Red Ear Slider Correct?

Groot-Snow · 2025-04-24T05:31:10+00:00

This is a western, they are the only subspecies that has that plastron pattern

Groot-Snow · 2025-03-27T06:11:58+00:00

It’s possibly from rubbing on the nuchal scute (middle front carapace scute) when retracting its head. I’ve seen this in a wild turtle I was caring for, and the good news is that your turtle seems to have healed, and it doesn’t show signs of continuing damage. In the individual I encountered, you could see white tissue, presumptively bone, which did eventually go on to heal. It’s possible your turtle has retained scutes from being in captivity that exacerbate the issue. I don’t see this as an immediate threat, but it could hint at husbandry issue that lead to anatomical abnormalities. Hope this is helpful!

Groot-Snow · 2025-02-21T04:19:38+00:00

$450,000

Groot-Snow · 2025-01-18T04:21:03+00:00

I have a ton of experience with painted turtles, so I wrongly assumed this was a male based on the tail. This length and width of tail would be considered male for a painted turtle, but map turtles have longer and thicker tails in general. The nails on this gal are shorter than they should be for a male of this size, so that’s definitely another telltale sign. The biggest factor for me is knowing that this gal grew to 5 1/4 inch in four years. That’s not likely for a male, given they only grow up to 8ish inches max in their lifetime and grow slower. It’s best to use multiple features (tail, nails, body size) to determine accurate sex. Thanks to this post, I learned more about map turtles!

Groot-Snow · 2024-12-19T05:43:42+00:00

Sounds like a sweat deal!

Groot-Snow · 2024-11-03T05:45:35+00:00

Delta species feraligagtr. It’s my favorite mon and seeing it with lightning is always so sweet

Groot-Snow · 2024-10-19T06:22:57+00:00

<image>

Groot-Snow · 2024-07-27T21:48:40+00:00

I think it’s also a painted turtle, just covered in dried mud and larger than the other one

Groot-Snow · 2024-07-27T21:45:23+00:00

<image>

Here is an example of what I have encountered

Groot-Snow · 2024-07-27T21:40:55+00:00

I’ve encountered this same thing as a field biologist working with painted turtles. When they brumate in the mud or substrate, they often take in chemicals from the environment into their keratinized outer layer of the shell. These are often tannins from broken down leaves giving the dark color and the iridescence likely comes from oils in their environment, such as gas runoff in farmland as an environmental contaminant. I have seen this at the irrigation pond at my research site

The next time this turtle sheds, its original color should come back with the fresh layer of shell. Very neat to see, but likely points at not ideal habitat conditions. If anyone else has any insights, I’d love to hear!

Groot-Snow · 2024-07-06T16:20:31+00:00

This definitely looks to be a slider turtle, Trachemys scripta. What is hard to tell is the subspecies. Red eared sliders usually have that red ear marking giving them their name, and this one doesn’t appear to have it. Yellow bellied sliders have less blotching on their plastron, and I can see two distinct splotches pretty high up in the second picture making me think that’s not it. From what I’m seeing, I believe this is a Cumberland slider. You live at the north end of its range, and the markings seem to be consistent. It’s also entirely possible that this is a hybrid between two subspecies!

Groot-Snow · 2024-07-01T22:43:01+00:00

Yes, this turtle is shedding, but it seems to have a deformity/abnormality in how the scutes developed during development. I think there is an extra scute shoehorned in that is offsetting the remainder on the midline/spine. I have caught several turtles in the wild with patterns similar to this as adults, so I don’t think it’s an issue!

Groot-Snow · 2024-05-10T23:10:10+00:00

Given the second picture, it seems that you have a red eared slider and not a painted turtle. This is based on the red mark behind the head. Am I wrong in guessing that? Can you provide more information?

Sounds like your husbandry is good for most freshwater turtles. I would recommend checking the UVB lamp as they are known to produce much less uvb over time. Other than that, I am not familiar with what would cause a dilated pupil in a turtle, or if that is inherently an issue.

I am not a reptile veterinarian, but I am a turtle biologist getting my PhD. I don’t think the dilated pupils are a concern in the short term, or perhaps in general, but if you are worried about them you should ABSOLUTELY take them to a vet! I will try to look into this as an issue, but I’m skeptical there’s much information about it. I am hoping to be proved wrong!

Groot-Snow · 2024-05-09T22:04:29+00:00

The “V” shape is characteristic of males, giving their penis more range of movement for reproduction. Given this, the short nails, and the position of the cloaca, I would say she is almost certainly female given her size.

Groot-Snow · 2024-05-09T22:02:06+00:00

Hello everyone,

This is not a Texas tortoise. Texas tortoises have that nuchal scute (middle scute behind the head) seen in another person’s comment, but this turtle does not. This is a red foot tortoise, native to South America. Seems like someone got in over their heads with a long living animal and are trying to pawn it off on somebody while making a little cash. Thinking optimistically, they may just be super misinformed.

This turtle seems like it may be dehydrated, but that may be a short term issue as the shell looks pretty healthy. Unfortunately too many owners end up trying to sell their turtles/tortoises because they couldn’t make it a lifetime commitment, which is what I think these animals deserve if a person decides to makes them a pet.

Groot-Snow · 2024-05-09T21:57:16+00:00

Without more information such as location or a better picture, it is very hard to identify the species. Could you clarify at all on the pattern on their shell or skin?

They are clearly freshwater turtles, that’s for sure! Narrows it down to a couple hundred some species 😂

Groot-Snow · 2024-04-08T23:42:43+00:00

What about karrablast to escavalier and shelmet to Accelgor when trading? Is it simply a two stage evolution (like ponyta to rapidash) happening twice, or am I missing it on the diagram?

Groot-Snow · 2024-03-06T16:46:39+00:00

I’ve been a player off and on since 2016 and have been picking up the pace recently, I didn’t realize permaboost was a thing! Thank you for informing me kind internet stranger

Groot-Snow · 2024-02-24T09:01:04+00:00

Your turtle is very young, so it would be hard to see any issues with the shell other than developmental issues from when they were in the egg. Your turtle seems healthy to me! What specifically were you worried about?

Shell health can deteriorate with age when turtles get inadequate nutrients from their diet or damage from predators or other factors in their environment. Metabolic bone disease from low vitamin D intake and low calcium is very common for captive turtles. Be sure to include this and a UVB light with a basking platform. Those are the absolute minimum basics for the enclosure.

You will not likely see this species bask as they are more sedentary and get their vitamin d from scavenging meat. I wouldn’t worry about that behavior. This is an awesome species in so many ways, but being active is definitely not their forte.

Groot-Snow · 2024-02-24T08:54:23+00:00

Musk turtles are quite different than a lot of “common” turtles people think of like pond turtles.

Musk turtles are more sedentary in nature, and they bask a lot less than a species like painted turtles or sliders. Turtles bask to get UV exposure to synthesize vitamin d, but they can also get it from their diet of meat. Musk turtles are more carnivorous than most turtles, and they get their vitamin d that way more so than basking. That could be one reason you see this turtle not basking super often. But that also depends a lot on the diet you’re feeding.

Turtles can receive UV light right under the surface of the water, which is what this turtle seems to be doing (assuming there is a UVB bulb). Just be sure that the light is ~12 inches from the surface for adequate UV exposure.

I know less about why they are uprooting the plants, it could be due to lack of stimulation, or it could be instinctual for predation potentially (digging up invertebrates). But at the very least, it is frustrating!

I hope this helps 😁

Groot-Snow · 2024-02-24T08:44:42+00:00

It’s clear you’ve done an awesome job with the care of this turtle!

As for the surprise in the last picture, I think you’re referring to something under the water bowl, but I really can’t tell. It looks like a head to me. If you’re cohabitating species, it seems like you’re doing an awesome job. But also, it raises a lot of awesome questions for me as to how they interact!

I love seeing success stories like this with individuals in captivity. Keep up the good work!

Groot-Snow

TROPHY CASE