Red Eared Slider question

[DAVIDFBT]

What's the minimum size of an aquarium that a RES can be in?

I saw about 5-6 of them at a man-made pond yesterday, and it looks like someone had released them into the wild thinking it is a native species (Even though it does not live in southern oregon) after outgrowing their five-year old son's ten gallon tank. :angryfire:

So I was thinking of saving one from the tough winters here, so that's why I'm asking.
The turtles at the pond look like they are about a foot long and at least 10 years old. (I sneaked up on one and picked him up to count the rings on his carapace.)

Can you also suggest what I can do for the other turtles?

EDIT: I also washed my hands with soap as soon as I got home to protect from salmonella

 

[wwg]

75 gallon tank for a single one i think

 

[SchizotypalVamp]

I would suggest a 150 rubbermaid, but you may be able to get away with 75 for one if they aren't very active.

 

[wwg]

i agree with schizotypal try and get a rubbermaid they cheaper and lighter than a glass aquarium, 75 is the smallest tank for one

 

[duke33]

If you do the rubbermaid, get one designed for water. The blue ones will bow.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Just to let you know that males and females differ in size. If you get a female then go for the biggest size rubbermaid tub you can afford. Males stay smaller but can still max out at 8-9 inches in shell length. You could probably get away with keeping a male in a 75 gallon aquarium. Here's a good link to Red-Eared Slider care and info.

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-red_ear_slider.htm

 

[Notophthalmus]

It's probably too late to save Oregon from sliders; I believe they're well-established in many places there. It's a shame; they out-compete the native painted and pond turtles.

As everyone else said, 75 gallons plus is the way to go. Rubbermaid works; if you're handy you could also build a large plywood box and seal it with epoxy or line it with a durable pond liner. Provide a basking spot, UVB source, and powerful filtration (rated for a much larger tank); turtles are far messier than fish.

Sliders are easy to sex. Adult male sliders have a long thick tail base, with the vent near the end of the tail; have long claws on the forefeet; and are prone to melanism (excess dark pigment development) as they age. Females are larger; have a small tail with the vent near the base; short claws; and are seldom melanistic.

Here's an old melanistic male:

 

[wwg]

never knew about the melanism,what does the shell look like under all those algae?

 

[Notophthalmus]

Mottled gray and black. I'll try to get a good photo of my captive melanistic male this afternoon and put it up.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I've worked with and kept many different native turtle species here in the US. But the RES is one I've never really had any real experience with. I find that funny because they're so common. I prefer Chrysemys picta myself.