Albino Red Eared Sliders are one of my favorite species. Not only is this albino turtle species unique and adorable, it is also extremely rare. This guide covers everything you need to know about Albino Red Eared Sliders.
How rare are Albino Red Eared Sliders?
Albino Red Eared Sliders are extremely rare in the wild. The odds of a Albino Red Eared Slider being born from a Red Eared Slider is about 1 in 10,000.
The odds are much higher when an Albino Red Eared Slider mates with another Albino Red Eared Slider. This is how the population of Albino Red Eared Sliders is able to be maintained in captivity.
Albino Turtle Picture
How can you not fall in love with this unique, beautiful albino turtle?
Albino Red Eared Slider
If you are lucky enough to get a Albino Red Eared Slider, you probably have a lot of questions. Here is a review of the most important facts about Albino Red Eared Sliders.
Origins
Albino Red-eared sliders occur naturally, just like other albino individuals of any other species. Sadly, these Albino Red Eared Sliders don’t do well in nature and are often preyed upon by predators. This is because it is harder for an Albino Red Eared Slider to blend in and hide in their environment.
Their unique bright skin makes them more visible to predators than their regular Red-eared slider counterparts. That’s why the majority of the albino red-eared sliders found today are raised in captivity, where they receive the necessary protection.
It was not until 1950 when some turtle enthusiasts decided to pick some Albino Red Eared Slider up and raise them in captivity. The vast majority of Albino Red Eared Sliders raised today are decedents from these original Albino Red Eared Sliders.
Habitat
Red Eared Sliders are generally found in the areas surrounding the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. They prefer to live in warmer regions. Therefore, they are commonly found in the Southeast United States. Albino members of this species are also found naturally in those areas along with their regular counterparts, but as mentioned earlier, due to their low survivability, most Albino Red Eared Sliders don’t see their first birthday.
Behavior
Just like many other turtle species, Albino Red Eared Sliders are aquatic turtles and tend to search for their food and mates exclusively in water. It is much easier for Albino Red Eared Sliders to eat in the water because it helps with digestion. Also, Albino Red Eared Sliders are usually more safe from predators while they are in water versus land.
However, Albino Red Eared Sliders can still can be found on shorelines basking in the sunlight. They need to sit in direct sunlight as, just like other reptiles, Albino Red Eared Slider is also a cold-blooded animal. The on advantage of their bright skin and shell is that they attract more UV rays when they bask.
Hibernation
Now, this is what sets Red-eared sliders apart from other turtles. Red-eared sliders don’t hibernate but instead, they Brumate, which means that they become less active but still come to the surface from time to time to search for food and water. Red-eared sliders generally tend to become less active in October once the temperature hits 35 degrees fahrenheight.
During their bromating period, these turtles don’t eat or defecate, their breathing rates slow down, and their activity level hits an extreme low.
What do Albino Red Eared Sliders eat?
Albino red-eared sliders are Omnivorous which means they can eat anything from plants, algae, and animals like small fish and mollusks.
They are also referred to as opportunistic eaters. This means they will eat whatever they manage to get their hands on. In captivity, though, it is advised to follow a strict diet consisting of 25% pellet food, 50% green veggies, and 25% animal protein.
You can also feed them fruit on occasion.
Where do they get their name?
This species got its name due to very specific reasons. The Albino portion is self-explanatory, as it refers to a genetic mutation these turtles are born with.
The other portion of their name is due to the small, red strip on their face. It is located around the area where their ears would be. The last remaining part of their name, “slider,” is given to them due to their remarkable capability to slide quickly off rocks and to log in the water.
If you want to learn more about reptiles other than turtles, sites like Reptile Guide are a good place to continue reading trustworthy and detailed guides on reptile pets.
