As much as we all want to believe it, mostly because of their cost efficient price and compact size, turtle lagoons* are absolutely not a suitable home for the Red Eared Slider. For years, these, and similar containers, have been hailed as the ideal habitat for a small aquatic turtle, and for years, a large number of Red Eared Sliders have needlessly died because of inadequate care, more specifically, an inadequate living environment. This is not the fault of any manufacturer or company, because they do not specify what turtles will be appropriately enclosed in turtle lagoons (this being said, I have yet to find any evidence of any turtle being properly housed in a turtle lagoon, but it is not impossible). The only real fault can be handed to careless turtle owners who don’t take the time to educate themselves about their pets. As a turtle owner, and a turtle lover, I feel it is my responsibility to warn anyone who owns or is looking to own a Red Eared Slider, or similar turtle, that turtle lagoons are not a fitting enclosure for Red Eared Sliders.
When I purchased my two Red Eared Slider hatchlings, I was ensured that these lagoons were completely suitable "if you want to keep your turtle at the size they are now" and that they could live a full, happy life. WRONG. I must say, when I first heard this, I thought it was great news, but as I began to care for my new animal friends, I started to become curious. In a way, I was thinking it was too good to be true. It turns out, I was right. Not only this, but as I began get to know them, I realized how horribly cruel it was to try and prevent them from growing and developing.
As I began searching for information on the internet, I discovered that lagoons and similar containers were in no way suitable to house a Red Eared Slider, much less two. **Red Eared Sliders need at least 10 gallons of water per inch of carapace length per turtle. This news was not a total shock, needless to say. Being 14 at the time, I lacked a steady flow of income, and had no way to accumulate all the required supplies and materials that were needed to provide a suitable habitat for Snoopy and Droopy (my two RES***). Luckily, I was able to acquire a 10 gallon tank from a family friend, thus providing a better atmosphere. Later, I saved up the money to get a 20 gallon tank, but still I didn’t have all the extras I needed (heat lamp, UVB lamp, filters, aquarium heater, etc). I knew I was mistreating my turtles, and vowed to do better, first by dedicating any money I made from a summer job to bettering their environment. As a result, this summer, I have been able to purchase a 55 gallon tank, complete with stand, heater, and filter. I have also purchased the heat lamp to create an enjoyable basking experience, and have ordered the UVB light to aid in the use of Vitamin D. Now I feel that as a part of my vow to Snoopy and Droopy, I must warn other turtle owners (specifically RES owners) about the false security of a turtle lagoon or similar container.
Don’t believe everything you hear, especially when it deals with the longevity and health of another living creature. Red Eared Slides are naturally strong swimmers, and need the largest space possible to provide room for growth and movement. Also, in many descriptions of turtle lagoons or similar containers, it explains that the container comes complete with a ramp that leads to a feeding and resting area. This is ludicrous; being a previous owner of a turtle lagoon (for a very short period of time), I am aware that the resting area is more commonly know as the basking area, a place for a turtle to get completely out of the water and accumulate warmth from an outside heat source (turtles are cold blooded). With this information, consider the above statement, “the container comes complete with a ramp that leads to a feeding and resting area”. The resting area is completely out of the water, with the feeding area on the edge, also out of the water. To swallow food, a turtle must be in the water. With this setup, there would be no way for your turtle to consume its food and it would ultimately starve.
Your sliders already have a stressful life living in captivity; don’t make it worse by cramming them into a container that doesn’t allow them to live the fullest, happiest life that captivity can provide. Remember, any pet you have depends fully and completely on you, it is your responsibility to make sure they have the best life you can give them!
July 7, 2004 Copyright© T. Wheeler
*This article is in no means directed toward any person or persons. The use of the word Turtle Lagoon is also not meant to be directed at anyone company, it is simply an example. The purpose of this article is to inform pet owners about containers that may not be adequate to enclose a Red Eared Slider. This article is the opinion of the author, as well as many others in the turtle ownership community, and is meant as a source of advice for others. Please contact me if you feel that this article is inappropriate or should be changed in anyway.
**This is a general guide to follow when seeking out the proper habitat for your turtle. Also, in many permanent housing setups, the preferred amount of water is 20-30 gallons per inch of carapace length. In any setup, be sure to give your turtle the maximum amount of water possible.
***RES is an abbreviation for Red Eared Slider
