What kind of turtle is that?

Sparkles is a Red-Eared Slider turtle. This type of turtle is native to Illinois. You may have seen these turtles sunning themselves on logs in the I&M canal or even crossing the trail or the road!

Where did the name Sparkles come from?

When we first got Sparkles, we held a contest for patrons to suggest a name for the new library turtle.  We randomly drew the name "Sparkles" from the suggestion box.  She's been Sparkles ever since!

How old is Sparkles?

Sparkles' exact age is unknown. She has been at the library since about 2001. She was already a few years old at that time, so she's probably around 12 or 13 years old.

Is Sparkles a boy or a girl?

It's hard for a us to tell for sure, but we think Sparkles is a girl. One time she laid eggs! They did not hatch, but since boys don't lay eggs, we deduced that Sparkles is a female. Also, male turtles tend to have an indentation on the belly plate, called a plastron, that female turtles do not have. Sparkles has a flat belly plate, so that's another reason to think she's female.

Does Sparkles eat the fish that are in the tank sometimes?

Yes! Red-Eared Sliders are omnivores. This means that they eat plants and meat. If Sparkles was living in the river, she would be catching fish and eating plants that grow in the river. We feed her commercial turtle food, which provides much of her nutrition, but occasionally, we will offer her worms, fruits and vegetables and fish.

What is that box on the top of the tank for?

The box with a ramp and lighting is there so that Sparkles can get out of the water and 'sun' herself. Turtles need to be able to sun themselves because not only does it provide body heat for them, but it is also part of their digestive process.  Turtles are reptiles, which means that they are cold-blooded.  Cold-blooded creatures take on the temperature of their surroundings. They are hot when their environment is hot and cold when their environment is cold. Cold-blooded animals are much more active in warm environments and are very sluggish in cold environments.

Sparkles can't get up on the ramp!

Yes, she can. We've seen her, even if you haven't. Red-Eared Sliders are known for being easily startled and 'sliding' into the water to hide. So maybe she was about to climb, spotted someone and decided to go back into the water or even swim over for a closer look at you!

There's too much water for Sparkles!  Won't she get tired from swimming and drown?

She might get tired, but if she does, she can rest on the platform and stretch her neck up to get air, or she can climb out of the water into the basking platform.  Red-eared sliders are river/lake turtles.  Rivers and lakes can be much deeper than the tank.  Sparkles is made to be able to live in deeper waters.  Turtles can also hold their breath for much longer hthan people can. 

How long do turtles live?

Healthy semi-aquatic turtles can live up to 40 to 60 years old. Red-Eared Slider turtles can grow between 5 and 12 inches in length. The females grow larger than the males. (Another reason to think Sparkles is a girl! She's pretty big!)

Do turtles breathe air?

Yes! Turtles have lungs that require air to breathe. They can hold their breath for long periods of time, though. While they sleep they can hold their breath for a couple of hours.

Can Sparkles recognize me?

Yes. Turtles can learn to recognize you. Sparkles has learned which people feed her and who just looks. She gets pretty excited when she sees the green and yellow can that holds her turtle food! Maybe if you visit Sparkles often, she'll recognize you, too, even if you don't feed her!

Do turtles see in color or black & white?

Interestingly enough, turtles see in color.

Does Sparkles bite?

She probably could and would if she was frightened, but she has never bitten anyone. She always feels safe when her tank is cleaned, she is not mishandled.

Why shouldn't we touch the glass on the tank?

There are several reasons. First of all, have you ever seen the Disney movie 'Finding Nemo'? Remember the part where Nemo was in the tank at the dentist office and the little girl was pounding on the tank and all the fish were getting upset? Well, water is a great sound conductor, think about dolphins and whales 'talking' to each other in the oceans across miles and miles. The sound of tapping or knocking is transmitted through the water and may be like a headache. Doesn't sound pleasant, does it? Also, tapping on glass in general is never a good idea, because it's glass and there is a slight chance it could break. It leaves fingerprints, too, which can make the tank look yucky.

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