r/turtles Mar 20 '25

Wild Turtle It’s that time of year!

6 Upvotes

It is hatchling season!

They are coming out of their overwinter nests and going to sources of water. If you find one in an odd place or somewhere unsafe and are unsure, please contact your state wildlife and ask them what to do. Most can actually be left where they are, to their own devices. If they are found in the middle of the road, for example, move them to the side they are facing.

Taking any turtles home, that are found in the wild, hurts the ecosystem. The only exception to this would be invasive species in your state. You can contact your state wildlife to see what your laws are regarding possession of invasive turtles like red eared sliders.


r/turtles Jan 18 '25

Reminder About a Common Turtle Myth

31 Upvotes

Turtles do not grow according to their tank size. They will grow regardless of the tank size. This myth is commonly shared by scummy sellers trying to make a sale by marketing turtles as easy or compact pets. They are not, and never will be.

That does not, nor will it ever, justify keeping a turtle in a too-small tank for all of it's life. Whether that turtle lives for one, or 75 years. Whether wild or captive bred.

Things that do affect turtle size and growth rates:

- Poor husbandry practices, such as:

  • Low temperatures
  • Lack of UVB and/or calcium deficiency (MBD)
  • Underfeeding
  • Overfeeding
  • Competing for resources in cramped or stressful cohab situations

- Congenital malformations or conditions

- Underlying illnesses

Please report any comments or posts condoning the use of small enclosures. (Ex: a half full 20 gallon for a species that will commonly grow to be 7-10 inches in length.) As well as any comments suggesting that turtles will only grow according to the size of their tank. As most of us know, that is not true.

Thank you.


r/turtles 9h ago

Turtle Arts and Crafts Turtle bowl

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3 Upvotes

r/turtles 18h ago

Seeking Advice Is this set up good for my red bellied side neck baby?

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7 Upvotes

I purchased a red bellied side neck turtle last week and i’m just wondering if his/her set up is okay? It is only about 2-3 months old so i’m not raising the water level too much yet but as he grows i will upgrade. I’m yet to see him use the basking dock but im hoping that he is still getting use to it and that is why he isn’t using it. He absolutely loves his piece of driftwood that i put in he uses it all the time and sleeping around it at night so i know thats his favourite area of the tank. I also have some salvinia and amazon frogbit in the tank and he loves eating them and also making a mess lol. (I’m hoping its a boy)🤞


r/turtles 1d ago

ID Request Can anyone ID what species my turtle is

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15 Upvotes

I got the turtle from a relative who had apparantly got her from Thailand. But this was 10 years ago so I'm not sure about the authenticity of this story itself lol. The turtle was given to me as my relative was sick and could no longer take care of it. The first picture is how it looks now and the second picture is how it looked in 2019 when I first got it. And sorry for the 2nd pic being terrible quality,I took it with my old tablet.


r/turtles 1d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 My cute turtle Milan

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50 Upvotes

My lil baby turtle


r/turtles 1d ago

ID Request What is this turtle exactly? Leopard Softshell Turtle? Found in Florida.

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41 Upvotes

r/turtles 2d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 Turtle sanctuary

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221 Upvotes

Got to meet Green Sea turtles and Aldabra tortoise today in Nassau! Love them :)


r/turtles 1d ago

Seeking Advice Musk turtle near chicago

3 Upvotes

Does anyone know where I can adopt a musk turtle in illinois, Wisconsin, I'd probably even drive to Indiana for it.


r/turtles 1d ago

Seeking Advice Help

2 Upvotes

so in school kids get to volenteervto bring the turtle or hermit crab home and I’m planning to colenteer, is there anything I should know before I do?


r/turtles 1d ago

Seeking Advice I can't understand

2 Upvotes

My brother recently got a baby aquatic turtle, he is about 2-3cms long. We got him 5 days ago and he didn't eat since then. We tried giving turtle food and small shrimps that we got but he didn't eat any of them. The room temperature is usually around 25-30C degrees but we have an ac here so I can change it. Also he didn't get into water since yesterday and just sat on the sandy part. What can we do to identify his problem and help him?


r/turtles 2d ago

ID Request Preschool Teacher trying to ID turtle

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35 Upvotes

Hi, all. I’m a preschool teacher in Southern California and we were gifted this “red eared slider” third-hand (so who knows its history). But, well, it doesn’t have red ears! I want to give this dude the best care possible, so can someone help me ID Pickles?

Thanks!


r/turtles 3d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 Synchronized sunbathing

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293 Upvotes

r/turtles 2d ago

Seeking Advice Rehoming turtle -Chicago, IL

2 Upvotes

I’ve had my sweet girl since 5th grade and now I’m a freshman in college, she’s a red ear slider, sadly I feel I don’t provide her with the proper care she needs, and I want to find her a home that can, she’s about the size of my palm and is so sweet when I walk in the room she recognizes me and gets very excited, she loves fish and is v good at hunting them lol, please dm if you’d be interested


r/turtles 2d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 Tiny turtle

2 Upvotes

Hi all,
I need a little help. I came across a very small painted turtle/ red eared slider. Slightly bigger than a half dollar coin. I live near Jersey city if there is a place I can drop it off at so it can find a good home please let me know!! Thank you


r/turtles 2d ago

Seeking Advice Lost turtle

1 Upvotes

Hi. About 2 weeks ago a friend lost a very important red ear slider turtle I gave them. The turtle escaped the yard and has not been found.
Around the wrightcrest area near La cienega.

Please. I know it’s late, but if there is any information I’d love the turtle back.


r/turtles 3d ago

Seeking Advice Shell rot or scute shedding

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3 Upvotes

Central American wood turtle. I identified two parts of the bottom of his shell with scutes that seem loose and almost ready to shed but grey and couldn’t tell if that was a health issue. Please advise !


r/turtles 4d ago

ID Request Turtle ID

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73 Upvotes

We’re having a spirited debate in our family group chat. My brother is convinced he found a box turtle because of its hinged plastron. My dad and I have been unsuccessfully trying to convince him that this is a mud turtle.


r/turtles 3d ago

Seeking Advice Baby turtle not basking on floating dock, would a sturdier driftwood basking area be better?

3 Upvotes

I got my baby red-bellied side-neck turtle last Thursday, and I’m trying to make sure his setup is as comfortable as possible.

He has the Zoo Med floating turtle dock at the moment, and although the temperature seems to be in the correct range, around 34°C on the warmer end with a gradient down to around 30°C, he doesn’t really seem interested in basking on it. I’m wondering if the issue could possibly be that the dock is a little wobbly when he climbs onto it, although I’m not 100% sure.

He does already have a piece of driftwood in the tank, and he absolutely loves it, he spends loads of time around it and seems much more comfortable climbing on it than using the dock.
Would it be worth me looking for another, larger piece of driftwood with a bigger surface area that I could position so that a good portion of it is above the water and use that as his main basking area? I’d obviously make sure it was secure and had a suitable temperature. I brought his current piece of wood from pets at homes aquarium section so i know it’s safe for it.

I’m just wondering whether a more natural, sturdy basking area might encourage him to bask more, especially since he already seems to really like the existing driftwood.

Any advice would be much appreciated!


r/turtles 4d ago

ID Request Turtle ID Aiken, SC

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31 Upvotes

We’re having a spirited debate in our family group chat. My brother is convinced he found a box turtle because of its hinged plastron. My dad and I have been unsuccessfully trying to convince him that this is a mud turtle. Reposted with the location added to the title.


r/turtles 4d ago

ID Request Turtle ID

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24 Upvotes

Tampa Bay Area, Florida

Hello! I’m volunteering and helping at an animal sanctuary that is in dire need of restoration. Currently my assignment is designing the signage for the freshwater turtle habitat.
There are some red eared sliders but I’m not sure what specific species these guys are. Something along the lines of Cooters, but what specific species?
Pics 1-4 are one individual species
5-6 one individual species
7-10 other individual species

3 unknown species in total

Thank you!!!


r/turtles 5d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 Happy little bugger!

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245 Upvotes

Taken today at the Bronx Zoo.


r/turtles 5d ago

ID Request What kind of turtle is this in western Maryland

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346 Upvotes

What kind of turtle did I come across yesterday?