Find red-eared sliders for sale from breeders and keepers on ReptileAds. Compare listings, check seller reviews and chat directly to learn about each turtle before you buy.
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The red-eared slider is one of the most recognizable turtles in the world, named for the red stripe behind each eye and its habit of sliding off logs into the water. Sliders are active, curious and long-lived, and they reward keepers who plan for their adult size. Here is what to know before you bring one home.
Red-eared sliders, Trachemys scripta elegans, are native to the southeastern United States, ranging from Illinois down to the Gulf of Mexico across states such as Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. In the wild they favor warm, slow-moving water with plenty of basking sites.
Because released pets have established populations outside this range, sliders are banned or regulated in several states and countries. Some jurisdictions require permits or prohibit sale entirely, so always confirm what applies where you live, and never release a turtle outdoors.
Hatchlings are small enough to sit on a coin, but adults typically measure 6 to 12 inches of shell length. Females generally grow larger than males, which have long front claws and thicker tails. That growth is the biggest surprise for new owners, so plan an enclosure around the adult turtle rather than the baby.
With proper care, sliders often live 20 to 30 years in captivity. Many keepers eventually move them into a large stock tank or an outdoor pond where climate allows.
Sliders need enough water to swim freely, a dry basking area they can fully climb onto, a basking lamp and UVB lighting. Their water gets dirty quickly, so a powerful filter and routine partial water changes make a big difference.
The diet is omnivorous: commercial turtle pellets form a solid base, with leafy greens, aquatic plants and occasional insects or small fish for variety. Keeping a simple record of feedings, water changes and shell growth helps you notice changes early, and Husbandry.Pro is one handy way to track weights and measurements over the years. For specific temperatures and tank sizes, follow a full care guide.
Most sliders show the classic olive shell with yellow striping, but breeders also work with color morphs. Names keepers commonly look for include albino, sometimes called caramel, and pastel, which shows reduced dark pigment. These traits are a matter of preference, and a normal-colored slider is just as rewarding to keep.
Compare several listings and look for clear photos, an approximate hatch date and a current shell length. Ask the seller what the turtle is eating, how it basks and what kind of setup it lives in now. Alert, active turtles with clear eyes and a firm shell are a good sign, though no listing can guarantee health or sex.
Use the built-in chat to agree on pickup or shipping, read the seller's profile and reviews, and set a Hit List alert if you are waiting for a particular morph or size.
AI-assisted guide reviewed by the ReptileAds team. General information about these animals — not care, veterinary or legal advice, and not a description of any individual listing above.
Listings in this category cover red-eared sliders at different life stages, from young turtles to established adults, along with color morphs that keepers seek out. Each listing should give you the turtle's approximate age, shell length and what it is eating, so compare several before deciding.
Message sellers through the built-in chat to ask about basking habits, water setup and feeding response, and read their profile and reviews. Because sliders are regulated in some places, confirm what your area allows before you reach out. If nothing fits yet, set a Hit List alert and ReptileAds will let you know when a matching slider is listed.
Looking at other water turtles? Painted Turtles, Map Turtles and Other Aquatic Turtles are close by.
ReptileAds connects you with slider keepers and breeders so you can buy with the full picture.
Look at size, age and photos across multiple listings to find the slider that suits your setup.
Use built-in chat to ask how the turtle has been housed and fed before you arrange anything.
Check profiles and reviews from other buyers to get a feel for who you are dealing with.
Sliders are active, long-lived aquatic turtles that need both deep water and a dry place to bask.
Read the full ReptileAds red-eared slider care guide for detailed setup advice.
A little homework up front leads to a smoother start.
