YBS ID F

FAQs About Yellow Bellied Slider Turtles Identification

Related Articles: Turtles, Shell Rot in Turtles, Amphibians, Red Eared Slider Care,

FAQs on: Yellow Bellied Sliders/YBS/Cooters 1, YBS 2, YBS 3, YBS 4,
FAQs on: YBS Behavior, YBS Compatibility, YBS Selection, YBS Systems, YBS Feeding, YBS Disease, YBS Reproduction/Young,

Wondering what kind of turtle we have 1/13/19
<<Sara, howsit?
> Please re-size and re-send your msg. The pix files are too large. Kbytes please, not Mega. BobF>>
Not sure how to do that.
<This is as good as any!>
Let me know if these worked
<Looks fine to me. In any case, the turtles seem to be Yellow Belly Sliders. Lovely animals, for all practical purposes identical to Red Ear Sliders in terms of size, care, behaviour, etc. I kept one of each in the same tank, and the (yellow) male would even try to mate with the (red) female. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Wondering what kind of turtle we have 1/13/19
Oh cool! Thanks for getting back to me! So the yellow ear makes it a male?
<Nope. It's a whole separate species.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-bellied_slider
Just observing that I kept a male Yellow Belly Slider with a female Red Ear Slider and they got along as well as two turtles ever do.>
Appreciate your expertise!
<Glad to help. Neale.>

Re: Wondering what kind of turtle we have 1/14/19
Oh okay yes I have Googled more about our little one now. They are cousins v similar :) do you have any tips on telling age?
<Not really. They're not easy to age. Maximum size is around about that of a dinner plate, which they get to in around 5-6 years. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: Wondering what kind of turtle we have 1/15/19
Thanks Neale.
<Most welcome.>
Apparently he was had by previous owner for just over a year now.
<Sounds about right.>
Still seems really small from what I thought anyways.
<Growth rate varies, and oftentimes females grow slower than males.>
Can the tank size or amount of water make this difference?
<Not much of a difference with turtles. Maybe a little bit. But so long as they're given enough food, and sufficient variety, they tend to all grow to near enough full size. Expect anything between 20-30 cm for most of the common "slider" species we keep as pets. Some variation, just as with humans, but none of them are pocket-sized.>
He was in a 30 gallon when I got him but there was only a couple of inches of water in it, sadly. Im not sure if he ever had much room to swim. Now that I've mostly filled the tank, he doesn't use his floating rock to bask much ...
<Indeed. Basically, these turtles use land to warm up (under the heat and UV-B lamp/s; the combined lamps are ideal) and then feed, cool down, and crucially, defecate, in the water. Many species hibernate underwater too; in the wild at least. Cheers, Neale.>

Turtle ID 8/26/16
I’ve been searching everywhere and can not figure out what kind of turtle this is. a lady didn’t want it. So I took it but she didn’t remember what kind of turtle it is. I have it in a 10 gallon tank but I want to make sure its not going to get too big.
<Much bigger. Its shell will get to side plate size -- 20 cm/8 inches long is about average.>
She said she's had it for a couple months. He goes from the water to the land and he eats his turtle food. I just want to make sure I’m not supposed to do any thing extra for it that I’m not already doing. thanks
<Looks like a Yellow Belly Slider to me, but I've cc'ed our turtle guy just in case I'm wrong. Certainly a slider of some sort, anyway! Basic care will be identical to that of the Red Ear Slider, as described here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/RESCareBarton.htm
Do understand "turtle food" is actually not a very good staple for them. Okay as a treat, but a mix of green foods, koi pellets, and occasional bits of fish or seafood from the kitchen will work out much better. A source of calcium is required too, plus UV-B lighting. Other than that, these sliders are easy to keep, but unfortunately, like all reptiles, easy to kill too if you neglect the essentials like UV-B and calcium. Cheers, Neale.>

my new turtle 9/22/12
Hi.
<Hiya - Darrel here>
Yesterday I bought a new turtle. You can see it there in the attached files. I really couldn't know what type it is.
<It looks like a Yellow Bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta)>
From yesterday it didn't went in the water I thought it is a normal thing because it is new or because it is afraid of my other turtle (she is a red eared slider)
<That's usually the case.>
but yesterday night when I went to take them to the other tank so they can have their dinner I noticed something weird in it's nose so I took a closer look on it's nose it only have one ..... Circle open (I really don't know what it's called)
<It's called a nostril>
The other one I really couldn't see it so I took it back to the big tank and I put it in the water and some bubbles start going out from its noise and it tried to itch its noise by its hand
<Not unusual>
So I don't know what can I do?
<nothing yet>
Is it a serious problem?
<I can't tell from the photos. Is the nostril blocked with skin? I mean - is that a birth defect? Or is it covered with mucous? - That would indicate an infection>
Please I need a fast reply.
<If you think it is an infection or illness of any kind, then you need to treat him. Read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/treating%20RES%20Dis%20DarrelB.htm
>
Thanks
<You're welcome>

Found a big turtle in my yard 6/22/11
Good afternoon,
<Hiya - Darrel here>
I found your website doing a search on Google. After reading through your other posts I only have two questions. Is this turtle a Yellow Bellied Slider (YBS)?
<She is a BEAUTIFUL Yellow Bellied Slider in great shape!!!!>
I found this turtle in my back yard which is not close (.5 miles) to a stream, and the front yard is on a busy road.
<It's possible, I suppose, that it's a long term captive in your neighborhood that escaped, but whether from a stream, lake, pond or pool, turtles like that can take INCREDIBLE walking tours in search of '¦ whatever turtles search for. I've come across them 3 MILES from the nearest water.>
Should I just put the turtle back in the yard where I found him/her, or should I take him/her to the stream in the park?
<What I'd rather you do is look on the Internet for a turtle & tortoise club in your area. Putting the turtle back in your yard (allowing it to just walk away) is dangerous and we never, ever, EVER, *E*V*E*R release an animal into the wild unless we are absolutely sure beyond question that we are releasing it back into it's native habitat. An experienced keeper in your general area will know if that species & subspecies is a local native and can be safely returned to it's wild state. More importantly, a guy might drive 100 miles to obtain a turtle that large & that pretty. I know I sure would.>
I think your website is awesome by the way.
<Thank you, thank you, thank you. We never tire of hearing that -- and allowing us to take the opportunity to make a shameless pitch right here in the middle of the daily FAQs '¦.
Lights, cameras drum roll & LARGE FONT PLEASE '¦..
Ladies and Gentlemen, if at any time now or in the future you feel so inclined, there is a "donate" button on the WWM web site. The donations received go toward paying for articles and other content that in turn make the web site even more awesome than before.
<thank you for your attention>
Thanks,
<yer welcome!>
Jasmine

identify turtle 5/9/11
Dear Crew,
<Hiya Ladean, Darrel here>
This turtle belongs to my pastor.
<Sure '¦ if we had a dime for every time we heard THAT story '¦.>
We are trying to identify what kind of turtle it is.
He says it does not have red on his face. I thought it was a slider.
<It could be a slider>
However, he has had a person knowledgeable of sliders and that person says it is not a slider.
<Hmmm>
We live in the Houston Texas area.
<I live in the Los Angeles area. Howdy neighbor!>
Can you assist in identifying this reptile friend?
<I'd like to see a picture of his face, from the side, not retracted. Does it have ANY kind of circle where the "red" would be? The reason I'm asking is that ONLY the Pseudemys scripta ELEGANS has the "red" ear. That mark can be yellow, green and even orange in other forms of sliders.>
<On the other hand '¦ if his skin is yellow and BLACK rather than yellow and GREEN '¦ she's likely a Pseudemys concinna (Cooter)>
<What it's NOT '¦>
<It's not a snapping turtle, softshell turtle, Galapagos tortoise or a toaster oven>
<Whatever it is '¦ it's big, it looks healthy and it's fun to have as a pet>
Ladean

Re: identify turtle 5/11/11
Here is the only other view I have so far. I think it might be a peninsula Cooter after what you said below. Or a toaster oven.....
<Green & Yellow stripes = sliders. Black & Yellow stripes = cooters>
<The good news is that the CARE is identical in every way. Diet, health issues, even breeding -if she finds herself a fella- are all interchangeable>
To me those shells are the same.
<Ya seen one shell, ya seen 'em all>
Ladean

Turtle identification 8/18/09
Hello,
<Hiya!>
I'm Lotoya
<I'm not! -- I'm Darrel>
I'm just trying to identify the type of turtle that I have. Based on the receipt I received from the pet shop, it states that its a red ear slider.
However, based on photos that I have found on the internet, it looks more like a yellow bellied slider, So I am just trying to confirm this with you guys.
<Based on the lack of a bright red patch on the side of the head, generally around where we'd expect ears to be (hence the name Red "Eared" Slider as opposed to Red "Necked" Slider), this is indeed a one of any number of subspecies of Trachemys Scripta scripta, or Yellow Bellied Slider.>
<Of course, if he sits around the house all day chewing tobacco, has a broke down pickup truck in his front lawn and a refrigerator on his front porch .... HE JUST MIGHT BE a REDNECK Yellow Bellied Slider!!!!!!>
PS I have attached two photographs.
<Larry is handsome>
Thanks in advance for your help.
<Here's some more help: a Complete Guide to caring for Larry:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/RESCareBarton.htm>
Regards,
Lotoya

Baby Turtle Identification -- 01/22/09 Hello Crew, <Hiya Brittany, Darrel here tonight> I live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and I found a baby turtle inside the automotive shop where I work. I took the cute little thing home with me and it has done incredibly well thus far. I want to be sure I'm giving it the proper care though, and I haven't been able to figure out exactly what type of turtle it is. <That's a nice picture, Brittany. If you'll select Google Images and put in "Pseudemys" in the search bar, you'll come up with many pictures of the family -- of which the Red Eared Slider (P. scripta elegans) is only one group. Many of the Cooters and Plain turtles are native to South Carolina as well.> I'd also like to know if it is male or female. <There are no visual difference at that size, Brittany, Turtles attain sexual maturity with SIZE, not age, so until Fabian gets larger none of the sexual differences will be visible. The GOOD news is that they don't seem to care, either. I have a female Florida Cooter named Albert and she seems to be just fine with that name.> I've had it in a tank with water and a place where it can climb up and a light, etc. Generally, he stays at the bottom unless he is eating and he likes to dig in his rocks and when I take him out of his tank to clean it he generally winds up burrowing himself in the folds of a towel. From what I can find on the Internet, he looks a lot like a red eared slider by his shell, but does not have red ears at all, so I'm confused. If you could help me determine what type of turtle I have and offer some tips on the best care and feeding it would be greatly appreciated. I've grown rather attached to the little guy. Welcome to my world, Brittany! They're fun and personable animals that, trust me, will grow on you and become a part of your family. Here are some pics of my family:> < http://www.xupstart.com/wwm> I've attached the only photo I have of him at the moment, please let me know if you need more/better photos. <Do the research Brittany, and after you make a more specific identification, write back with a pic of the two of you!> <As for care, it's Identical to the Red Eared Slider and here is THE BEST care sheet you'll ever need> < http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/RESCareBarton.htm> Thanks! Brittany <You're welcome!>

What Kind of Turtle Is This? -- 5/3/08 I found this terrapin (or turtle) in my garage. He was literally hitting the door. When I first looked out I didn't see anyone but the next time I went out the front door and into the garage and this is what I found. Please identify. What does he eat. I plan to let him go. He's got inch long finger nails and the back feet are kinda webbed. Mary in Arkansas <Hello Mary. It's difficult to ID this beast without seeing the head more clearly, but I'm fairly sure that it is either the Yellow Bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) or the Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). As their names suggest, the difference between them is that one has red flashes on the sides of the head, and the other doesn't. Basic care is identical. Nice pets, but if you're not up to homing the terrapin in question, then get in touch with your local Fish & Wildlife department or Humane Society for information. Red eared Sliders are at least native to your state, in which case the Fish & Wildlife department may be able to tell you where to safely release the animal back into the wild (if that's the species in question). The Arkansas Herpetological Society may also be able to help. http://www.snakesofarkansas.com/Main/Turtle Cheers, Neale.> Re: What Kind of Turtle Is This? -- 5/3/08 Thanks Neale, I just wanted to be sure this wasn't an endangered species. I live out in the country and will probably just let it go in my woods. There is a creek about 200 yards away. Maybe I can get a better picture of the head. I'm anxious to let him go. It's probably ready to catch some bugs, or whatever it eats. Mary in AR <Hi Mary. Please confirm with your Fish & Wildlife department before releasing the animal. While it may be a wild animal, it could equally easily be an escaped pet from a nearby home. Pet animals can carry diseases that seriously harm wildlife, and they can also cause problems by disrupting natural ecosystems. Pet animals may be less adept at finding food and escaping from predators, so that's another issue. Putting the turtle in a box with a shallow bowl of water for drinking is really all it needs for a few days. Starvation isn't an issue, so don't worry about that. (It eats mostly plants, as it happens, rather than bugs.) While I'm fairly sure your beastie is merely a wild animal that took a wrong turn on its travels, you can't be too careful, so check before letting it go. Cheers, Neale.>

Re: What Kind of Turtle Is This? -- 5/3/08 Thanks Neale, I have sent pictures to the address you sent - http://www.snakesofarkansas.com/Main/Turtle Waiting for a reply. Mary in AR <Cool. Good luck, Neale.>

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