Cumberland Slider Turtle Care Guide | Diet, Habitat, Breeding, Diseases


The name Cumberland slider turtle is derived from the fact that it slides into deep water to protect itself when it’s alarmed. The turtle is affectionately called Troost’s turtle after the Dutch-American naturalist Gerrard Troost.

Cumberland slider turtles can become a nuisance if they are not handled properly. It will be a memorable experience if you have the right knowledge and are dedicated to giving your turtles the best possible life.

This guide covers all you need to care for your cumberland slider turtles. This guide is a result of my extensive research on semi-aquatic turtles, as well as my personal experience with them.

You can rest assured that all information I provide is reliable and well-supported. Let’s begin!

Cumberland Slider Turtle At Glance

  • Name: Cumberland slide turtle
  • Species – Trachemys scripta
  • Family Emydidae
  • Other names Troost’s turtle
  • Lifespan : 30 Years
  • Care Level – Easy
  • Omnivore
  • Tank Size 75 gallons
  • Water Temperature: 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Basking Temperature: 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit

Cumberland Slider Turtle Lifespan | How Long Do Cumberland Slider Turtles Live?

A cumberland slider turtle can live for around 30 years in the wild. They can live longer if they are kept in captivity with the right care.

Wild cumberland turtles are less likely to survive than captive turtles. They are often killed in road accidents. There are plenty of predators out there, waiting to strike at any moment.

The raccoons and coyotes that prey on Cumberland turtles and their eggs, as well as hatchlings and eggs, are regularly preyed upon by snakes and birds, birds, big fish, and foxes.

Cumberland Slider Turtle Distribution

The Tennessee River drainage, Mississippi River and the southeastern US are home to the Cumberland sliders turtles. These reptiles are now common in Alabama, Georgia, and Illinois due to the booming exotic animal trade.

This species prefers calm, shallow waters with muddy bottoms. They prefer areas with aquatic vegetation, basking spots overhanging, and organic substrate.

They live in slow-moving rivers and creeks, marshes or lakes, as well as ponds.

Cumberland Slider Turtle Conservation Status

The IUCN has listed the Cumberland slider turtles as a species of “Least Concern”. They are not endangered. They are considered an invasive species in many parts of the world.

They have outcompeted many native species in Europe and Asia. The European Union declared illegal the import and sale cumberland sliders as well as the entire Trachemys Scripta familia.

As liberating as it may feel, releasing a turtle in the wild is not a wise decision. The ecosystem, native species, and the pet turtle will all suffer.

A few months back, I wrote an article about where to donate red-eared slides. The article link will be posted here.

Cumberland Slider Turtle Appearance

The carapace of the Cumberland slider turtle is olive green or brown with yellow markings. An adult turtle’s carapace is oval-shaped, wrinkled, and has two protrusions at its end.

The yellow color of the plastron has dark spots around its edges. It is smaller than the capace and does not have hinges.

These turtles are distinguished by a yellow or orange stripe located behind each eye. It’s not just one color. It begins bright yellow, fades to dark orange or red closer to the back of your neck, and then it turns to bright yellow again.

The legs are distinguished by yellow vertical stripes, which make them stand out from other slider species.

The carapace of a juvenile is usually green with yellow markings. It becomes darker as you age.

Cumberland Slider Turtle Size | How Big Do Cumberland Slider Turtles Get?

Cumberland sliders have a maximum length of 11.4 inches (29 cm) in their carapaces.

Females grow slightly larger than males and reach 10 inches (25cm), while males only reach 7 inches (17cm).

Cumberland Slider Turtle Male VS Female

Cumberland slider turtles are prone to sexual dimorphism. Males are always smaller than females.

Males have a shorter shell, longer tails and foreclaws. Females, on the other hand, have a flatter shell, longer foreclaws and shorter tails.

Cumberland Slider VS Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtle

Yellow-bellied sliders and cumberland sliders can often be confused. The size of the yellow stripe between the eyes is what makes the difference. The yellow-bellied slider’s stripe is wider and joins the neck line. Cumberland’s stripe, on the other hand is more narrow.

Cumberland Sliding Turtle Temperament

Cumberland sliding turtles don’t live in groups. This lot enjoys being in large groups. If there isn’t enough space, they will stack up on top of one another.

Cumberland sliders can become aggressive and hostile if there are not enough turtles or resources.

It is important to understand and accept the fact that turtles don’t thrive without human affection or attention. A turtle cannot be expected to behave like a dog.

They love their space and will make sure you are aware of it. If the turtle isn’t happy being touched, it might hiss, retract its shell or bite your fingers. It may slip into water if there is a body of water nearby and swim off.

Only handle turtles when they are in their habitat or being treated for an illness or wound.

Hobbyists say that the turtles are most active between April-October. I’m not sure if this is true. It could be because of the milder weather.

A few “care guides”, which described cumberland sliders as friendly and enjoy being handled, were also found. It’s not clear how these authors arrived at this conclusion.

However, if I had to offer my opinion, I would say that no turtle likes to be handled or loved. You’ll be bitten sooner or worse if you treat the turtle like a cat or dog. You should leave the turtle alone.

Do Cumberland Slider Turtles Bite?

Yes, cumberland sliders turtles will bite if threatened. Depending on your pain threshold, the bite can be quite painful.

Cumberland sliders do not have teeth. They do have sharp ridges and groves in the upper and lower jaws. These can cause minor injuries or pain.

By the way, here’s a article that might be of interest to you:

What happens if a turtle bites you? Are They able to rip off your fingers?

Cumberland Slider Turtle Habitat Setup

The setup of a Cumberland slider turtle aquarium is simple and straightforward. The 20-gallon tank is sufficient for a hatchling, but larger tanks are needed for an adult.

In the hobby, the rule of thumb is to provide at most 10 gallons water per inch of the shell’s length.

You should therefore allocate 75 gallons to an adult male turtle and 175 gallons to an adult female turtle.

Cumberland sliders can be described as freshwater turtles. They require plenty of water to swim in. Although there is no set rule about how deep the tank should go, it should be at least twice as deep as the turtle’s neck.

The turtle should be able fully to submerge and swim about.

You don’t have to buy a large tank, but you do not need one. Instead, place your turtles in containers or storage tubs. You would have to sacrifice aesthetics but the turtle would not mind.

A tank must have a pump, filtration and heating mechanism. These are discussed in detail in the sections below.

The turtle should have easy access to the basking spot, even though it must be high above the water. Flat rock slabs, driftwood and other commercially available spots can be used as basking spots. Your turtle should have ample space to relax and stretch out in the basking spot.

This one has been my dream for quite some time.

The basking spot does not require any substrate. It will only make your water more dirty.

You can also add reptile sand or flat rocks to the tank’s substrate. You should make sure the substrate is not too large or too small to be swallowed by turtles.

Royal Import’s river stones are used in my turtle enclosures. These rocks are sourced from real rivers and large enough not to be swallowed.

Do Cumberland Slider Turtles Live In Water?

Cumberland sliders are freshwater turtles and spend most of their time in the water. They also sleep and eat underwater. They are called “sliders” because they can slide effortlessly into the water whenever they want.

A cumberland slider will love to be in the water but they also need to have a dry, well-lit area where they can bask multiple times per day.

Cumberland Slider Turtle Water Temperature And Other Parameters

  • Water Temperature: 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit (23-36 degrees Celsius)
  • pH: 6.0-6.9
  • Nitrite: Less than 2 PPM
  • Ammonia: Below two PPM
  • General Hardness: 180-200 ppm
  • Carbonate Hardness: 80 PPM

Turtles can be messy creatures. It can be difficult to keep the water clean and healthy, especially for those who are just starting out in the hobby. You will want the best equipment for keeping your water clean.

Any filter won’t work for turtles, as they require a large amount of water and produce a lot of waste each day. A canister filter should be powerful enough to remove gunk and other debris every day.

Here’s a link for a Penn-Plax canister filter that I use to care for my turtle tanks. After reading too many good reviews on Amazon, I purchased this filter last year. I was not disappointed. It works like a charm.

Even though turtles are more resilient than inverts and fish to adverse environmental conditions, this shouldn’t mean that they should be kept in poor environments.

The turtle’s health is directly affected by water quality. You would want it to be clean and safe.

Here is a link to an article that I wrote about the mistakes that can lead to cloudy turtle tank tanks a few months back.

What is the best way to clean your turtle tank water? Avoid these 4 Mistakes

Another tip: Keep the turtles in a separate container while they are eating. Only after they have finished eating and pooping, should you move them back to the main tank.

After eating, my turtles take about 30 minutes to poop.

Although it may seem tedious, this process will ultimately save you time and money in the long-term.

Should You Dechlorinate Water For Cumberland Slider Turtles?

Cumberland sliders aren’t as affected by chlorine as inverts and fish. Although their skin is not susceptible to chlorine, it can cause irritation to their eyes. Chlorine can also destroy the good bacteria colony, and cause damage to the nitrogen cycle.

You will therefore want to first dechlorinate your water.

Some areas also have water treated with chloramine. You would use a conditioner that is specifically designed to remove chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, and other contaminants.

Light And Heat Requirements For Cumberland Slider Turtle

The environment plays a crucial role in the well-being of turtles. These cold-blooded creatures rely on their environment to maintain their body temperatures.

To synthesize vitamin D3, the Cumberland slider turtles require UVB lighting and heat lighting. It could cause severe health problems such as shell deformity or metabolic bone disease if the reptile is unable to synthesize vitamin D3.

No matter what season, UVB light should always be available at least 12 hours per day. Remember to change the bulb every six months. Because UVB rays are much more harmful than visible white light, they must be replaced every 6 months.

Here is a link to 2-in-1 lighting that simultaneously emits UVB and heat.

Water temperature should be between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit (23 to 26 degrees Celsius). The ideal ambient temperature should range from 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (26 to 29 degrees Celsius) and the temperature in the basking area should be between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (229 to 35 degrees Celsius).

Temperature should not drop below 70°F (21°C). The turtle will become lethargy if the mercury falls below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).

Cumberland Slider Turtle Diet

Cumberland sliders, like most freshwater turtles are omnivores. They eat a mixture of plant and animal matter. Young sliders require more protein to grow so their diet is primarily carnivorous. As they get older, however, they start to enjoy greens.

If I had to offer one piece of advice about feeding these turtles, it would be to not pinch pennies when you buy commercial turtle pellets. This is something that the turtle will eat every day. It should be rich in nutrients and free of low-quality fillers.

Pellets should be rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein and low in fat. The ideal calcium:phosphorus ratio is 2 to 1.

Here is an Amazon link for Tetra pellets that fulfill all of the above requirements. This is what I give to my turtles.

But that’s not all. Variety is the spice in life, as the old saying goes. You want your pet reptile to have access to a diverse, balanced diet that doesn’t rely on pellets.

Here are some prey items that cumberland sliders could enjoy:

  • Waxworms
  • Silkworms
  • Earthworms
  • Crickets
  • Eggs of Aquatic snails
  • Feeder fish
  • Tadpoles

It is important to ensure that these prey items come from reliable sources. After enjoying a delicious treat, you don’t want your reptile infested by parasites.

It is also a good idea to avoid giving goldfish. They are just too fat.

Here are some leafy greens and vegetables that cumberland sliders might like:

  • Romaine lettuce
  • Collard greens
  • Dandelion greens
  • Bok Choy
  • Kale
  • Green beans
  • Squash
  • Carrots

Before you give any vegetable to your family, always check its calcium:phosphorus ratio. The ideal ratio is 2:1.

Iceberg lettuce is not a good choice for nutrition.

Here is a list of aquatic plants that cumberland sliders may enjoy:

  • Hyacinth
  • Anacharis
  • Azolla
  • Frogbit
  • Water lettuce
  • Duckweed

These reptiles cannot be fed only food. You should therefore regularly enrich their diet with nutritional supplements such as these:

How Much And How Often To Feed Cumberland Slider Turtles?

It is a good practice to give your turtle as much food as they can eat within 15 minutes. This would be about one cup. To ensure that they get all the nutrients, you can offer a variety of greens, vegetables, and prey items.

Young turtles should be fed one time per day. Adults can give a cup of food once a day.

Can Cumberland Slider Turtles Eat Fruits And Veggies?

Although they are not naturally found in reptiles’ diets, it is possible for cumberland sliders to eat fruits and vegetables. Before you offer any food, be sure to check the calcium:phosphorus ratio.

A lot of fruits have higher levels than is safe for turtles. Remember to practice moderation.

How To Breed Cumberland Slider Turtles?

Wild cumberland sliders mate in spring between March and April. To attract its partner, the male performs a complex mating dance in water by flapping its paws.

Copulation occurs in water. The female will conceive between 2 and 24 eggs within a month of mating. The eggs are not cared for by the parents. The hatchlings can go it alone from the moment they are born.

It’s just a matter time before male and female cumberland sliders mate and produce few offspring. Copulation lasts around 15 minutes.

After they have finished breeding, give the females a 20-gallon tank filled with about 4 inches of loose potting soil such as vermiculite. It should be placed in a cool place and kept damp.

Temperature of the enclosure should be between 80-86 degrees F.

The turtle might stop eating while it is gravid. This is normal behavior. You can expect her eggs to be hatched within two months, provided everything is in order. It will take 70-80 more days for the eggs to hatch.

After the eggs have been laid, neither parent provides care. The hatchlings will be independent, as I mentioned before. After the eggs hatch, you should not disturb them for at least a day. Remember that hatchlings can not be removed from their shells if they feel threatened.

After the hatchlings have been removed from the soil, move them to their tank. Twelve of them should be housed in a 20-gallon tank. Their habitat should have full-spectrum lighting that mimics the sun’s rays, and heating (80 to 86 degrees F).

You can cut food such as mealworms, earthworms, or pellets into smaller pieces so that they fit in the hatchling’s mouth. If they are finicky, you can offer ham or lean meat.

It will take the turtles 3-6 years to mature, and then they can reproduce.

You can sell baby cumberland slider turtles if you don’t intend to raise all the hatchlings. These turtles will fetch reasonable prices.

Do Cumberland Slider Turtles Hibernate?

Cumberland slider turtles hibernate in the wild when temperatures fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Technically, they don’t hibernate; they brumate.

Hibernation refers to warm-blooded animals. Brumation refers to cold-blooded animals like turtles.

When the mercury drops, the cumberland slider will retreat to the bottom of the ponds or lakes, and only occasionally, to breathe fresh air or food.

But, they rarely brumate in captivity. Why would they? They are meeting all their needs, right?

By instinct, turtles only brumate when water temperatures approach freezing. In captivity, this is rarely the case.

However, I recommend that you prepare for brumation in the event your turtle wishes to fall asleep.

A vet should first examine the turtle. Only healthy turtles should be allowed to go into brumation. The turtle may not wake up if it isn’t healthy.

You should also keep these things in mind. It is important to weigh your turtle several times, reduce the temperature slowly, give it fibrous food, and keep it hydrated. Finally, prepare the fridge.

Yes, it does sound like a lot. It can be quite overwhelming, especially for first-time turtle keepers.

Although it isn’t a guide for cumberland sliders this article covers all aspects of caring for a turtle hibernate/brumate.

This article will also cover all steps that you need to take before the turtle hibernates/brumates.

Cumberland Slider Turtle Diseases

A turtle’s health is directly related to its environment and diet. Nearly every disease that a turtle gets can be traced back at the environment or diet. As with most turtles, the cumberland slider can be susceptible to metabolic bone disease and hypervitaminosis, infections, parasites, and other diseases.

Before we close this article, let’s briefly address each of these conditions.

Metabolic Bone disease

A calcium/phosphorus imbalance can cause metabolic bone disease. Reptiles should have a 2:1 ratio.

An imbalance in calcium/phosphorus can lead to weakening the carapace, plastron and entire skeletal system. Involuntary tremors and bone fractures can be severe symptoms in severely ill turtles.

This condition is most commonly caused by poor diet. This disease is often caused by a lack of vitamin D. Vitamin D is vital for calcium metabolism. Vitamin D is obtained from UVB light exposure, as you probably know.

In a nutshell: Poor diet and poor environment are the main causes of metabolic bone disease.

Hypovitaminosis A

Hypovitaminosis A refers to a nutritional disorder that is characterised by vitamin A deficiency. The culprit is again an unhealthy diet.

VCA animal hospitals state that turtles who are primarily fed iceberg lettuce and low-quality pellets as well as an all-meat diet are most likely to develop this condition.

This condition can be reversed if you take action quickly.

Hypovitaminosis A can be treated by injectable or oral vitamin-A supplement. The treatment should be done under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Shell Rot

The bacteria, parasites and fungi that cause shell rot (also known as “shell infection”) are responsible for the development of the disease. These infections can be secondary to injuries, bites or burns.

Sometimes the rot can get so bad that it penetrates into the shell layers and causes ulcers.

The most obvious sign of the disease, is the discoloration in the shell. The cause of the disease can lead to discoloration of the shell, which may be yellow, white, green, or even moldy. These spots and blotches are common signs of the disease.

Antibacterial and antibiotic ointments can be used to treat shell rot. It can take several weeks for the condition to disappear. It is important to consult a veterinarian before you begin any treatment.

Gastrointestinal Parasites

Pet turtles can be infected with gastrointestinal parasites. This is especially true if the turtle was caught wild. Parasitic infestation doesn’t always show clinical signs. In severe cases, however, diarrhea and weight loss may occur in the reptile.

These parasites can be detected mainly during routine fecal exams. You should have your pet’s stool examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Follow-up visits to the vet every year.

My Turtle Is Shedding? What’s Wrong With It?

Don’t be alarmed if turtles shed their shells. In fact, a turtle that lives a healthy life will shed its shell in order to be in its best form.

Remember that while it is normal to shed skin, it is not normal for a turtle to shed its shell. If your turtle is shedding skin more frequently than usual, this could indicate a serious health problem.

The main reasons why a turtle sheds more skin than usual include high temperatures, ammonia levels, vitamin A deficiencies, fungal infections, and high temperatures.

Final Words: Cumberland Slider Turtle Care Guide

That’s it. If you have decided to bring home a cumberland slider, I hope you find this guide useful. They can become your companion for life if you take the proper care.

There are no requirements for raising cumberland sliders. It can be raised as you would any other turtle.


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