Musk turtles have two light stripes on their heads, distinguishing them. Musk turtles live for about 15 to 20 years and reach about five to six inches in length as an adult. Worse yet, it may spray its musk an odor so vile, it has earned this turtle the nickname stinkpot. Common musk turtles are by far one of the most suitable turtle species to keep in the home. In this guide ill be breaking down every step in turn so your musk turtles remain happy and healthy for life. This manual offers detailed instructions on turtle care, safe handling, feeding, health care.
They are also known as stinkpot turtles due to a smelly liquid they produce from musk glands when threatened. This turtle is a very hardy species that are quite inexpensive, which makes them that much more popular. The kinosternidae are a family of mostly small turtles that includes the mud turtles and musk turtles. Common musk turtle sternoptherus ororatus exotic pets. These small babies, however, are great feeders and are very hardy. Stinkpot musk turtles for sale from the turtle source. Younger children do not have the interest or ability to provide the amount of care and cleaning that an aquatic turtle requires, so parents must realize that the responsibility of caring for the pet ultimately falls on them when their kids lose interest. Musk turtle fungus condition sign in to follow this. The species is native to southeastern canada and much of the eastern united states. Musk turtles have a blackishbrown carapace that is highly domed with a vertebral keel. Common musk turtle sternotherus odoratus is a longnecked small turtle. Their small size and the fact that they prefer shallow water, make eastern musk turtles easier to. The common musk turtle is sometimes called stink pot.
If an eastern musk turtle is used to being around or handled by humans, the lack of fear means a distinct lack of stink. Our selection includes baby turtles such as the baby mississippi map turtle, baby yellow belly slider turtles, the baby spiny soft shelled turtle, tiny baby eastern musk turtles, baby golden thread turtles, baby snapping turtles, the lovely baby peacock turtle, baby pink belly side necked turtles, baby. If youve ever wondered how to take care of a pet turtle, or you already have one but want to brush up on your turtle parenting skills, consider this your turtle tutorial. Aquatic turtles for sale live baby turtles for sale my. The keel tends to flatten out in adults, but it is very prominent in hatchlings. Musk terrapins, stinkpot turtle, sternotherus odouratus suitability as an exotic pet. 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. Musk turtles enjoy a mild current in the water which can be created using strong filters or water jets. Common musk turtle care and information reptiles magazine. The basking behavior of common musk turtles seems to vary greatly with the habitat in which the population is living. Turtles is a book in barrons series of complete pet owners manuals.
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. They are also found in habitats extending to the west, into wisconsin and texas. Musk turtle shells have even been found in the nests of bald eagles, thus a wide range of predators target them. The eastern box turtle is the only truely terrestrial turtle of michigan. Luckily, this only happens when the turtle senses danger. General most mud and musk turtles are small, hardy, and inquisitive, making them some of the best turtles to keep indoors. This size places them in the worlds smallest turtles category.
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. They readily eat pellets, even ones that have settled to the bottom, along with any protein matter they are offered. A spot light and uv tube can be used over the basking area of the turtle. Razorback musk turtle ranges in color from olive green to shades of gray and tan. Common musk turtle baby this photo shows a baby common musk turtle aged approximately two months. Uniform look of musk, mud turtles belies hyperdiversity. The way the book is written provides understanding of different aspects or categories of tortoiseturtle care and it is as if the person is having a conversation with you. Your aquarium is where your pet turtle will reside for more than twenty years so. Musk turtles are named for the strong, musky odour they emit when disturbed. Introduction recently, hatchling musk turtles seem to be turning up for sale in pet shops, reptile shops and aquatic centres with increasing regularity. Offer them an enclosure with water that is filtered. 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. When you buy a turtle from us, you automatically receive our 100% live arrival guarantee. If they feel threatened, they can release a foul, musky odor, which is how they got their alternative name of stinkpot.
It has a dark, domed upper shell and reduced lower shell. 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. This interesting turtle is endemic to north america and is considered a terrapin. The common musk turtle, also known as the eastern musk turtle or the stinkpot, is a popular choice as a pet because of their size and relative ease of care. 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.
A high, strong ridge or dorsal keel, is an identifying feature of this species. All our reptiles come with a live arrival guarantee. There are probably other turtles in the world that are. Stinkpot musk turtles are bottom dwellers, and we suggest 23 water depth and some plastic plants for hiding. It is advised that you do not put two male musk turtles together in one tank. Remember that mud turtles are closely related to musk turtles and, like their relatives, can secrete an awfulsmelling liquid to scare off predators. They inhabit slowmoving bodies of water, often with soft, muddy bottoms and abundant vegetation. Characteristics, housing, diet, and other information. Sternotherus odoratus common musk turtle or stinkpot.
When choosing a baby razor back musk turtle for sale it is important that you purchase a healthy animal from an experienced razor back musk turtle breeder. There are two distinct stripes on the head and barbels on both the chin and throat. Stinkpots take their name from small glands on the underside of the carapace that can exude a foulsmelling musk in selfdefense. Common musk turtle the common musk turtle is an ideal beginner species due to their adult size and ease of care. Turtles may not be cuddly, but they are awfully cute and generally easy to care for if youre well researched and prepared. This is because they will need fully submerged sections without risk of warping or leaking. The stinkpot musk turtles for sale are captive bred. A guide to caring for common musk turtles as pets the spruce pets. Musks are mostly carnivorous they do well on a good quality pellet food.
Ensure your turtle lives a long and happy life with the complete turtle care guide do you want to learn how to give your turtle all the care it needs to stay happy and healthy. We have several captivebred musk turtles for sale at truly low prices. When threatened, the common musk turtle may bite and scratch fiercely. A quick video showing the care of the common musk or stinkpot turtle. Our baby turtles for sale here are some of the worlds most beautiful turtles anywhere. The musk turtle can grow to 100mm 44 long and needs a proportional amount of space to live happily. Recently, hatchling musk turtles seem to be turning up for sale in pet shops. Make sure to only buy captivebred turtles and do never remove any from the wild. Like tropical fish, musk turtles require warm water to thrive. The head and feet are usually marked with darker speckling or streaking, and the carapace is similarly marked.
Either a 60w or 100w basking bulb should be sufficient depending on temperatures. Even though they require great care, especially a threetoed or eastern box turtle can be a very fun and rewarding pet 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. They arent brightly colored like other turtles, but they are neat pets. They are an aquatic turtle that comes from eastern north america. Turtleguidebook the complete turtle and terrapin care guide.
Indeed, when the water drops below around 18c most turtles will stop eating. Well, with my complete turtle care guide you can now find out everything you need to know. Sternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle in the family kinosternidae. Change a third of the water once a week to keep water clean. Walks on the bottom of the stream or pond instead of swimming like other turtles. Common musk turtles are found in the eastern parts of north america, all the way from ontario down to florida. Personal please note that while the care sheet states that mini musks reach a maximum size of 3 inches, one of ours did end up reaching an adult size of 4 inches, which is still considerably smaller than the more commonly available redeared sliders which can grow to over 12 inches and is challenging to properly house indoors. Young turtles tend to be more carnivorous but as they grow older eat more plant matter.
The common musk turtle is known as the stinkpot turtle because they can emit an offensive, foul odor. Care sheet for mud and mask turtles the turtle source. Care and breeding of musk turtles tortoise trust web. Baby turtles for sale ships fast ups my turtle store. In the glacial lake at my summer camp in new jersey, musk turtles were.
The common musk turtle is an ideal beginner species due to their adult size and ease of care. Musk turtle care certainly isnt complicated, but these beautiful animals do require far more specialist care than the average pet. The eastern musk turtle is one of the worlds smallest turtles. Tortoise trust web a site dedicated to the conservation and captive care of chelonia. You can browse through our site to find more information on box turtle care. Since this topic is now mainly related to musk turtle care and the situation is not critical i am moving to the murky lair forum where other musk owners will set it and be able to provide their. 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. Musk turtles go after bait and are often caught accidentally by fishermen. The musk turtle is among the most popular turtles kept as pets. As mentioned, common musk turtles do not always emerge from the water to bask, but a basking light is still essential for captive turtle health. At tortoise town, we have the worlds finest selection of healthy, captive bred aquatic turtles for sale. This species can be differentiated from the similar mud turtles kinosternon sp. As their name suggests, they have a very prominent keeled shell, and a hinged bottom hence the words razor back musk turtle.
Musk turtles enjoy swimming so that means they require a slightly large tank to accommodate this hobby. A large aquarium with a pair of musk turtles, good filtration, and plenty of driftwood and aquatic plants makes an ideal turtle display. The common musk turtle has a wide geographic range in eastern north america, from florida to ontario, and west to texas and wisconsin. Musk turtle, genus sternotherus, any of four species of small freshwater turtles belonging to the family kinosternidae. Best beginner pet turtles and tortoises pethelpful. They do well in community tanks so long as they are with slightly larger, more active turtles as they sometimes nip the tails of their cage mates. They are also known as stinkpot turtles due to a smelly liquid. Musk turtles require a turtle tank as their enclosure. Musk turtles, the biggest attitude in a little turtle pets4homes. Razor back musk turtle for sale baby razor back musk. Tortoise trust web care and breeding of musk turtles. In a further effort to relieve turtle guilt see the previous turtlethemed tet zoo article, i give you the following article devoted. Stinkpots or common musk turtles are mostly aquatic and do very well as residentgarbage disposals. The musk turtle diet includes snails, aquatic insects, carrion, fish eggs, worms, leeches, larvae, algae and water plants.