Red Ear Slider Growth

One of the most popular species of pet turtle is the red ear slider, also known as the red-eared slider. Originally inhabitants of the United States, these colorful aquatic turtles can now be found in ponds, zoos and large aquariums throughout the world. There are some red ear sliders that are albino or have yellow instead of red "ears".

  1. Age

    • According to Holly Nash, DVM, a red ear slider hatchling is about one inch long when it emerges from the egg. Hatchlings are usually a lighter shade of green than adults. The most rapid period of growth is between the hatchling stage and when the turtle becomes sexually mature. According to Redearslider.com, by the time the hatchlings are a year old, they should be between 2 and 3.5 inches.

    Sex

    • Females generally grow larger than males. They also are slower to become sexually mature than males. Males usually become sexually mature when their shells are 4 inches in diameter, which can occur anytime from 2 to 4 years of age. Females need to be at least 5 inches in diameter in order to be sexually mature. It can take three to five years for a female red ear slider to grow that big.

    Full Growth

    • The average size of a full grown adult female red ear slider is 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Males grow between 7 and 9 inches in diameter. Red ear sliders grow at different rates, depending upon their health and the quality and availability of their diet. Pet red ear sliders tend to grow faster than red ear sliders in the wild.

    Significance

    • Before purchasing a red ear slider, keep in mind how big they grow. In order to stay healthy, a red ear slider needs a huge aquarium or pond. One 12 inch red slider needs at least a 120 gallon tank or pond in order to stay healthy. A male and a female living together need at least 125 gallons. If more turtles are added, the space has to be even larger. This can get to be very expensive.

    Warning

    • In the United States, it is illegal to import or sell any turtles, including red ear sliders, that have shells less than 4 inches across. Code 1240 was passed in 1975 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because small turtles were proven to carry salmonella. However, it is legal to own a turtle less than 4 inches in diameter.