Petco Turtles

We accepted two red-eared slider turtles from Petco in Sequim, Washington this afternoon; the two had reportedly been behaving very aggressively, biting the backs of their tank-mates' necks and leaving ragged wounds. This is reasonably normal for male turtles, but some individuals are worse than others. These two little guys won't be a problem in their new home -- a 350 gallon indoor pond that they'll be sharing with a couple of girls ten times their size.

On closer inspection, one of the two turtles has a seriously deformed shell; this is fairly common with captive sliders, and shouldn't be a problem. Such deformities are common due in part to the reckless, large-scale breeding of these animals. The United States exports about ten million red-eared sliders every year, and funnels many more into the domestic pet trade. Those sent overseas are usually destined to be eaten, while others are used for laboratory experimentation. This careless trade has led to the accidental or intentional release of sliders in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world, where they compete with native turtles for food and nesting sites, and thereby contribute to the decline of a number of endangered species.

While sliders are cheap to buy and can be found in most pet stores, their proper care is costly and complicated. Aquatic turtles produce a large amount of solid waste, and their shed skin can clog most aquarium filters. They require ultraviolet light and a basking area with plenty of heat. They are susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, and nutritional deficiencies can lead to a number of health problems, including the softening of their shells. They also bite and scratch, making them a poor choice for pets, especially as they grow larger.