what to feed baby yellow belly slider turtles

Scientific Facts

Common Name:	Yellow-bellied slider
Scientific Name:	Tracheemys scripta scripta
Life Bridge:	More than 20 years
Size:	5 to 9 inches in length, vii.7 to 13.eight grams in weight
Habitat:	Semi-aquatic
Land of Origin:	Virginia to Alabama, U.S.

Physical Clarification

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The yellowish-bellied slider is a pond turtle that is native to several areas in the United states. It is popular in the wild as it is a domesticated pet. The yellow sliders are sometimes mistaken for cherry sliders that have red to orange stripes establish along the side of their heads. Both sliders have unique and similar features.

Yellow sliders are perfect for people who are looking for a friendly, mild-mannered turtle to take as a pet. It is found in different freshwater habitats including marshes, ponds, lakes, floodplains, slow-moving rivers, swamps, and wetlands. These cute turtles prefer to live in shallow bodies of with a lot of aquatic plants, soft bottoms and places where the turtle can bask safely and comfortably.

Yellowish-bellied sliders have an oval carapace plus a rounded jaw. Most of the fourth dimension, female turtles are larger than males because they demand to carry eggs. Males also have a distinctly long and thick tail that is darker in colour compared to females.

When it comes to colors and markings, yellow-bellied sliders take unique markings making the turtle stand out from other species. The most noticeable coloring is the bright yellow stripes along the legs, head, and neck. A bright orangish, yellow or scarlet along the side of the head. The turtle's beat can range from olive to brown and besides has the same xanthous stripes. The plastron is yellowish with nighttime marks along with the bony plates.

The yellowish-bellied slider is ane of the near popular pet turtles because these are very piece of cake to maintain, are beautiful and have lovely markings. It is a  expert pet for people who have prior aquatic turtle feel.

Life Span

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The yellow-bellied slider can live up to 30 years in the wild and around 40 years in captivity. Because of proficient care that leads to proficient health, sliders tin live longer in captivity compared to those in the wild simply because they don't need to worry well-nigh nutrient, predators and their overall safety. And equally with almost all reptiles, the xanthous-bellied slider has three life stages:

Hatchlings

Hatchlings come out of their eggs afterward three months of incubation. These babies stay in their nest during the autumn and winter; these volition emerge from their nests during springtime. They will also take the offset steps to enter the water and to kickoff feeding on their own.

Young/Juveniles

Juvenile sliders are able to hunt for food and to socialize with other sliders nearly the water. These young sliders expect very much like their parents but are just smaller.

Adults

Adult yellow-bellied sliders reach their age of sexual maturity when they accept reached a certain length. Male and female sliders are mature when these are already 4 to 5.5 inches in length. In females, the number of eggs that information technology tin produce depends on her body size and age. More on the reproduction and breeding of xanthous-bellied sliders later on.

Eating Habits

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Xanthous-bellied sliders tend to modify their diet as they mature. This is considering as they grow older, they tin motility to deeper bodies of h2o and eat food that'southward readily available at that place. Once the sliders mature, they turn omnivorous and will eat a wide variety of plants and small animals.

In the wild, these volition swallow fish, minor crustaceans and other aquatic animals. They will feed on water plants likewise. But in captivity, pet owners are responsible for enhancing their pet'due south nutrition. Bachelor commercial turtle pellets may exist used. Usually, these pellets are a good base of operations for a turtle'due south diet because these are supplemented by nutrients that your pet needs.

As much as possible, offering only the amount that your slider can swallow in xv minutes. Any leftover food should exist removed from its tank. Yous may occasionally feed your pet turtle with fish or insect. Avoid fatty fish and high-poly peptide meats. You may also choose to have your pet out of its cage or terrarium to feed so you can go along the tank cleaner for a longer time. This is often more piece of work for the owner just will give you time to bond with your slider.

Sleeping Habits

Yellow-bellied sliders sleep anywhere they want inside their tank but generally they prefer relaxing under a UVB lamp. Within their cage or tank, use a UVB lighting all year around 12 hours a day. A reptile UVB lightbulb is more than preferred; brand sure to replace it every six months.

If you lot keep your yellowish-bellied slider outdoors, the sun'due south rays may exist sufficient so there'due south no need to employ a reptile lamp. Let your turtle to move beyond your lawn and relish. If information technology has a company then it tin bask in groups. Normally, it will slumber wherever it wants to.

Water

Prototype Source

Water is a vital role of a slider's life so it'due south best to add this inside their tanks. The all-time tank should be at least a 75-gallon tank with an area in the tank where it tin can swim and play in the water. Some owners apply swimming liners to make indoor ponds or simply take their sliders out for a dip in a children's pool. Just make certain that the h2o you employ is clean and free from lather or other chemicals.

Y'all can make a permanent outdoor enclosure for your slider equipped with a small-scale pool if you want. These are piece of cake to make with instructions available online.

Development and Reproduction

Epitome Source

You can tell that a slider is mature when it is larger, heavier and with a deeper/darker colour. Cipher much has changed with the structure of the body merely the size of the beat out. The slider's shell is bigger when the turtle has reached its adult size and this allows them to hide its head, legs, and tail inside the shell.

Male and female person sliders become mature when they reach five to six years of age. Mating happens between March and July and normally, this happens underwater. Just similar their red-eared counterparts, yellow-bellied sliders have a unique behavior during courtship and mating.

A male will locate a suitable female person and swims around her to tell her that he is interested. He will try to tell her his intentions by vibrating the backside of his claws on her face. Sliders don't accept song cords and therefore will only be able to communicate past activeness. Snapping or vibrating his claws near the female person could be a way for a male to direct his pheromones to a potential mate.

If the female person acknowledges his advances, she will swim towards him. Just if the female is not interested, she may get aggressive towards the male. This courtship beliefs may last for 45 minutes or more than while it tin have a male many days to find a female who would like to mate.

Mating happens in 10 minutes and commonly, yous tin can't fifty-fifty tell that this is happening. There may be times when you see the male dancing to another male. When in captivity, a slider may also exhibit this behavior to other pets. This dance could be a sign of potency to other males. This behavior may also be seen between 2 males and tin lead to a fight. Juveniles may also exhibit this mating beliefs before five years old still, they are unable to mate.

Afterwards mating, she will spend time under the sun to keep the eggs warm. Pregnant turtles may switch their diet and eat only item foods. There are times that she may eat less or may non eat at all until she delivers her eggs,

Towards the end of gestation, the female person may be on dry out country than in h2o. This behavior prepares her torso for laying eggs. Just similar other slider species, she may become restless before she lays her eggs. She may scratch the ground or the tank wall. She may also use her hind legs to dig for a hole on the basis. When the hole is acceptable, she will now slowly lay her eggs.

Yellow-bellied sliders may lay upwards to 30 eggs at a time. The number of eggs usually depend on her body size, state of wellness and maybe tank temperatures. A single female can lay upwards to 5 or 6 clutches in a yr. Ordinarily, the time between mating and laying eggs could be from days to weeks. Fertilization happens during egg-laying which helps to lay fertile eggs.

The incubation of their eggs can take upwards to 100 days. The egg has 50% turtle and l% egg sac. Just like red sliders, after the hatchling cracks its egg, information technology may go out the egg and come up back however information technology may take 21 days for the baby to leave its nest to head for the water.

The yolk sac is important because it provides food for the hatchling.  Days after hatching, the sac will be completely captivated by the turtle's belly. The sac does not autumn off and volition exist absorbed by the belly of the turtle. This should heal completely before the young outset to swim.

Take note that any kind of damage to the egg yolk or incorrect motion of the yolk can make bubbling enter the young turtle'southward body and impale the young 1. Experts who find yellow-bellied slider turtle eggs usually the acme part of the eggs when they relocate these eggs. This is considering any upside-down egg tin affect the growth of the embryo. Should the egg reaches term, the baby turtle will plough the eggs with the yolk sac.

Air may enter the trunk of the embryo and this can also lead to expiry. If water gets into the trunk cavity before the sac is absorbed, the opening will not properly heal.

How to Breed

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Convenance sliders takes patience. You tin can't put a male and female person together and expect eggs a few days after. Convenance starts with choosing the ideal male person and female. You lot must also ready for the tank, to mimic its natural mating environs.

In the wild, sliders mate later on hibernating for two weeks. Afterward, eggs will be ready to hatch. Y'all will too need to prepare your yellowish-bellied turtle for hibernation and this will be discussed later.

After hibernating the yellowish-bellied slider, yous may at present place the male and females in one tank. Information technology won't take long for the males to trip the light fantastic their mating ritual dance. It this dance has successfully attracted a female, so mating is successful.

Information technology volition take sliders 45 minutes to mate but if they don't mate, remove the female. Retry pairing the two after two days. In one case mating is successful you must identify the female in a larger 20-gallon tank gestation tank.

Put four inches of loose soil which is perfect for females to dig in. Keep the female warm by maintaining a temperature of 80 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit inside the gestation tank.

The tank must also be damp and volition be in a spot where information technology is undisturbed. While laying eggs, the female person may not eat or beverage so don't worry. This is natural for female person sliders. Every bit long as you go along the tank in the best condition, the female will lay her eggs in about a month or 2. The babies volition need 85 days more to hatch from their eggs.

One time the hatchlings are out of the eggs, get out these in the tank and just let them be. The hatchlings won't leave of shells until a few more days. Once they start to come to start digging the soil inside the tank, remove these and identify their tank. A 20-gallon tank can fit upwardly to 12 hatchlings.

Cull a good lamp for your newly-hatched xanthous-slider babies. Full-Spectrum low-cal is the all-time to mimic the sun'southward natural light. Use a heating pad to apply estrus inside the tank. Yous may also look at reptile lamps bachelor in local pet shops.

Mutual Health Problems

Yellow-bellied sliders are good for you but may occasionally suffer from health issues. For any kind of health problem, yous must consult a vet for speedy treatment. The following are the well-nigh common health problems that xanthous-bellied sliders endure from.

Beat out Issues

The nigh mutual worries in pet turtles are shell problems. These are unremarkably due to bacterial or viral infections and fungi. If you lot suspect whatever problems with the shell, take your turtle to the vet considering if this is disregarded, your pet could endure from an infection.

Vitamin A Deficiency

Turtles accept a specific diet and for practiced eyesight and overall health, it needs a vitamin A.

Vitamin A deficiency happens when sliders are on an wrong nutrition. A diet that lacks vitamin A tin can cause changes in peel health and other preventable medical conditions. Expect poor ambition, swelling of the eyes and ears, respiratory problems and lack of energy. Make sure that your slider has a nutrition with crickets, fruits, and vegetables.

Respiratory Infections

Xanthous-bellied sliders may suffer from respiratory conditions because of bacteria and vitamin A deficiency. Symptoms of respiratory infection secondary to bacterial infection are a weakness, open up-mouthed animate, wheezing and lack of ambition.

Abscesses

Abscesses are swelling similar to a tumor on whatever function of the turtle's torso. The most mutual area where abscesses develop is along with the opening of the ear. Vitamin A deficiency also causes abscesses in sliders.

Parasites

If your slider all of a sudden develops diarrhea and weight loss, you should suspect parasites. The nearly common are roundworms and this should exist treated by medication. Turtles don't show whatever signs of roundworms except for diarrhea and weight loss. If any of these happens, consult your vet.

Common Accidents

Some owners give their sliders the freedom to walk around their room or home and although this is fun for a slider, it makes information technology prone to accidents. Your turtle may fall from a flying of stairs and break its shell. This may also suffer from serious cuts and injuries.

For whatever of these situations, you must take your pet to the vet ASAP.  For whatsoever injury on the eyes, nose or head and there is swelling and haemorrhage, visit the vet fast. If you see airsickness or loose stools in an hour yous must treat this at once because this tin atomic number 82 to aridity and metabolic atmospheric condition. Your pet should be taken to the vet right abroad as soon equally possible.

For injuries to its head, shell, neck or eyes, take your slider to the vet at once. Control bleeding with a cotton fiber ball and never identify anything on the wound.

Salmonella

Reptiles like sliders can transfer Salmonella and other kinds of microorganisms to humans. You lot must be enlightened of this and have advisable measures to prevent the spread of salmonella.

The sale of turtles like sliders that measure out less than iv inches is illegal in the United States due to the spread of Salmonella. Children are very vulnerable to Salmonella because they play with turtles and don't wash their easily after doing so.

To prevent the spread of salmonella, launder your hands with warm water and a adept anti-bacterial soap every time y'all handle your slider. E'er wear gloves when handling their tank.

Preventing Illness

To forestall any kind of illness maintains tank cleanliness. You must supersede the water inside the tank or install a powerful water filter to efficiently clean the tank. Use a disinfectant and warm h2o to clean the tank thoroughly. Regular cleaning is a must for a reptile tank.

You must change the water frequently to prevent bacteria growth inside the turtle tank. You must spot clean and remove whatsoever nutrient remnants and feed your turtle the right kind of nutrient.

Always accept your slider to the vet for checkups as soon as these hatchlings. Always make it a addiction to check the temperature, humidity and water quality in the turtle tank.

In captivity, you must accept intendance of your sliders and keep them from transmitting dangerous illnesses. The first thing to consider is a clean and conducive home. Use a 10-gallon tank. You tin can't raise your slider within a small plastic container and y'all must use a larger tank for more than than two turtles.

Behavior

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To fully care for your yellow-bellied slider, you must understand the mutual behaviors of this species. Here are the most common:

Claw Snapping

Claw snapping is a classic behavior witnessed in male sliders as they court and mate with females. Claw snapping is also a part of a dance that entices females to mate. Some males click or snap its claw to show dominance when at that place are other males to signify their authority over the territory.

Hibernation or brumation

Brumation or hibernation is the time when your pet is inactive and sleeping more than than the usual number of hours. Hibernation happens during October when the outdoor temperatures fall 10 degrees Celsius. A slider is brumating when information technology does not eat well and practice not defecate.

Turtles in brumation are motionless and breathing very slowly. Sliders that brumate do then in the water bank, in hollow tree stumps, rocks, and other structures. Brumation is an adaptive mechanism of a turtle so that information technology tin can naturally protect its body from the long cold months.

Xanthous-bellied sliders tin survive anaerobically for several weeks during brumation. It can drop its metabolic rate with cardiac output dropping to 80% to reduce free energy consumption. On the other hand, captive sliders in an indoor tank are not capable of hibernating or brumating

Turtles Can Drown

Contrary to the belief that turtles can live in water, turtles tin can drown. Turtles are susceptible to drowning because these accept lungs like us. They need to come upwardly for air to breathe but if they cannot these may drown.

If you call up that your turtle has drowned, practice not turn it upside downwards because these still have air inside their lungs and doing this tin touch on their chance to live. To revive a drowning turtle, place this on a flat surface and provide turtle CPR.

Concord the ii forepart legs and button these in and out the shell. If water is inside the lungs, this tin can remove water. H2o will unremarkably come out of its rima oris and nose. Y'all should you're your pet to a pet infirmary at once.

Like doing CPR on a infant, cover it with a thick coating and continue pushing and pulling its legs equally you have information technology to the vet. A slider can remain motionless but soon it volition recover.

Sleepiness

Sleeping for most of the day is normal for sliders and usually, first-time pet owners are worried considering they call back that their pets are ill. Turtles ordinarily have bouts of energy and may feel active in the morn simply in that location are days when information technology but wants to prevarication around and practise nothing. Go along a diary of your pet'due south behavior. If sleepiness accompanies poor ambition and weight loss then doubtable that there's something wrong with your pet.

Basking

Turtles similar a slider can sit down or stand while enjoying the tank light. Sometimes they would open their mouths, stick out their heads to go more calorie-free. Don't disturb your turtle at this time and just let it enjoy the 24-hour interval.

Habitat

Paradigm Source

In the wild, xanthous-bellied sliders are native to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico as well as in the areas with ideal climates in the Us. Sliders live in still and warm waters such as lakes, swamps, ponds, streams, creeks, and ho-hum-moving rivers.

Yellow-bellied sliders dear at-home waters considering they tin get out and stand on rocks to bask. Yous may find a slider basking solitary or in groups piled together at the bank of calm water. The basking area should be near an abundant supply of aquatic plants which is its main food.

Most of the time, wild turtles like sliders remain most h2o unless these are in the mood to look for females if non, they would rather adopt to be virtually water. Females leave the h2o for a long time to look to search for a nesting ground for her eggs.

Sliders are popular as pets just usually, these end upwards beingness released in the wild by the fourth dimension they mature. This is alleged 1 of the virtually invasive. As of the moment, at that place is a large feral turtle population located in Europe, Dandy Great britain, Australia, South Africa and in other countries and regions of the globe. All these are due to poor pet owner responsibilities.

In Australia, you tin't sell, trade, go along, release or purchase abroad sliders considering it is considered equally an invasive species. In Nihon, importing yellow bodied sliders has been announced but this may take until 2020 to take effect.

Yellow-bellied sliders are a threat to the ecosystem because these have an advantage over many creatures.  This turtle has a lower historic period of maturity, larger body size, and characteristics that increase their reward over other aquatic animals.

Also, this kind of turtle species may transmit diseases that can touch the health of a customs.

Lighting

A full-spectrum UV lamp and a basking heating lamp. There are many types of lamps and heaters bu as much as possible your lighting must be adjustable so you can provide the best lighting or lighting schedule that fits your pet'south needs.

It's a must to have a spare battery-powered lamp for ability interruptions. Never overlook this since very depression temperatures will only bear on the health of your turtle.

Temperature

The turtle's tank must exist well heated. Use a reliable lamp to maintain the temperature inside the tank. Y'all must measure water temperature alongside humidity to keep your turtle happy and healthy. Go along the tank make clean and at the right temperature specially in the cold winter season and in common cold weather.

Filtration

Use a good filter that will make clean the tank water more than efficiently. Tank water tin hands become dingy especially when yous accept more than one turtle inside the tank. Use a backup filtration unit of measurement, a  bombardment-operated filter, and a lamp in case of power outages.

Tank Accessories

To secure your turtle, keep the tank simple and make clean. Avert décor that can just affect your pet'due south safety. Your pet only needs water, soil, sand and possibly a few rocks where the turtle can bask on. Pregnant females need more loose soil. As a full general dominion, avoid anything that can autumn on your turtles and injure them or tin can electrocute them.

Sanitation

Always go along the tank clean to avoid the spread of Salmonella. Regularly make clean the tank every calendar week especially when y'all're taking intendance of more than turtles. Employ a disinfectant to clean the tank or you may use boiling h2o. This will instantly impale leaner which can crusade diseases.

Availability – Where to Go One?

Yellow-bellied sliders are available in most pet shops locally and online. Considering it is one of the most popular pets in the world, yous'll hands find one from any pet store. And if you know of someone who has newly-hatched sliders and then you can prefer one.

Xanthous-bellied sliders are affordable. A juvenile may price effectually $fifty while an developed is effectually $100.  The price may vary depending on gender, size, and age. The cost of shipping and handling yellow-bellied sliders can increment the cost.

How to Care for a Red Eared Slider?

Here are some tips on how to care for xanthous-bellied sliders:

• Salmonella alert! When handling sliders, launder your hands completely using antiseptic soap to avoid  Salmonella and other diseases.
• Sliders love to be handled every bit long as you don't drop them or vigorously hold them. Never place sliders in a common cold environment.
• Sliders are happy to be inside their tanks but you may besides take your pet outdoors, a small portable cage is best considering this may be carried anywhere. If you program to remain outdoors for a long period, use a portable lamp, water, and turtle food.
• Check the temperature of the room where the pet tank is in. Monitor this along with the temperature inside the tank. Keep your pet's body temperature at the ideal level by allowing it to bask daily under a brilliant lamp.
• Take your pet to a vet at least 2 times a yr. Do this later on hatching and when your pet is in their senior years. Check for any common problems like as breathing problems and skin or trounce conditions.
• Always provide your turtle the right kind of food to avoid any nutritional deficiencies and infections. Talk to your vet to find out the all-time supplement for your pet yellow-bellied slider. Every turtle has his kind of supplement so it's better to consult his vet.

FAQ Section

Can yellow-bellied sliders mate with red-eared sliders?

Yellow-bellied and red-eared sliders are both terrapins but the two are non compatible. The near obvious thing to consider is the size of a yellow-belly slider which is too large to mate with a smaller red-eared slider.

Should a xanthous-bellied slider exist in the h2o all the time?

Yellow-bellied sliders tin can alive in water and also on land. They tin stay for a very long fourth dimension in the water just they demand to come up up for air because turtles have lungs that need air.

How ofttimes should you feed you yellow-bellied sliders?

All aquatic turtles in the juvenile stage should be fed daily and reduce feeding every other day when these mature. Yous may feed adults, pregnant females or senior pets in modest frequent meals every twenty-four hours.

Do yellow-bellied sliders cost and then much?

A pocket-sized yellow-bellied slider costs anywhere from $10 to $20. It is more expensive when you lot purchase a slider online because you will have to pay for deliveries and shipment.

How practice yellow-bellied sliders mate?

Yellow-bellied sliders volition mate with any females only information technology will first do the mating dance. If the female person accepts the male slider'south proposal, they will mate and before long will accept a clutch of eggs.

Do yellowish-bellied sliders bite?

Yes, yellowish-bellied sliders bite due to beingness mishandled only other than this, it will quietly remain on your hand or simply be still on a rock or in h2o. The bite may hurt and so take good care not to drop or mishandle a yellow-bellied slider.

Can convict fishes or aquarium fishes alive with a yellow-bellied slider?

Almost all freshwater fishes can alive with yellow-bellied sliders only these may become its casualty. A slider may nip at the fins and eat smaller fish so add together bigger fishes that can swim away. Yous may add shrimp and tadpoles to serve every bit food for your slider. ,

Tin turtles similar sliders drown in deep water?

The fashion sliders survive underwater is they hold their breath and they tin do this for a long fourth dimension. Turtles don't have gills but accept lungs simply similar any land beast then it needs to come up upwards to get a breath of air.

Are sliders intelligent?

Many sliders testify an impressive ability to learn when in captivity. Yellow-bellied owners say that they larn quickly who feeds and maintains their tank and may fifty-fifty start to follow them around; notwithstanding, some owners say sliders know their names and may respond when called like a canis familiaris.

What animals tin become playmates with a yellow-bellied glider?

Turtles like sliders may play inside their tanks with feeder fishes, shrimp, tadpoles, snails, etc. And aside from being skillful playmates, these tin likewise be a snack for sliders too.

How long can a slider survive without water?

Sliders tin stay on country for a very long time without entering the water for days because these accept lungs to breathe on state. Still, these must still be placed in water and 2 to 4 days on land would exist plenty.

Practice sliders go solitary?

Yellow-bellied sliders tin be seen in the company of other sliders mostly lying on a log to enjoy nether the sun. Meanwhile, experts say that the only time sliders socialize is during mating and may travel far away from its home in search for a suitable female.

How practise turtles like sliders communicate?

Turtles similar the yellowish-bellied slider and the red-eared slider do not take vocal cords and hence these can't talk. These turtles only accept internal ears and may only communicate through motility. This is axiomatic equally the turtle waves and clicks its claws for potency.

How former is my yellowish-bellied slider?

The age of a yellow-bellied slider may be determined past counting through its scute. Count the rings within the scutes and yous'll get a skillful estimate.

Tin can yellowish-bellied sliders recognize their owners?

Turtles like sliders tin can recognize their owners from their sight, sound, and scent. Some pet owners say that a turtle may come up if his name is chosen while some say that their slider follows him around.

How can you lot tell if a yellowish-bellied slider is a male or female?

There are some distinguishing features which can differentiate male and female xanthous-bellied sliders. Usually, male sliders have long and thick tails with their cloaca closer to the tail; females have thin tails with her cloaca closer to the body.

Can yellow-bellied sliders experience pain or any awareness from their shells?

Turtles have nerve endings on their shells proving that this is a lifeless material. Withal, turtles don't have nervus endings for pain on their shells and this is why it won't experience anything on its vanquish. It is also the reason why the shell serves as a protection to sliders.

Can you take care of yellow-bellied sliders in ane tank?

The xanthous-bellied and crimson-eared sliders are social animals and will gladly live in 1 tank. But when mating flavour comes, it will adopt his territory. Placing more turtles to alive with the slider can lead to fights and tin even hurt a turtle severely.

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Source: https://reptilescove.com/care/turtles/yellow-bellied-slider

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