My basic info
Here's what the humans have to say about me:
Please read the description completely before requesting an application. Most of your questions will be answered in the description.
I am an aquatic yellowbellied slider turtle in the Baltimore area. Transport is available to York, PA. I'm about two years old and my shell is 4" long. I was sold illegally as a tiny hatchling from an on-line store, then my person moved and left me with relatives who couldn't care for me. For right now I'd be OK with a 20 gallon aquarium for a short term enclosure, although I really need a 55 gallon aquarium, or larger.
Sliders grow to be 6-12" long, and can live 20-50 years. Males stay smaller than females. They can live indoors in large aquariums (at least 55 gallons for a single adult male slider) or, if outside, in FENCED-IN backyard ponds of at least 300 gallons (to allow for hibernation). Yellowbellied sliders can live outside all year in the DC area, but not farther north or west. They eat commercial turtle or koi pellets, and also like aquatic plants, so a slider is not for you if you want to keep expensive water lilies. Some people build underwater plant corrals to protect their lilies while still having aquatic turtles. A slider might take a fish or two, but usually sliders and fish learn to co-exist, especially if you have underwater hiding areas for the fish and/or turtles. Please review our adoption requirements for aquatic turtles at http://www.matts.petfinder.com if interested in adopting a slider. Request an adoption application from matts_adoptions@ hotmail.com (remove the space after the @ symbol).
There is NO ADOPTION FEE, but adopters must explain how they will house and care for the turtle(s). Please include your CITY and STATE when contacting MATTS.
If you are considering an aquatic turtle, you might consider getting the book, Red-Eared Sliders (Animal Planet Pet Care Library) from TFH Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ (2011), available in Petco stores or from http://www.amazon.com
PLEASE HELP OTHER TURTLES by spreading the word - baby turtles grow into big turtles! They do not stay small - they do not grow to the size of their enclosure! Please don't buy hatchling turtles at vacation tourist spots.
Like turtles but can't have one? Want to help? MATTS accepts tax-deductible donations at MATTS, P.O. Box 22321, Baltimore, MD 21203, or through PayPal at http://www.matts-turtles.org/support.html You can also join MATTS at www.matts-turtles.org
