Cricket R. Slider (Water Turtle)

PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION COMPLETELY before contacting MATTS. Many of your questions will be answered below. I'm a juvenile female aquatic slider turtle who is available in the Baltimore area with transport available to York and Harrisburg, PA. I eat Mazuri, Reptomin, and other brands of commercial turtle pellet, dark leafy greens, and thin slices of carrots. I won't turn up my nose at a piece of plain cooked chicken, either. I ONLY eat in the water. I'm for adoption because I was getting too large for my person to keep in a 20 gallon aquarium, and most apartments don't allow anything over 20 gallons. I'm around 3 years old, but I can live another 20-30 years. I'm only 4" long right now, but could end up being 7-11" long as an adult. Although I'd do well with a 55 gallon aquarium right now, eventually I should have at least a 75 gallon aquarium or Rubbermaid stock tank because I still have a lot of growing to do. My tank should come with a strong external canister filter or really good home-made filter, and a basking area under a heat and UVB light. A Rubbermaid or Tuff Stuff stock tank would make a good home, and those are cheaper than aquariums. A 100 gallon stock tank is great for me, since I'm not used to deeper water, and it sells for about $100 at True Value or Tractor Supply Company and "feed and seed" farm stores. They also come in 150 gallon sizes. In the summer, it would be great if I could live in a FENCED-IN, backyard pond (dug below the frost line so that the top won't freeze solid, if I'm spending the winter there, too). I can also live outside all year if I go into a pond in the summer. I can even be adopted with another lady slider or two from MATTS if the pond is large enough. Pictures of sample enclosures are included with my profile pictures. I'm a bit of a "mutt", a mix of two or three different slider subspecies (yellowbellied, Cumberland, and/or red-eared slider). Sliders can live for 20-60 yrs, and can grow to be 5-8" for males, and 7-11" for females. We need large indoor aquariums or ponds, a basking spot, and water filtration. Indoor ponds and aquariums require a haul-out spot, a.k.a. basking spot, a heat light over a basking spot, a UVB light over the basking spot, a high-powered filter, and usually a water heater. Outdoor ponds must be in an escape-proof yard or the pond itself must be escape-proof. If you have a backyard pond, the turtle can't go outside for the first time until the end of May, but can live year-round outside after that. Babies shouldn't go outside until they're about 3", so they don't become bird food. If using an aquarium, a good rule of thumb is at least 10 gallons per inch of turtle (straight carapace length). So, a 6" turtle will need at least a 55 gallon aquarium. For ideas on how to prepare an aquarium or pond, visit www.turtleforum.com to chat with other keepers. Review the slider care sheet to learn more about caring for a slider. http://nebula.wsimg.com/ae4cb36565545a257b1ff6f17a885dc2?AccessKeyId=A3E784782F81D21389AD&disposition=0&alloworigin=1 A great e-book for beginners is Red-Eared Sliders (Animal Planet Pet Care Library) (on Amazon or in some stores). A more in-depth book, for FREE download, is https://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-lunsford/captive-care-of-north-american-water-turtles/ebook/product-17551523.html REQUEST AN ADOPTION APPLICATION from [email protected] Please INCLUDE YOUR CITY AND STATE when contacting MATTS. An application will be e-mailed to you. Once completed, the application can be returned, and if approved, you'll then have to submit pictures of your set-up before picking up a turtle. We meet adopters in central locations such as near Fells Point in Baltimore, MD, Parkton, MD, and York and Harrisburg, PA, as we foster from our homes and do not have a central shelter. Shipping is possible if temperatures allow, if you're willing to pay for shipping, and if it's legal to have a slider in your state. We cannot place red-eared sliders in CT, FL, OR, or MT. In NJ, since our adoption contract serves as a receipt for a permit (that can be obtained after adopting), visit https://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/exotic_apps.htm MATTS can show you ideas for making your own basking platform from PVC pipe and egg crate light diffuser. PLEASE HELP OTHER TURTLES by spreading the word - baby turtles grow into big turtles! They do not stay small - they do not grow to the size of their enclosure! Please don't buy hatchling turtles at vacation tourist spots. It's illegal in ALL 50 states to sell a turtle this small. Like turtles but can't have one? Want to help? 1) You can share my profile on social media and share www.matts-turtles.org so people can take better care of their turtles and help wild turtles stay wild. 2) MATTS has educational fliers (photos) to share on social media if you email [email protected] to request them. 3) Share our "Monster You Made" video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_935eZl84k on social media. 4) MATTS also accepts tax-deductible donations at MATTS, P.O. Box 341, Highland, MD 20777, or through PayPal at http://www.matts-turtles.org/support.html Rescue is funded by donations only, and we find homes for over 100 animals a year. Thank you!