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We got four red ear sliders at about the same time. They are all from the same brood(?) and are exactly the same age. They were all the same size when we got them. They were a bit undersized, shell being 1"-1.5". They were a bit underfed and poorly cared for when we got them. We bought one from someone selling them (not a pet store) and friends bought the other three. As soon as we got them, I did research to make sure we got the right equipment and could care for them properly. The other people, as we told them how to take care of them, decided that it was too much of an investment, and gave them to us bit by bit. While in the other's care, they did not eat for an extended period of time, since they did not know that they needed to be in water, no heat lamp, nothing - just a little plastic container and some gravel. I'm not even sure if the food was turtle food, and not dog food. We now have them in a nice aquarium with a heavy duty canister filter, a sunlight lamp and a heat lamp, and water heater. They are all active and appear healthy and happy. They eat regularly, and all eat the same foods, which vary.
The problem is.. We have had them about 5 months. The turtle we originally got has grown a bit, and is now 2.5" long (shell, front to back). The second turtle we got about a week later has grown a TON. 4.5" or so. Turtle #3 (2 weeks from the first) and #4 (1 month from the first) have not grown noticeably at all. They are still the tiny 1.5" or so.
Is this ok? Again, they all seem to be happy and active. They all eat normally, the smaller ones of course eat less, but they eat well. All the turtles get along great, and regularly pile up on the sunning rock for warmth. I'm assuming that #3 and #4 are smaller because of malnourishment before we got them. Though it is odd that they haven't grown at all that we can tell. It is really odd that #2 has grown so much, and #1, who has been eating since day #1, is still fairly small. Normal? Anything I should be doing?

They grow the fastest in their earliest stages. So the growth, provided their diet is consistent and they are healthy, will even out. Of course females are larger, and will end up larger than the males. It may take some time because of the size differences.

Certain RES will easily out compete others for food, so with 4 in your care you might want to feed them separately.

I have two turtles. They both get the same shares of food, and live in the same environment.

Sometimes, even with diet being the same, they still grow differently. Typhoon is very big, she reached 2.5 inches a couple of days ago. Hurricane, is still just barely at 2 inches. Ty also has more bulk than Cane a does.

Like steve said, sometimes gender is a factor as well.

It's also possible that you have 3 males (the smaller ones) and one female (the larger one). I can only speak for my female in that she sprouted up very fast, and then slowed down. How much are you feeding the four of them? What size tank are they in?

TheComputerGremlin wrote:It's also possible that you have 3 males (the smaller ones) and one female (the larger one). I can only speak for my female in that she sprouted up very fast, and then slowed down. How much are you feeding the four of them? What size tank are they in?

I have a horrible feeling I have a boy and a girl now. Please let it be genetics that makes Hurricane grow so slowly. *whines* I can afford to house them separately, but Typhoon is gonna hate me for it. Maybe I'll put a fake turtle in the tank with her...

Thanks for the help! We have them in a 40gal tank, and they seem to love it.