Musk turtles, the biggest attitude in a little turtle. Common musk turtle sternotherus odoratus photos by j. As mentioned, common musk turtles do not always emerge from the water to bask, but a basking light is still. 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.
Hatchlings require a water depth that is open to approximately four. 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. The turtles body is dark and yellow lines can be seen above and below each eye. Unlike other musk turtles, the loggerhead appears to be diurnal. They are also known as stinkpot turtles due to a smelly liquid they produce from musk glands when threatened. 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. The diet of the eastern musk turtle sternotherus odoratus biotaxa. The common musk turtle sternotherus odoratus is a small turtle species, only reaching 46 inches in shell length when adult. Dec 16, 2017 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. While the common name usually refers to the common musk turtle, it can also be refer to all musk turtle species such as the razorback musk turtle, and the loggerhead musk. You will also note that the carapace of the loggerhead musk turtle is a bit serrated. This is because they will need fully submerged sections without risk of warping or leaking.
This allows the turtle to partial withdraw inside its shell. Kurt buhlmann is an associate research scientist at the university of georgias savannah river ecology laboratory. The loggerhead musk turtle features a keeled carapace. Musk turtles have two light stripes on their heads, distinguishing them from stripenecked musk turtles and. Along with this odor comes an orange colored liquid. 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. Knight and loraine 1986 incubated three eastern musk turtle eggs after they had been eaten and defecated by an eastern kingsnake lampropeltis getula in south carolina. Musk terrapins, stinkpot turtle, sternotherus odouratus suitability as an exotic pet. I received a musk turtle for chirstmas and he is the sweetest thing.
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% abou. Common musk turtles have a dark brown to black upper shell carapace with no markings. 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. Common musk turtles or stinkpots have small plastrons bottom of shell with a single hinge that provides little to no protection for their legs, distinguishing them from the similar mud turtles. Tortoise trust web care and breeding of musk turtles. The common musk turtle my choice for perfect pet turtle. 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.
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. Two key identifying features on the relatively small. From gray to almost silver, or light brown to orange with spotted or streaked darker markings, they are one of the prettiest. One juvenile eastern musk turtle was found in a 239mm largemouth bass micropterus salmoides taken from lake anna, louisa county, on 17 march. The carapace is smooth and domed, and may have green algae growing on its surface. The musk turtle is among the most popular turtles kept as pets. The skin is dark, and the heads have two light colored lines on each side. With proper care these turtles can live 3040 years in captivity. Cute little faces, an attitude similar to that of a jack russell terrier and barely getting bigger than a tennis ball musk turtles are one of the best turtles for keeping in a tank, or indoor pond belonging to the sternotherus genus, the group of turtles commonly known as north american musks, contains 4 species, all with natural ranges throughout north america, including parts of canada. I recently purchased two baby mississippi map turtles 6 months old i have had them for approx 3 weeks. Contents1 musk turtles as pets2 musk turtle tanks3 electrical equipment3. Recommended diet for the adult, omnivorous semiaquatic turtle. Eastern musk turtle virginia herpetological society. Musk turtles require a turtle tank as their enclosure.
A large aquarium with a pair of musk turtles, good filtration, and plenty of driftwood and aquatic plants makes an ideal turtle display. It occurs along our mississippi river counties and in the southern twothirds of the state. The common musk turtle has an olivebrown to black carapace, sometimes. Musk turtle care certainly isnt complicated, but these beautiful animals do require far more specialist care than the average pet. Musk turtle definition of musk turtle by merriamwebster. The stinkpot musk turtles for sale are captive bred. The razor back musk turtle reaches an adult size of 1215cm 56 inches. Pet common musk turtles will eat earthworms, cutup fish and shrimp, crickets and bloodworms. As their name suggests, they have a very prominent keeled shell, and a hinged bottom. There are probably other turtles in the world that are. Pdf sternotherus minor minor loggerhead musk turtle. Originating out of north america this species is found from florida to maine to california.
They inhabit slowmoving bodies of water, often with soft, muddy bottoms and abundant vegetation. The loggerhead musk turtle was once cons idered to be a. Dec 16, 2011 showing you how to care for a musk turtle. The painted turtles the painted turtle must be the most common widespread turtle. The common musk turtle is an ideal beginner species due to their adult size and ease of care. Musk turtles or any turtles are not really touchy feely animals, but they will tolerate light handling without musking their owner and i have never heard of this being an issue at all amongst musk turtle keepers. Neither turtle s lower shell is sufficient to provide complete enclosure of the head, legs and tail, as in the box turtle.
The family contains 25 species within four genera, but taxonomic reclassification is an ongoing process, so many sources vary on the exact numbers of species and subspecies. Your aquarium is where your pet turtle will reside for more than twenty years so it is an investment. Worse yet, it may spray its musk an odor so vile, it has earned this turtle the nickname stinkpot. 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 their feeding with slugs, small fish, frogs, and many small insects, in captivity this diet is best supplemented with. Their range extends west to the great lakes region, through illinois, to western kansas and oklahoma and reaches its western most distribution in. In this study we investigated the diet of the eastern musk turtle sternotherus odoratus in comal springs, a springfed lake. Dec 07, 2010 i recently purchased two baby mississippi map turtles 6 months old i have had them for approx 3 weeks. Most pets will eat pelleted turtle foods, as well, including reptomin and mazuri freshwater turtle diet.
Babies tend to have an overall colouration that is creamtan with brown speckles on the body and shell. The kinosternidae are a family of mostly small turtles that includes the mud turtles and musk turtles. When looking at these turtles, you will also notice that they have a fairly large head, and it is the size of their head that contributed to their common name. 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. Razorbacks are much lighter in color than most muds and musks. Stinkpots have the standard north american musk turtle formfactor. Razorbacks are omnivores, taking pellets, fish, crustaceans, insects, meat, worms and aquatic plants. Musk turtle, genus sternotherus, any of four species of small freshwater turtles belonging to the family kinosternidae. They inhabit slow moving and still waters across north america, where they prey on small invertebrates, fish, and a small amount aquatic plant matter. The species is native to southeastern canada and much of the eastern united states.
My common musk turtle laid some eggs a few days ago and im still not 100 percent certain on how to care for them. The musk turtle can grow to 100mm 44 long and needs a proportional amount of space to live happily. They are a hardy, robust species, with bags of character and a curious nature, and their small size makes them easier to accommodate than most other turtle species. Musk turtles enjoy swimming so that means they require a slightly large tank to accommodate this hobby.
There are two distinct stripes on the head and barbels on both the chin and throat. The common musk turtle is a small species reaching an adult length of 7. Musk turtle care sheet turtle care, musk turtle, pet. General most mud and musk turtles are small, hardy, and inquisitive, making them some of the best turtles to keep indoors. Common musk turtles may occasionally attempt to bite, so care should be taken in handling them. Foraging behaviours, including choice of diet, are affected by a. Stinkpot musk turtles are bottom dwellers, and we suggest 23 water depth and some plastic plants for hiding. Pdf diet of radiotracked musk turtles, sternotherus odoratus, in a. Biokids kids inquiry of diverse species, sternotherus. This species can be differentiated from the similar mud turtles kinosternon sp. The common musk turtle is also known as the stinkpot turtle because these animals can emit an offensive, foul odor from the glands that are located at the corners of their plastron. Musk turtles have two light stripes on their heads, distinguishing them from stripenecked musk turtles and young snapping turtles. It is advised that you do not put two male musk turtles together in one tank. Neither turtles lower shell is sufficient to provide complete enclosure of the head, legs and tail, as in the box turtle.
However, i have never kept a musk turtle before and would like to make sure i get his habitat set up correctly. The common musk turtle has an olivebrown to black carapace, sometimes marked with dark spots or streaks. All our reptiles come with a live arrival guarantee. This interesting turtle is endemic to north america and is considered a terrapin. Learn how to care for aquatic turtles available at petco. Musk turtle care sheet turtle care, musk turtle, pet turtle. Its shell, or carapace, is highly domed and dark brown to black. 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. Common musks are carnivorous animals and there is a wide variety of food on its menu. The eastern musk turtle is one of the worlds smallest turtles. Richard lunsfords captive care of north american water turtles available as a free download or you can buy a paperback copy. The common name musk turtle is given to turtles in the genus sternotherus of the turtle family kinosternidae. Dec 17, 2011 i have 2 common musk turtles, 2 weeks ago i noticed one of them floating around at the top of the tank so i tried helping him down to the bottom of the tank but he kept floating to the top.
This technically excludes most musk turtles, as most specimens found are smaller than 4 inches. In order to defend itself, common musk turtle releases a musky odor to scare away enemies. The bottom shell plastron is light colored and much smaller than the upper shell, and has skin showing between the scales. I have 2 sliders and 2 box turtles currently and i understand the musk is a wader which i have never dealt with before. Yellow mud turtles do not have yellow markings on the side of. For this reason we suggest a tank with at least 600mm in width.
Walks on the bottom of the stream or pond instead of swimming like other turtles. Lethargic floating musk emergency care turtle forum. 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. 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 found in eastern north america, usually in slowmoving waters. The lower shell, or plastron, is very small with one hinge. It has a dark, domed upper shell and reduced lower shell. Meet the intermediate musk turtle, alabamas newest turtle. It likes to feed on carrion, tadpoles, clams of fresh water, crayfish, aquatic larvae and insects and invertebrates. Musk turtles vary in five different species but the ways in which to care for them are very similar if not the same. They inhabit slow moving and still waters across north america, where they feed on small invertebrates, fish, and a small amount aquatic plant matter.
Musk turtles are longlived animals, probably at least 30 years or more in the wild, and with good care, your pet turtle may be with you for many years. Common musk turtle sternotherus odoratus reptiles and. Aestivation is when a turtle buries itself in the mud at the bottom of its waterhole, or drinks as much water. Aug 26, 2011 just a simple care video for stinkpotcommon musk turtles enjoy. This size places them in the worlds smallest turtles category. In this guide ill be breaking down every step in turn so your musk turtles remain happy and healthy for life.
When threatened, the common musk turtle may bite and scratch fiercely. Musk turtle definition is any of various small american freshwater turtles especially genus sternotherus that have musk glands. Musk turtles are named for the strong, musky odour they emit when disturbed. Care sheets provide you with essential info on how to best take care of these. Common musk turtles are by far one of the most suitable turtle species to keep in the home. Razorback musk turtle for sale from the turtle source. Mar 01, 2020 musk turtle definition is any of various small american freshwater turtles especially genus sternotherus that have musk glands.