Posted by:
erico
at Fri Oct 5 14:42:39 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by erico ]
I really, really don't want to be rude, but so many posters ask questions regarding the identification or outdoor care of a turtle without telling us where they live - information we need to make judgements. Red-eared sliders have been introduced and have sometimes established colonies in several areas north of their natural range where temperatures get "below zero". There was such a colony in the Shaker Lakes in Shaker Heights near Cleveland, Ohio where I formerly lived and they are well established in Southern Michigan. HOWEVER.... North of Southern Illinois and Indiana, they are non-native species and, as a very aggressive breed, should not be released to the wild. Domestication is not a problem if you really want to keep the turtle. Sometimes they take a while to adapt to a captive diet of good balanced prepared commercial food and need to be started on earthworms, fish meat, kale and other leafy vegetables etc., but they are extremely adaptable and one of the hardiest turtles in captivity. They are also surprisingly aggressive to other turtles and will sometimes kill smaller individuals. Males are often relentless in "courting" both females and males of their own and other species, which involves neck biting. In the wild, individuals can escape but in a small container they suffer. Females are usually better behaved. As metioned elsewhere in the thread, check out specilialzed forums if you decide to keep it.
[ Hide Replies ]
|
RE: Urgent: Decision must be mad soon. - erico, Fri Oct 5 14:42:39 2007