Schmuckschildkröte

Eared sliders originate from calm freshwater bodies from the southern USA to Mexico and prefer temperatures of 25°C in summer and between 15 and 20°C in autumn. Keeping them alone is preferred, as even in the wild, some sliders are solitary creatures that only come together to mate or bask. Intraspecific (species-separated) group housing in a harem is therefore possible, but not recommended.

The water basin should have a volume of at least 300 liters. In practice, pond keeping is recommended. About one-third of the enclosure size should be the land portion. The land portion should ideally consist of a soil-sand mixture, and sufficient hiding places should be provided both on land and in the water. The basking area must be equipped to provide the turtle with sufficient UV radiation and warmth. This can be achieved through natural sunlight or supplementary lighting. The water level should be at least 50 cm (or at least twice the shell length of the largest animal), and a place for basking should always be accessible.

The turtles' diet includes both animal and plant foods, with animal foods predominating, especially in juveniles. With age, this may change, and plant foods may become more important. Food sources include aquatic plants, fish, and small crustaceans.

Important: The yellow-eared slider and red-eared slider are invasive species and therefore subject to reporting.