Musk turtles require a turtle tank as their enclosure. Musk turtle, genus sternotherus, any of four species of small freshwater turtles belonging to the family kinosternidae. The most common habitat types for this highly aquatic turtle are. A large aquarium with a pair of musk turtles, good filtration, and plenty of driftwood and aquatic plants makes an ideal turtle display. They are not constant baskers, but an area with to bask with light should be made available because they will enjoy utilizing it. Musk turtles are named for the strong, musky odour they emit when disturbed. Basking is usually limited to spring, when females may choose to elevate their body temperatures to speed egg development. It likes to feed on carrion, tadpoles, clams of fresh water, crayfish, aquatic larvae and insects and invertebrates. Two key identifying features on the relatively small.
Common musks are much easier to house in captivity due to their small size, and small waste. The eastern musk turtle is one of the worlds smallest turtles. Biokids kids inquiry of diverse species, sternotherus. Razorback musk turtles are an extremely unique aquatic species of turtle that requires a deep water habitat in order to thrive. This is probably an adaptation to its habitat, where the water temperatures in the springs maintain a constant temperature in the low 70s year round.
Pdf a novel bait for capturing eastern musk turtles researchgate. Aestivation is when a turtle buries itself in the mud at the bottom of its waterhole, or drinks as much water as it can, then. Razorback musk turtle for sale from the turtle source. It is also known commonly as the common musk turtle, eastern musk turtle, or stinkpot due to its ability to release a foul musky odor from scent glands on the edge of its shell, possibly to deter predation. The water quality of the tank is fine, the filter is really strong, its 200 litres and 25c, there are some fish in there but no diseases etc, also live plants, i added a uvb bulb 10% about 2 days ago, but prior to this i had 2 arcadia bulbs no uvb, heat temp is approx 34c achieved by. Find out what equipment to use to create the perfect setup for exotic pets. Turtleguidebook the complete turtle and terrapin care guide. These turtles live in shallow bodies of warm water with moderate to heavy vegetation and soft muddy bottoms. Eastern musk turtles spend much of their time walking on the bottom, foraging for snails, fingernail clams and aquatic insects. Contents1 musk turtles as pets2 musk turtle tanks3 electrical equipment3. This is because they will need fully submerged sections without risk of warping or leaking. Musk turtles are strong turtles that are diseasefree. From gray to almost silver, or light brown to orange with spotted or streaked darker markings, they are one of the prettiest.
Care sheets provide you with essential info on how to best take care of these interesting pets. Living in slow moving streams, permanent ponds, and lakes. In order to defend itself, common musk turtle releases a musky odor to scare away enemies. Walks on the bottom of the stream or pond instead of swimming like other turtles. The species is native to southeastern canada and much of the eastern united states. Turtle species, there are hundreds of different types of turtles.
They inhabit slowmoving bodies of water, often with soft, muddy bottoms and abundant vegetation. The musk turtles musk turtles, also known as stinkpots, seem to prefer deep, still water in lakes, ponds, and sluggish streams with muddy bottoms and an abundance of plant life. They are also known as stinkpot turtles due to a smelly liquid they produce from musk glands when threatened. The musk turtle can grow to 100mm 44 long and needs a proportional amount of space to live happily. There are probably other turtles in the world that are. Any of several small north and central american freshwater turtles of the family kinosternidae and especially the genus sternotherus, which emit a. Many people assume that just because these fish are sold out of. The kinosternidae are a family of mostly small turtles that includes the mud turtles and musk turtles. Their range extends west to the great lakes region, through illinois, to western kansas and oklahoma and reaches its western most distribution in. Many species of musk turtles are found in springfed streams. Reptile care sheets lizards snakes tortoises turtles. Musk terrapins, stinkpot turtle, sternotherus odouratus suitability as an exotic pet. Therefore, most mud and musk turtles will thrive in water that is soft, clean, oxygenated and with plenty of underwater decorations.
The stinkpot musk turtles for sale are captive bred. Click on each one to get further information on caring for your turtle. The cool side of the enclosure should be around 85f during the day. This size places them in the worlds smallest turtles category. Stinkpots have the standard north american musk turtle formfactor. As their name suggests, they have a very prominent keeled shell, and a hinged bottom. Create a fantastic looking habitat to make your reptile feel safe and secure. The common musk turtle has an olivebrown to black carapace, sometimes marked with dark spots or streaks.
Flattened musk turtle us fish and wildlife service. The common musk turtle has a wide geographic range in eastern north america, from florida to ontario, and west to texas and wisconsin. The common musk turtle is a small species reaching an adult length of 7. All our reptiles come with a live arrival guarantee. These are a very fascinating animal to own as a pet, the best way to raise these turtles i have found is to offer them live foods such as they are use to eating in the wild as soon as your new pet arrives, in the wild they are use to beginning. Pdf we used radiotelemetry to assess the diet of sternotherus odoratus in gin creek. The species also tends to breed in late fall and winter in the united states, so a potential breeder must be on the. Extra care information by calling our team of experts on 01604 753823. Sternotherus odoratus, or the common musk turtle, is a widespread and abundant species that can be found along the coast of the eastern united states from the northeastern states down into florida. Common musk turtles may occasionally attempt to bite, so care should be taken in handling them. Mud musk turtle care sheet this includes information on mud turtles, musk turtles, and sidenecked turtles. The common musk turtle is an ideal beginner species due to their adult size and ease of care. It is advised that you do not put two male musk turtles together in one tank.
Aside from those that have been already discussed above, below are other things that can be done to take care of a musk turtle if you are having it as a pet. Razorbacks are omnivores, taking pellets, fish, crustaceans, insects, meat, worms and aquatic plants. Hatchlings require a water depth that is open to approximately four. The carapace is smooth and domed, and may have green algae growing on its surface. Although not necessarily difficult, breeding the mexican giant musk turtle staurotypus triporcatus is a bit more involved than typical mud and musk kinosternid turtles. Semiaquatic turtles split their time between land and water. Although the flattened musk turtle is capable of living in a variety of streams and lakes, its optimum habitat appears to be freeflowing large creeks or small. This species can be differentiated from the similar mud turtles kinosternon sp. General most mud and musk turtles are small, hardy, and inquisitive, making them some of the best turtles to keep indoors. Once again within a few degrees of this temp is just fine. Meet the intermediate musk turtle, alabamas newest turtle. As they live long, they require a lifelong commitment. Musk turtle care certainly isnt complicated, but these beautiful animals do require far more specialist care than the average pet.
Meet the intermediate musk turtle, alabamas newest turtle species photo of an intermediate musk turtles stunning carapace by john trent via facebook peter scott, a post doctoral scholar at ucla, who received his phd at the university of alabama was not trying to discover a new species of turtle. Razorbacks are much lighter in color than most muds and musks. At the moment we have 30 different turtle species on this page. Common musk turtles are by far one of the most suitable turtle species to keep in the home. Originating out of north america this species is found from florida to maine to california. Musk turtle definition of musk turtle by merriamwebster. Emydidae, mud and musk turtles kinosternidae, and map turtles graptemys spp. It has a dark, domed upper shell and reduced lower shell. Neither turtles lower shell is sufficient to provide complete enclosure of the head, legs and tail, as in the box turtle.
Pet common musk turtles will eat earthworms, cutup fish and shrimp, crickets and bloodworms. Worse yet, it may spray its musk an odor so vile, it has earned this turtle the nickname stinkpot. Chapter 2 common turtle profiles chapter 3 getting started with your turtle chapter 4 providing ongoing care for your turtle chapter 5 breeding turtles find out more about these chapters by clicking here chapter 6 looking after your turtles health. Pdf diet of radiotracked musk turtles, sternotherus odoratus, in a. Musk turtles definition of musk turtles by the free. They are a hardy, robust species, with bags of character and a curious nature, and their small size makes them easier to accommodate. While there are several musk turtle species, the ones that make ideal pets include the common musk turtles and the razorback musk turtles. The most popular perhaps, is the use of an aquarium, with a protruding ledge, rock or log, over which a spotlight can be suspended to mimic the warming rays of the sun. The pectoral scute the parts of the lower shell immediately adjacent to the front hinge is triangular in shape on the mud turtle and roughly rectangular on the musk turtle. There are two distinct stripes on the head and barbels on both the chin and throat. The bog turtles there are small turtles in the world, but the bog turtle is the smallest and is one of the most rare turtles around. Stinkpot musk turtles are bottom dwellers, and we suggest 23 water depth and some plastic plants for hiding.
If you have any pictures or suggestions, please let us know so we can continue to improve our knowledge base and site resource for turtle owners. In this guide ill be breaking down every step in turn so your musk turtles remain happy and healthy for life. Musk turtles vary in five different species but the ways in which to care for them are very similar if not the same musk turtles enjoy swimming so that means they require a slightly large tank to accommodate this hobby. Find out everything you need to know to keep musk turtles at home. Well make sure you get all the right knowledge to care for your turtle. Tortoise trust web care and breeding of musk turtles. Sternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle in the family kinosternidae. There may well be other texts available but three books that i know give good general information about keeping turtles and also reliable information about musk turtles are russ gurleys keeping and breeding freshwater turtles now out of print but available second hand from us online booksellers, richard lunsfords captive care of north american water turtles available as a free download or you can buy a paperback copy and andy highfields practical encyclopaedia of keeping and. Lightly sprinkle a calcium supplement free of phosphorus and vitamin d on the adult diet two to. Your aquarium is where your pet turtle will reside for more than twenty years so it is an investment. Water temperature is best kept at 7678 f 2426 c with a decrease in winter and an increase in the spring to stimulate breeding. Popular semiaquatic turtles kept in the us include sliders trachemys. Richard lunsfords captive care of north american water turtles available as a free download or you can buy a paperback copy.
During phase 1, we captured 231 of 276 eastern musk turtles 84% in traps baited with buffalo chicken. Common musks are carnivorous animals and there is a wide variety of food on its menu. Musk turtles synonyms, musk turtles pronunciation, musk turtles translation, english dictionary definition of musk turtles. They live 1015 years on average and vary in size depending on species maximum is generally 9 inches. Musk turtle definition is any of various small american freshwater turtles especially genus sternotherus that have musk glands. I recently purchased two baby mississippi map turtles 6 months old i have had them for approx 3 weeks. There are no effort free animals to keep as pets, and turtles are. The common name musk turtle is given to turtles in the genus sternotherus of the turtle family kinosternidae. This bearded dragon care sheet will cover just about everything you need. With proper care these turtles can live 3040 years in captivity. Turtle species 66 of them with free care guides all.
Learn how to care for aquatic turtles available at petco. Unlike other musk turtles, the loggerhead appears to be diurnal. Lethargic floating musk emergency care turtle forum. Musk turtle care sheet turtle care, musk turtle, pet.
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