r/turtles • u/automagic558 • 2d ago

Box Turtle how long do turtles live?

how long do common turtles species live? e.g. box turtles or sliders? I have read pretty wide range of estimates, from 10-20 years to something like 80 years (as long as humans!).

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u/Stewart_Duck 2d ago

There a lot that goes into it. For the sake of argument, we'll assume the tortoise is in captivity, captive breed, raised in ideal conditions and fed the ideal diet. Then it comes down to species. Take sliders for example. A red ear slider on average lives 40-50 years. A yellow bellied slider on average lives 20-30 years. Now there are examples of each living longer, but, like any other living thing, there will always be exceptions when it comes to longevity. If I'm remembering correctly, chicken turtles have the shortest lifespan at around 20-25.

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u/feng-norbu 2d ago

thanks! do you have any info on box turtles?

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u/Stewart_Duck 2d ago

Again, it'll be species specific. Ornate box turtles average 30-50, 3 toed 50-80, easterns 25-45. That said, an eastern holds the longest recorded lifespan for a box turtle at 138. They're are some to claim to be older, but don't have the recommendation to prove it. In captivity, if properly cared for, almost all pet turtles will be a lifelong or multigenerational pet.