Red-eared Tarrapin

The red-eared Tarrapin, an American marsh turtle, is easily recognized by the conspicuous red mark behind its eyes. This animal can become up to fifty years old, its shell growing up to 30 centimetres. It lives in shallow water, leaving the water regularly for a sunbath.

Through incompetent treatment, life in captivity often turns out a long-drawn-out drama for the red-eared Tarrapin. The owner usually doesn't have an inkling of how big his newly bought young pet (then still about the size of a two euro-coin) will grow, and he will buy it an aquarium that even a goldfish wouldn't settle for. Like this, many a red-eared Tarrapin is curbed in its growth and will not develop fully as it should.

Most buyers don't even realize that a marsh turtle does not live in water. The animal is not given any place to rest and let his shield dry, but is forced to keep on swimming all the time. Also he will be fed loads of lettuce, while red-eared Tarrapins feed mostly on meat. The result: shell rot through a shortage of calcium and minerals.

When a turtle is no longer wanted, many owners choose the easy road by simply dumping the animal into a ditch or canal. These dumped animals will usually die of cold or lack of food. Some will survive however and even succeed in reproducing. In these cases all other fauna living in that ditch or canal will die, because red-eared Tarrapins will eat anything they come across. Our advice: never buy a red-eared Tarrapin, and certainly do not let it loose in nature!

More information on all types of turtles can be acquired from the Stichting SOPTOM Nederland, www.schildpaddenverzorging.nl.