Red ear slider (RES) turtles are one of the most common species of aquatic turtles typically kept in backyard fishponds. Due to an extremely high volume of turtle rescue requests, we offer free RES turtle adoptions year-round. If you would like to add a RES to your own backyard pond, simply submit a completed turtle adoption request below.

Turtle Adoption Request:

Note: Please be sure to provide a valid contact cell phone# as we coordinate and schedule all adoptions via SMS text.  


Aquatic turtles really are much happier and healthier when kept within an outdoor pond as opposed to an indoor aquarium. In addition to maintaining our own dedicated turtle pond habitats, we also make surrendered turtles available for private adoption to properly vetted new forever homes. To help expedite the turtle adoption process, all turtle adoptions are coordinated and managed by a nonprofit koi fish rescue service provider. Our dedicated team of volunteers also host private turtle adoption events to help place our rescued turtles into loving new forever homes.
If you have a backyard water garden or private residential pond and are interested in turtle adoption, please submit a Turtle Adoption Request. Once your request is received, a volunteer will contact you to provide further assistance.

An approved turtle adoption request form is required.  Once approved, we offer three convenient options for those wishing to adopt aquatic turtles from Southern California Koi Rescue:

Select your turtles in person at a hosted adoption event in Victorville, CA. Approved adopters wishing to personally select the turtle(s) they wish to adopt may schedule an appointment to attend a volunteer hosted adoption event in Victorville, CA 92392.  These events generally take place approximately once every 6 weeks. 

Let our volunteers select turtles for you and deliver them to you in Highland, CA. Approved adopters willing to allow our volunteers to select adoptable turtles on their behalf may schedule an appointment to pick up their turtles by appointment in Highland, CA 92346.  These appointments are generally offered once every 2 weeks.

Let our volunteers select and deliver your turtles to your local area. Approved adopters residing within our service area who adopt a MINIMUM of 10 turtles may have their turtles personally delivered to their local area by one of our volunteers for convenient pickup.  A $40 USD donation is required at time of delivery for this service.  Dropoff location will be no more than 20 miles from adopter street address provided.  A 3–4-week lead time applies. This option is ideal for those with large ponds and private lakes wishing to adopt turtles in larger quantities.