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​- Baby sliders, aka "dime store turtles," can grow 8-13" long and live 30+ years 

- It is illegal to release a slider into the wild in Mid-Atlantic states, as they are an "invasive species"
- Often the interest in surrendering a slider is due to the owner's lack of information on correct care

- If your slider has gotten "too big," a great option is to house him/her in an outdoor pond

- Healthy sliders kept outdoors can safely hibernate if provided with the correct environment

- The MATTS Facebook page is a great resource to connect with for help!

Finding a new home for a Red-Eared Slider

Read more at Turtle Care  & Heathcare Resources. 

A great resource is the book "Red-Eared Sliders"  from the Animal Planet Pet Care Library, available through  Amazon.​

Releasing a slider to a pond or lake isn't an alternative. This is illegal in most states.  Red-eared sliders are not native to much of the USA and can cause environmental issues for native turtles. There's also the risk transmitting a disease to native wildlife. Even if you see red-eared sliders in a non-native area, more than likely they were dumped pets.

​This article, Misery on the Half Shell provides sobering insight into the Red-Eared slider dilemma..

Remember the "Death Dish" - the first (and last) home of countless sliders for over five decades?

Copyright 2015. Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society. All Rights Reserved.

Alternatives to surrendering your slider

.​Dedicated to the conservation and care of turtles and tortoises.

Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society

Consider equipment or habitat changes that will provide easier care

If you are having trouble keeping your tank clean, consider purchasing a Python siphon. This accessory connects to almost any sink or faucet, and drains and fills an aquarium without requiring buckets or priming.  Many pet stores and on-line stores, sell this product.  www.pythonproducts.com  For very large aquariums or stock tanks, a small pond pump with two water hoses or a sump pump can empty a large tank in about ten minutes for cleaning. 

A good filter can help with water quality as well. You’ll need a stronger filter for turtles than fish. External canister filters work much better than in-tank or over-the-tank filters. Much equipment labeled “for turtles” is inadequate for the job.  Some handy types make their own filter with a pond or fountain pump.  Many people over-feed their turtles, impacting water quality and growth rate.  An adult or older juvenile can be fed every other day. Some people also feed their turtle in a smaller "feeding container" such as a Rubbermaid or Sterilite container filled partially with water to keep food from fouling the aquarium water. Remember, you’ll need roughly 10 gallons per inch of turtle, so if your tank is too small, your water quality will reflect this as well.  

If your turtle is growing larger and you need a larger tank fast but the budget doesn't allow for an up-grade in the near future, consider a large Rubbermaid or Sterilite container from a home improvement store until an aquarium or pond can be purchased. See photos of examples here.  Also try Pennysaver,  www.freecycle.org, www.craigslist.org, flea markets, garage sales, and thrift stores to find inexpensive aquariums. Pre-formed ponds can often be purchased cheaper, gallon for gallon, than aquariums, at most home improvement stores. Rubbermaid stock tanks are especially good for sliders, A 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank costs about $80 at a farm supply store, and they’re very light weight and hard to break. They can be painted on the outside to match a room. Rubbermaid stock tanks come in 75, 100, 150, and 300 gallon sizes, and are sold at Tractor Supply Co. and TrueValue, and similar stores.

Re-locate your pet to an outdoor habitat for easier care
- Sliders do best in fenced-in backyard ponds of at least 300 gallons, dug below frost level
- A FENCED escape/predator-proof outdoor habitat needs less maintenance than indoor tanks
- If your own pond isn't an option, check with friends who have backyard ponds
- Healthy sliders have no problem hibernating in a pond over winter
- Outdoor sliders receive the healthiest exposure to UV light 

- Make the transition between mid-May and mid-September to allow for outdoor acclimation

​​When all else fails
​If you absolutely cannot keep your turtle, consider one of the following options. Post an ad in the office of local pet stores and veterinary offices,  or community publications.  Petco and Petsmart typically allow ads to be posted.  Some animal control agencies and humane societies will accept turtles.  Some pet stores will accept unwanted turtles.  Most nature centers  already have enough animals to care for, and not all nature centers care for turtles properly.  If using Craigslist.org, screen potential adopters very carefully, consider making a "surrender contract" for the adopter to sign, and ask to see the driver's license of the adopter before they take the turtle, so you can verify their address.  You can also check alternate reptile rescue options.

If you absolutely cannot keep your turtle at this time, and cannot find a qualified home, consider humane euthanasia at the office of a qualified veterinarian. Although this might seem harsh, it's a humane alternative.  There are thousands of sliders needing new homes, and quality homes are hard to come by.  Euthanasia can be painless with limited stress if performed via injection by a qualified veterinarian. It is the final, selfless act of a kind and caring keeper  to ensure pets have a quiet and painless end. DO NOT do this at home and NEVER drown or place an animal in a freezer, which results in an extremely painful death.