Yellow Bellied Sliders
Trachemys scripta scripta
Natural Habitat
Slow-moving rivers, floodplain swamps, and marshes. They are highly aquatic.
Where I'm Found
Native to the southeastern United States. They are found primarily in the coastal plain drainage systems from southeastern Virginia to northern Florida and Alabama.
Orange - Yellow Bellied Slider
Source: Cephas (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source: Cephas (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What I Eat
Omnivorous opportunists.
- Wild: Aquatic plants, fish, insects, and tadpoles.
- Zoo: Aquatic turtle pellets, greens, and fish.
How Long I Live
- Wild: 20 – 30 years
- Captivity: 30 – 40 years
Fun Facts
- Identity: Distinguished by a prominent yellow blotch behind the eye and yellow stripes on the neck.
- Courtship: Males have very long front claws which they vibrate in front of the female’s face during mating rituals.
- Diurnal: They are active during the day and sleep underwater or floating at the surface at night.
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