Red eared slider/ not - my guess is ... NOT!  11/12/07
Hello
<Hello right back!>
A couple of months ago I brought 2 turtles from a pet store in London, I was told that 1 was a map turtle and the other was a red eared slider. The thing is after looking at hundreds of pictures of red eared sliders I came to a conclusion that mine cant be. For a start it doesn't have the red bits behind its eyes just yellow circles I don't know how to tell 1 turtle from another so please help.
<That's one characteristic of a Red Eared Slider, Tammy. If he doesn't have a red patch where are ear would be, he's not a Red Eared Slider. Are the yellow circles on BLACK or on GREEN? Yellow and Black is similar to another common turtle, the Cooter (Pseudemys concinna). Expand your picture search to just Pseudemys and you'll find many more kinds to look and compare.>
Also both my turtles necks seem to be peeling.
<They do shed skin as they grow>
The water temp is mostly at 73f (even though the shop keeper told me it should be 75 _85f) I'm very nervous that they might get sick, as after reading most of the questions on the site I noticed that what the pet shop keeper told me I needed for the set up of the tank isn't what this site is saying.
<Yes, many different opinions, all from people who are successful, does seem to be a bit confusing.>
<Personally, I'd rather the water be around 73 degrees and the basking area in the high 80's to low 90's. 85 degree water is just TOO HOT and the whole idea is for you to give them a warm basking area and cool water -- and let them CHOOSE the temperature that suits them. Look at it this way: You may be a novice turtle KEEPER ... but Elvis and Princess are experts at BEING turtles! Offer them the choice and let them choose.>
Both Elvis and Princess (my turtles) shells are about 2 inches from head to tail, please give me any information you can.
<Tammy, I'm enclosing a link to an article I wrote about sliders and almost all of it is relevant to Graptemys (the Map turtle) as well -- what's mostly important is that you follow the suggestions closely.>
<As far as the Map Turtle is concerned, for a number of reasons, they are more susceptible to water-borne parasites and infections that the Sliders, so pay particularly close attention to water quality. It should be clean anyway ... but VERY clean ALWAYS for the health of the Map Turtle. Other than that, the rest of the care in the link is perfectly appropriate.>
thanks
< http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/RESCareBarton.htm >
<Yer Welcome!>
xx-Tammy
<Hugs-Darrel>
<PS: Write back and send pictures once you figure out what she is!>

Slider or not slider? – 10/20/07
I'm full of questions.
<We've got answers! In fact, on the subject of information one of my colleagues recently told me that I'm full of it!>
I've been searching and can't find my answer. I bought two turtles in Florida on vacation this past summer. I was told they were Red Eared Sliders but I'm not so sure. They do not have any red on them at all. I thought maybe that came as they grew (they were about the diameter of a golf ball). They are mostly shades of dark green and yellow.
<Red Eared Sliders come out of the shell with a small red patch on each side of their heads, approximately where their ears would be.
Red Eared Sliders have green and yellow stripes while a close relative called a Cooter has black and yellow. Map turtles can sometimes be green and yellow and they lack the red patches. I'm going to list a few names for you to Google under "images" and see what rings a bell>
<Pseudemys>
<Chrysemys>
<Graptemys>
They have ornate patterns on their skin and shells with a raised hump down the center. The underside of the shell is lined with green spots around the edges, outlined in yellow. Bellies are yellow with a few dark green spots.
<Have a cell phone with a camera? Take some candid shots and send 'em to us!>
Is there anyway to tell the sex?
<Not as juveniles, no. All their visual sexual characteristics become apparent when they start to mature, which is by size and not age.>
I've read that the thin film that they appear to be shedding is how they grow, but I also read it means fungus.
<Lets go with fungus. They don't she a "film" as they grow, but thin layers of the shell do shed as hard plates.>
Is there any way to be sure?
<In this case, we'll treat for it and if it goes away then we were right and if it doesn't we're no worse for wear. Search this site for the keywords "Darrel" and "fungus" and you'll get some simple home treatments that will be very effective for a low grade/initial fungal problem.>
<For general purpose reading on regular care, start here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/resbehfaqs.htm>
They are growing a lot, very active, have a very clean tank with plenty of water and basking area and love to eat.
<All sounds well, Rachel. Having said that, please read the referenced link (above) regarding general care and check, double check and re-check your care against the advice given. We can beat a simple case of fungus without problem, but the trick of keeping any fish or reptile healthy is a single word: PREVENTION!>
They don't seem "sick."
<You sound like you're doing a great job and that you're enjoying them!>
Sorry for so many questions.
<I hope you enjoyed the answers as much as I did enjoy the questions!>
Thank you for any help you can provide!
<Worth every penny you paid for it -- the Google Bar at the bottom of our (WetWebMedia) home page is your friend!>
<Regards -- Darrel>