How to Add Aquarium Salt to My Red-Eared Sliders Tank

Aquarium hobbyists often add salt to freshwater tanks to help reduce stress, add hardness to the water or most commonly, to treat and prevent fungus and parasites. If your red-eared slider turtle develops grey/white, furry spots on the flesh, this is a fungus. If the fungus has already developed, it is important to take the turtle to a veterinarian. Adding the salt to the tank will help prevent further fungus from developing.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium salt
  • Measuring cup
  • Wooden spoon
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the red-eared slider from the tank temporarily. You can place the turtle in the bathtub with a small amount of water, or in a bucket or similar container.

    • 2

      Measure out a 1/4 cup of aquarium salt for every 5 gallons of water in the tank. This is a general rule of thumb--it is extremely important to follow the included directions on how much salt to use. Too much can be detrimental to the turtle.

    • 3

      Slowly add the salt. If using more than 1/4 cup, do not add all the salt at once to prevent the majority of it falling straight to the bottom. Use a wooden spoon to help dissolve the salt into the water.

    • 4

      Allow the salt to dissolve completely before returning the red-eared slider to its tank.