If you choose to get a red-eared slider as a pet, keep in mind that these turtles grow to be as large as dinner plates! over time, you will have to buy a bigger enclosure in which to house your slider, as it will outgrow its smaller home. setting up a tank for a slider is no easy task. these turtles need both water and a basking area. you must carefully monitor water temperatures. water that is too cold or too warm is not good for sliders. water temperatures should range between seventy-five and eighty-five degrees. in addition, you should clean the tank almost daily. the basking area will need a heat source, such as a light bulb. turtles are cold-blooded. they need external heat to keep them warm because they cannot produce heat within their bodies. the temperature in the basking area should be between eighty-five and ninety degrees. the author compares the size of adult sliders to dinner plates to a) explain how much food they will likely consume. b) prove that they are some of the largest turtles. c) show why they are sometimes difficult to handle. d) illustrate why they will need a large living area.