Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Reptiles > Release 3 Red Eared Sliders

Release 3 Red Eared Sliders

22 14:32:01

Question
I have three red eared sliders which I have had for 4 years and before that, our ex-coworker had them for a year from when they were babies. They have gotten extremely big and have started mating, laying eggs, etc. I believe that they are all extremely frustrated so they cannot bury the egg. Not to mention, their size has made them aggressive and their 55 gallon tank no longer seems fit. I fear that they are not happy and wanting to be out in the wild. I am fearful that they may not know how to hunt. I thought at one point that I would not feed them and then release them in the stream of water in the back yard. However, they ended up frightening with each other and bitting each other. I am not sure if they will survive in the wild, but cannot manage them any longer. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thank You.

Answer
I've answered a question similar to this.  They would love to be released.  To them, it would be like getting out of prison.  It won't be hard for them to learn how to catch their own food.  They will catch insects and other easier things like that, and then they will eventually move up to minnows and other things.  Releasing them into the wild is the best thing for them, trust me.