Should I get a Red Eared Slider (turtle) with a 10 gallon aquarium?

Question

They have them for sale at the beach I am at and I have always wanted a turtle. I have a 10 gallon aquarium with a filter and light. I have been trying to research about these turtles and everyone says that I will eventually end up having to get a 90 gallon. Is this true? The shops selling them say that if you keep them in a smaller environment (they are selling them in a tiny plastic cage) that they won't grow as much or as fast. I don't want to buy one and be screwed down the road because I already know I cannot get a 90 gallon aquarium anytime soon. Please advise! Is there anyway I can get one with my ten gallon and keep it in there for the rest of its life or will it outgrow it. (please don't be rude with your comments...i am trying to research and get info BEFORE i buy one)

Answer 1

Your 10-gallon tank might be adequate for a month. The turtle will outgrow it in short order. You might be able to find a large tank on craigslist.org. Alternatively, you might be able to adapt a tub or pool of some sort to keep your turtle in.

Answer 2

Sliders need a lot of room.  Even keeping the turtle in a ten gallon will not stop it from growing.  If you won't be able to get a much larger tank for it then I would not recommend purchasing it.  Also, road-side (or beach-side) vendors with animals are often not monitored by any animal welfare agency so you never know where the animals are coming from (wild-caught etc.) or if they are healthy.

Answer 3

The greatest myth:  Turtles will grow only to the size of their enviorment.  I have experienced first hand that this is not true.  Red Eared Sliders get over 10 inches (females).  A 10 gallon tank WILL NOT be enough.  It might seem it will be enough for a month or a year, but I bet your turtle wil not like the amount of space it has to roam.  It wil outgrow that tank very quickly.  They stopped selling RES here in Rhode Island because people buy them and can't provide the space for them, so they let them go in local ponds.  My advice is to buy a Musk turtle, and a 30-55 gallon tank.

Answer 4

it should be fine because usually a turtle wont grow bigger than it has room to it shlould stay small enough for a 10 gallon tank for a while and maybe you can get it a bigger one eventually because it may need one in 10 - 12 years or not so just think before you buy it

Answer 5

nope nope nope

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035692@N0...

If you have allot of $$$$ and start out with a 60 gal plus size tank and great filtration system for Aquatic turtles I say do it!

They are the cutest!

Sliders, Cooters , painted ,map and yellow bellied are require the same care and feeding. I have two that are 36 yrs old!! Plus an 8 and 5 yr old.

I have had them in a pond for about 6 yrs now..

Get a frog or lizard they are cheaper. TRUST ME!

Answer 6

NO the people on the beach are scammers and most of them have disease..and a ten is a lil small

Answer 7

no they r alot of trouble