Once a familiar sight in pet shops everywhere, the tiny hatchling green turtles that found their way into people’s homes over the last few decades have now given rise to a significant feral population of adults that outgrew their owners’ facilities and were released to their fate in the wild. Although banned from importation into the EU thanks to their invasive tendencies in warmer climates, many Red-eared and Yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta spp.) can be found in UK waters up and down the country.

Sunny summer days often bring sightings of these turtles basking and they’re often most commonly seen in urban areas. In order to get a better understanding of the extent of these populations and their impact on wildlife, the Turtle Tally (https://www.turtletally.co.uk/) is a citizen science project that asks members of the public to log sightings of these animals and also helps rescue any that are in desperate need of assistance. Currently our summers aren’t warm enough to allow natural incubation of these animals in the wild, so breeding is unlikely. They’re also largely herbivorous as adults, so unlikely to pose a more significant threat than fishes such as Carp to wildlife but further investigation is needed and that’s where you come in.

In the right hands, turtles make great pets but are a long-term commitment. Some of our stores sell Musk turtles, and these are the only species we recommend as household pets. They’re a small species that stays a manageable size. You’ll find details of their care requirements here: https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fish/freshwater/miscellaneous/musk-turtle

An alarming trend is the increase in Cooters (Pseudemys sp.) which grow far larger than the Slider species which they’ve replaced as pet shop offerings. These are being offered as appealing green hatchlings which rapidly outgrow indoor aquaria, with some species growing robust enough to withstand attack by alligators in their native home. A big problem with many of the cooter species offered as hatchlings is their sensitivity to the cold, making indoor housing necessary – not an easy option when adults grow to 40cm or more. Only 4 years separate the two animals in the photo below and the larger one is by no means fully grown.

The message is pretty clear, avoid buying any small green turtles unless you have the option of housing them in a large, heated indoor pond for at least some of the year. If you have the facilities, the hardy species (Eastern river cooters P. concinna and Northern Redbelly P. rubriventris) can thrive in an outdoor pond equipped with sunny basking facilities and escape-proof fencing. As they have a prodigious appetite for duckweed, blanketweed and pond plants, they’ll certainly have an impact on maintenance. The type of filtration and water movement you’d use for koi would be suitable, as these are animals of moving water which depend on high oxygen levels when dormant over winter. New turtles should be either accustomed to overwintering outside, or introduced at a time of year that allows them to acclimatise themselves during the warmer months to prepare.

Sliders can only be rehomed by registered facilities but lots of cooters are out there looking for permanent homes. Contact the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (https://www.ncrw.co.uk/) if you’re in a position to help a homeless turtle.