Hi Everyone,
I have an 8 year old female red ear slider, approx 9". We are in PA, so she comes into a 100 gallon tank in the winter, and is currently outside in a 200 gallon pond, with access to a sand basking area. She has destroyed all the plants I put in there and has eaten all 24 fish I bought her 5 days ago. She does get a lettuce mix in the summer from our garden too. Today a bird landed near the pond, and to our amazement, she leaped up, grabbed it by the leg and pulled it under the water. We scooped out everything as quick as possible, but she had in a million pieces in no time.
I am shocked to say the least. In the winter we feed her bugs that we pick up around the house and turtle sticks, about 10 a day. She has had a tank mate, but he disappeared from our pond. Not sure if a bird scooped down and got him or what, as there was no way he escaped. (we even layered the 6 X 6' area with hardware cloth six inches under the sand/ dirt area.)
I did not know if anyone else has ever heard of this, so I thought I would do a post. I know they are not supposed to eat this much, am I doing something wrong? or was this payback to the bird kingdom if her boyfriend was taken by a bird?? just joking of course..