Meet Slider

This is Slider, our new pet turtle!

I uncovered our little turtle while raking leaves in the backyard. He was on his back and hidden away in his shell playing dead. I picked him up and thought, "Should I let the little guy go, or tell the kids?" I chose to tell and show the kids. The turtle went from our entertaining discovery to a permanent resident in Madalynn and Jillians' room.

Slider is named after the kind of turtle he is. He's a red-eared slider, and he swims!

You may be wondering why I found a swimming turtle in the backyard. We are in the rainy season here, and we pretty much live in a swamp. Our yard gets saturated and water stands for a long time after it rains, especially in holes. I think the little guy got washed into our backyard or was hatched in a little water hole there.

Madalynn has taken responsibility for Slider. She feeds him and takes him out once a day to hold and show the siblings. Slider lives in a little plastic reptile home. Half of his home is water, the other half is aquarium rocks. He swims around, then gets up on the rocks, then swims around again and gets fed regularly.

Salmonella lives on turtles and other reptiles, so I am very particular about hand washing before and after holding Slider!

Slider's a cute little guy, but boy does that tiny turtle stink up Madalynn & Jillians' room! Yuck. I told Madalynn we'd keep him until/unless he seems to need his natural environment. Turtles live a LONG time...Hmmmm.....