breeding

Question
QUESTION: hi, i was originally told that red eared sliders wont breed in captivity unless given a proper breeding area. but my male turtle has been very interested in one of my females lately. i do not want them to breed but i also don't want to get rid of him. is there anything i can do, other than separate them? thanks

ANSWER: Hi Ashley,

I don't know who told you that, but RES are prolific breeders in captivity whether conditions are optimum or not.  You can destroy the eggs (and this is really a good thing to do because there aren't nearly enough good homes for RES as it is), but the bigger problem is that your male is likely to harass your female constantly.  This is very stressful for her and she may end up becoming sick, or injured from him biting at her.  If you have an outdoor pond with plenty of hiding areas for her, it might work, but probably not with an indoor tank.  It's generally recommended to keep at least two females with one male for this reason.  So most likely your options are to separate them or rehome.

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QUESTION: I have 2 females and one male. so if i separate them my females will be ok but I have herd that RES like company. will he be lonely or have separation anxiety? thank you for your help

Answer
They don't really have the mental capacity for separation anxiety.  He'd rather be with the females (of course!), but he'll adjust.  For three adult RES together, you'd really need a very large enclosure, anyway.  Your females will probably be about 12" long eventually!