Are red eared sliders edible?

[Pale Horse]

I know that snappers and softshell turtles are decent eating, but does anyone have any experience with the little red eared bastards that pile onto logs by the dozen?

 

[sandman7925]

Unless their out of the LSU Lakes I'm sure their edible, but never had them myself.

 

[LACamper]

I'd bet they are edible, but not sure how good they would taste. I'm betting muddy, like catfish from too small a pond. With enough hot sauce it wouldn't matter though.

 

[headshot]

I'm told they are, but you need a bunch of them bc they barley have meat in them

 

[charliepapa]

Mais, you could eat anyting you could catch, but wit dat, you gon need a put a whole lotta onions, cha!

 

[mwk1975]

Ok, I had a mammy growing up, her name was Pinky, Old black lady, could neither read nor write. I loved her fiercely. That being said I recall a bit of wisdom from her concerning the aforementioned turtles. She always referred to them as "stink pot" turtles. After cooking one once she told us that she figured out why they were called stink pot turtles, and I quote ".... 'cause they sho do stank up your pot...." I don't recall that she mentioned anything about taste, just that they smelled to high heavens.

 

[troy_mclure]

a stink pot is different than a red ear. a stinkpot may or may not be marked with color, but they have a high domed shell and a noticeable odur, compared to the flater shell of the slider and snappers.

ive eaten some sliders, like mentioned above, there isnt much meat on them. it would take about 2x the weight of a snapper to get the same meat.
they are pretty oily and taste more fishy than a snapper or leatherback.

 

[Emperor]

All turtles in Louisiana are considered edible. As a matter of fact, any non-threatened species of turtle is considered acceptable for commercial grade turtle meat. There are some that aren't as favored over others like the mud turtles, but depending on the environment all others are good to go.

By order of importance here are Alligator Snapper(now protected), common snapper, softshell, diamond back terrapin, red-eared, and on down the line. The various sea turtle species are delicious too, but protected and shouldn't be considered. Most land turtles are not considered for eating.

With that stated, I wouldn't eat anything out of a sludge pond or a drainage canal.

 

[southlaems]

From a novice......

Could you trap the turtles and put them in a pool for a few days/weeks in clean water with a filter/pump to assist in flushing them out like purging crawfish or rinsing crabs. Keep them as a pet for a few weeks in fresh clean water to rid them of the toxins and mud taste/smell?????????

 

[charliepapa]

Jim, I'm pretty sure it's more a function of their diet than the water in their system.

 

[Emperor]

From a novice......

Could you trap the turtles and put them in a pool for a few days/weeks in clean water with a filter/pump to assist in flushing them out like purging crawfish or rinsing crabs. Keep them as a pet for a few weeks in fresh clean water to rid them of the toxins and mud taste/smell?????????

Jim, I'm pretty sure it's more a function of their diet than the water in their system.

Certainly would be a better environment but the contaminants that a reptile can pick up would be more biological than dietary related. If a turtle were to contract a nasty disease in a drainage canal, it aint' getting rid of it by putting it in clean water. No matter how long you do it.

FWIW: Purging crabs and crawfish by rinsing or letting them sit in clean or salt laden water for a few minutes before cooking is a myth! However, they can be "purged" over time with the scenario you laid out for the turtle.

You aren't trying to build a case for eating a turtle or turtles from a sewer are you?

 

[southlaems]

You aren't trying to build a case for eating a turtle or turtles from a sewer are you?

I am a big guy..... I kinda need to eat from wherever I can

 

[Emperor]

I am a big guy..... I kinda need to eat from wherever I can

Touche'!

If this country stays on this current path, we may all be foraging in that sewer! Where is it?

 

[tbone]

All turtles in Louisiana are considered edible. As a matter of fact, any non-threatened species of turtle is considered acceptable for commercial grade turtle meat. There are some that aren't as favored over others like the mud turtles, but depending on the environment all others are good to go.

By order of importance here are Alligator Snapper(now protected), common snapper, softshell, diamond back terrapin, red-eared, and on down the line. The various sea turtle species are delicious too, but protected and shouldn't be considered. Most land turtles are not considered for eating.

With that stated, I wouldn't eat anything out of a sludge pond or a drainage canal.

The alligator snapping turtle can be taken but not for commercial purposes. The recreational limit is 1 per boat or vehicle, per day.

 

[Emperor]

The alligator snapping turtle can be taken but not for commercial purposes. The recreational limit is 1 per boat or vehicle, per day.

Shhhhhhhh!

 

[charlie12]

Mais, you could eat anyting you could catch, but wit dat, you gon need a put a whole lotta onions, cha!

 

[Ironman26]

Yall got me craving Turtle stew I'm goin check da freezer...... If none, I'm goin bait my lines....... You probably could eat the red ear turtle,it's not worth your time or effort for the little bit of meat you gonna get !!!

 

[MJCHAMP]

I've been eating them for years now. Not a lot of meat with just one though. They have all tasted fine. I just caught on in my pond on a rod & reel. That's a first for me. Needless to say he did not live long, got him cleaned and in the freezer now.

 

[tmlowe]

A friend and I built a wooden frame and stapled a net to the bottom of it. Then we tied a rope on one side and when turtles would climb up on the side with the rope you could pull the rope and the turtle would fall in the net and you can pull it ashore to catch the turtle

 

[oleheat]

I've heard of people eating "streakerheads"- but I think I'll stick to softshells & snapping turtles, myself....