Regarding Basking Light

Question
Hello,

I am planning to buy a Red Eared slider pair and wanted to know something before i go out for it.

1) How do i determine approx what age are they?
2) How do i identify Male and Female.
3) What would be the ideal size of tank to have a healthy pair
4) Should i have a spot light on a particular spot for basking purpose or should i light up the whole tank?

Eagerly waiting for your guidance.

Answer
Hi,

1) Determining the age can be difficult unless you know when they were hatched. It is nearly impossible to tell the age. But most Red Ear Slider keepers don't go by age they go by size.

2) You can tell the gender once they are at least 4 inches long. At which point the males will have long front claws, and the female's claws or short just like her back ones. The male's cloaca (anal opening) is located on the tail near the tip of his tail, and the female's cloaca is located on the tail close to the body.

3) When you a pair can be housed in a 40 gallon tank, as they get older they will need a much larger enclosure such as an outdoor pond (weather permitting) or a very large inside enclosure.

4) The land area or floating basking area should have a heat light over it so that the air temperature stays warm enough for them to come up and bask, but you also need UVB producing light over the entire tank. These lights are sold at most reptile related pet stores and places online. They look like fish tank bulbs but they MUST produce UVB rays or the turtle can get very sick.


Good luck
Yexalen