How long does it take for my pet turtle to reach its full adult size?

Growth rates will depend on food availability, quantity and quality. Female sliders can reach up to 12 inches taking 5-8 years to reach full size. Given her size, she is considered a hatchling. Beyond that, it is difficult to determine exact age.

Thanks for reaching out about your turtle. Unfortunately, there aren't great ways to calculate ages in turtles - the reason for this is that their size and physical characteristics can vary depending on their husbandry. For example, too much or too little nutrition can cause a turtle to become too large or remain very small instead of growing at a normal pace. As far as the vitamins and diet - to get advice on this, it would be important to know what species of turtle you have. There are many different species that are commonly kept as pets, and they can require very different things in their diet and environment to help them thrive and live a long and healthy life. You could repost your question with some photos, or what may be better is to have a consultation. As another alternative, you can also take your turtle to a veterinarian who is familiar with turtles, and they can assist you with this as well. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Juveniles smaller than about 4 inches are difficult to sex. Once they reach that size or larger, it is quite simple.Female sliders are larger, have shorter front claws and thinner. smaller tails than males. Males can be territorial and could "argue" if the tank is not of sufficient size. Ideally, you want to allow about 10 gallons per inch of turtle. Sliders can get big (12 inches fully grown), so be sure you have the space and budget for a large tank.

She should have an amount of pellets that would fit in her head if it was empty. that is the general guideline. She should also be eating protein (feeder fish, night crawlers, etc.) as swell as dark, leafy greens and chopped vegetables. A fully mature slider can weigh about 6.5 lbs (3kgs). It can take anywhere from 5-8 years for them to reach this size. The female of the species is larger than the male. Average length between 1 and 2 years is probably 4-5 inches. Weight will vary greatly based on genetics, diet and environmental parameters so it is difficult to give one number with any certainty. You can review slider care at the links below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

I am afraid without a photo of your turtle I cannot tell you if he or she looks healthy. You need to upload a photo for that. You can tell a male turtle by its longer tail and that the bottom of his carapace (shell) appears hollowed out, so it would easily fit on top of the rounded shell of a female. Females have a flat bottom of the shell.

Separate out the aggressive one. It could be nipping due to hunger, stress or aggression. Consider hand feeding to avoid accidental bites as well as dividing them into two tanks to provide more space. As they mature, they will require a significantly larger space. This number of turtles ideally will need a tank in the hundreds of gallons range or a small pond. A general guideline is 10 gallons per inch of turtle. Sexing turtles is easier when they are mature. Without knowing the species, it can be difficult, but in general, females are larger than males. Males have a shorter, thicker tail in comparison and usually have longer front claws. A female will have a flat plastron whereas the male will have a slight concavity. Males have a v-notch at the rear of the carapace to accommodate the tail when mating. Lastly, you can check the cloaca, or vent. Females will have a rounder vent closer to the body whilst males will have more of a slit farther down under the tail. All these differences are best seen when comparing two turtles or a proven pair.

An adult sideneck female will lay clutches numbering 6 to over 40 eggs at a time. Clutch size will depend on age, size and overall health. They will retain eggs until a suitable nesting site is located. This can lead to becoming egg bound which can be life threatening. She does not need to mate in order to lay eggs. Ideally, she should be examined, and x-rayed, by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to confirm whether or not she is retaining eggs.