Are Red Eared Sliders Dangerous?

I assume you are interested in buying a baby red-eared slider turtle. You probably want to learn as much as you can about these animals. 

You have a lot of questions coming to your mind, one in particular, that concerns you the most. 

Are red eared sliders dangerous?

If you are a parent looking for answers, and you want to know if keeping a turtle is safe for your kid, then you are in the right place.

Even if that’s not the reason why you are here, stay, I am sure you’ll learn something new about the red-eared slider turtle. 

Are red eared sliders dangerous? Red-eared sliders are not dangerous, and won’t hurt you. However, the real danger of keeping a red-eared slider turtle comes from the salmonella that young turtles are carrying in. 

Are Red-eared Sliders Friendly?

Red-eared sliders can be friendly with people compared with other turtle species. They even may recognize their owners. 

It’s always interesting to see how they beg for food whenever you pass in front of the aquarium. 

However, they are still turtles, which means they don’t like to be handled, touch, or play with it. 

Do Red-eared Sliders Bite?

Red-eared sliders usually don’t bite, however, if they are mishandled or hurt, might try to bite you. 

It’s not in their nature to attack people, but if they feel threatened, they won’t hesitate to defend themselves. 

Is their bite dangerous? Probably not. 

Unlike the bite of other turtles such as the snapping turtle, the bite of a red-eared slider won’t cause real damage. 

However, the wise thing is to always be careful when handling a red-eared slider. 

The real danger of keeping red-eared sliders 

As you have seen most of the red-eared sliders are friendly towards people. They won’t hurt you unless you provoke them. 

The problem with these turtles, or reptiles in general, is that they carry Salmonella. 

Salmonella is a bacteria that lives on their outer skin and shell surfaces. It’s not harmful to the turtle itself, however, people can get infected by coming in contact with it. 

People infected with Salmonella may have mild symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach pain, or fever. 

Most people will recover without going to the hospital, however, certain groups may experience a life-threatening situation. 

Vulnerable groups such as people with weak immune systems, infants, or elderly people have the highest risk of infection with this bacteria. 

If you are an owner of a red-eared slider turtle, and you have kids, you need to be careful. Make sure that young children never come in contact with the turtle. 

If you have older kids teach them about the responsibility of keeping a red-eared slider turtle. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling a red-eared slider. 

If you are confident that you can follow these rules, I am confident that you won’t have a problem keeping these animals.

After all, turtles do make good pets. 

Final Thoughts 

Red-eared sliders are one of the best pets you can keep. If you are interested in keeping these turtles, don’t let the negative sides discourage you from doing it. 

Red-eared sliders can be friendly, they can show intelligence, and they can recognize owners. Especially when it’s feeding time. 

If you train them, they can even eat from your hand. But, you need to be careful. 

They are not aggressive, but if they feel threatened, they might bite. 

The real danger of keeping red-eared sliders comes from the salmonella they carry. Make sure that you always wash your hands after handling a turtle, and don’t let a child get in touch with it. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and you’ve found it informative. Now, I’d like to hear from you. Are you still interested in keeping these turtles? 

Let me know in the comments below!