temperature at which the eggs develop. For instance, snapping turtle eggs that develop at about 77 degrees Fahrenheit will all hatch out as males, while eggs that develop at much higher or lower temperatures will all hatch out as females. In the wild, warmer eggs at the top of a nest may all hatch out as females, while cooler eggs at the bottom hatch out as males.