![]() ![]() ![]() But don’t let its tiny size fool you-these guys can get big.Īn adult red-eared slider reaches 12 inches long and weighs about 6 pounds. When you buy a red-eared slider, they might only fit in the crook of your hand. But learning essential care is paramount. They are still considered one of the best turtles you can have as a pet. Since light has shone on the neglect, cruelty, and brutal nature of careless turtle distribution, these guys usually wind up in pretty good homes these days. Today, you might not find a red-ear slider coupon in your Shredded Wheat, but you will find them elsewhere. Many youngsters didn’t know a lot about proper turtle care-and neither did their parents. This marketing hype was more trouble than it was worth, as several baby turtles wound up in bad situations. ![]() Soon, these baby turtles were known as dime-store turtles, becoming pets to kids everywhere. They were inexpensive and easy to come by. Suddenly, red-eared sliders were available through companies, at fairs or carnivals, and in pet stores. This marketing tactic boomed, sealing the fate of red-eared slider babies everywhere. Some speculate that the real fascination for pet red-eared sliders began in the 1930s when the Ralston Purina cereal company started advertising coupons for free baby turtles. This semi-aquatic turtle gained quite a bit of traction in the 1950s in the United States. However it is clear that with no predators to keep the population in check, the Red-eared Sliders are significantly upsetting the ecology of Bermuda’s ponds.The red-eared slider is native to many southern states across the United States, all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. The impact of the introduction of Red-eared Sliders on other pond species, like the native Diamondback Terrapin, is unknown. Sliders are known to crush bird eggs in this way they also have been known to eat the chicks. Unfortunately one of the Sliders preferred basking places is on top of the water level nests of wetland birds, such as the American Coot andMoorhen. Like all reptiles, Red-eared Sliders are cold blooded, so they must pull themselves out of the ponds and bask in the sun to warm up their bodies so they can properly digest their food. This has serious implications for human health because of mosquito-bourne disease and general wellbeing – no one likes mosquito bites! The Killifish are also endemic to Bermuda and endangered. In Bermuda they eat the Killifish and the Mosquitofish (Gambusia) which keep the mosquito numbers down. This species is highly adaptable, and even tolerates the slightly salty (brackish) conditions found in some of Bermuda’s ponds. Red-eared Sliders have devastating impacts on pond ecosystems because they eat almost anything including water plants, molluscs, insects and small fish. The Red-eared Slider is considered one of the worlds top 100 worst invasive species. ![]() If you no longer want your terrapin, make the responsible choice and have it put down by your veterinarian. Rest assured if you release your pet, it will find a mate and be producing clutches of eggs in no time. One Slider added to a pond may not upset the ecology, but people have been adding their ‘one Slider’ to Bermuda’s ponds for decades and now most ponds contain several hundred. Most of the Red-eared Sliders in Bermuda’s parks and nature reserves were dumped their by pet owners who no longer wanted them. Sometimes these escaped Sliders can be found on the side of the road or turn up in people’s gardens. They can smell fresh water and will follow the scent to a new pond. If they are kept in crowded conditions or cannot find a mate, they will escape to find a more suitable home. Red-eared Sliders are able to climb and burrow. One way they got there is by escaping from poorly constructed enclosures. Red-eared Sliders are also frequently spotted on golf courses where they make their homes in the ponds and bury their eggs in the sandy bunkers. They have even been spotted in the heavily polluted Pembroke canal. Through irresponsible pet ownership, these terrapins can now be found in every freshwater or brackish pond in Bermuda. Red-eared Sliders are commonly kept as pets, which is how they arrived in Bermuda. Red-eared Sliders can grow up to 20 cm (8 inches) long. The rest of the head and legs are dark with yellow stripes, and the shell is greenish brown. You can ask them about the advantages of having a pet turtle, as well as the. This species gets its name from the red stripe behind its eye, and its habit of sliding off rocks or logs into the water when it is startled. Ask around to see if any friends have sliders. The Red-eared Slider is a freshwater terrapin that is native to the Mississippi River Basin of North America. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |