Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have you ever seen such a handsome fellow? I'm guessing he's a RES crossed with a yellowbelly slider, but since he's from a shelter, we'll never know. The only background I have is that he was purchased from a pet store six months ago.

Katrina

Oh wow you're right, looks great!

Looks nice and darker.. his red is really pale but in a good way. More pics please

Here's the face. I probably won't be able to get better pictures until Wednesday - bad flash and getting home too late for good light.

Katrina

Katrina,
I was thinking about something.I remember a while back somebody posted something about how as sliders get older they start to lose their coloring and go brown.Do you think this could be it?

Also, no matter how old that turtle is, he is beautiful!
...Anne

1 RES JFK
1 Anklebiter 18 months

No, this isn't age. When you see an older slider going melanistic, you'll know. The red turns darker to more of a maroon color, or fades out altogether as it blends in with an over-all blackish gray color on the skin. An older slider wouldn't be this colorful.

Katrina

Hello Katrina, Kerry:
Your turtle is really a great looking animal. I do believe it is a RES though. It seems to me there is one color type called the Cumberland Terrapin from the Plains States that often lacks the red on the sides of the head though it is still a Red Ear.
They really are nice turtles. I have seven of them and they're all great animals. I also have one of the "Black" Red Ears that I mentioned in an earlier post. It is a femal over twenty-five years old. That's a bit out of the ordinary because it's usually the males that turn dark.
Have a Great Day!!!

Thanks for the note. Let me guess, you're from Europe? I just mention that so that no one will be confused. In the US a terrapin is usually used to describe the Malaclemys, or diamondback terrapins from brackish water along the coast of the US. Don't most Europeans refer to all aquatic freshwater turtles as terrapins?
The Cumberland and RES are both subspecies of T. scripta.

Here's the top.

Katrina

Well, most people are saying it's a Cumberland slider, so I'm looking through books and galleries. Seems like a good match.

Katrina

Hello Katrina:
I didn't notice the post and I answered the last thread. I believe yours is a Cumberland Terrapin though they are still Red Ears as far as I know. There are Red Ears from Texas that also look quite different from the average Red Ear.
Have a Great Day!!!