Maryanne Slider (good 1st water turtle)

PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION COMPLETELY before contacting MATTS. Many of your questions will be answered below. I'm a small adult female aquatic red-eared slider (RES) turtle who is available in the Baltimore area. I eat Mazuri, Reptomin, and other brands of commercial turtle pellets, 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 my dad had to join the military and couldn't take me with him, then my next care-taker realized how much work I would be and didn't want me. I'm probably around 9 years old, and very small for my age at 5", but I could live another 10-25 years. My shell is a little special because I have "double scutes" on the center of my back. A scute is the name given to each section of my shell. There should be five scutes down the center of my back, but I have seven. Because sliders are hardy and I'm on the small size, I'd make a good first aquatic turtle. Since I'm about 5" long, I should have at least a 50-gallon Rubbermaid stock tank or 55-gallon aquarium. Even a large (50-gallon) Rubbermaid tote would work for my home for now. I may or may not add another inch or so in size over the years. 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, and it sells for about $90 at True Value or Tractor Supply Company and "feed and seed" farm stores. 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. 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) (available at Barnes & Nobles https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-eared-sliders-katrina-smith/1102168496?ean=9780793849246 or on Amazon). 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 WV, VA, CT, FL, OR, or MT. NJ adopters are required to obtain a NJ permit AFTER adopting the turtle (the permit is pretty easy to get). MATTS can show you ideas for making your own basking platform from PVC pipe and egg crate light diffuser. 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. You can also share our Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/MATTSTurtles/ 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!