Is a musk turtle a good pet?

Is a musk turtle a good pet?

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. They may be small, but these turtles can reach ripe old ages of 30 to 50 years old, and they can be feisty, too.

How long do musk turtles live?

Common Musk Turtle Fact Sheet

How long until musk turtles are fully grown?

Young common musk turtles typically grow slow, doubling their size in about 10 months or so.

Are common musk turtles friendly?

Common Musk Turtles are spirited little creatures. Although they can be fun to watch, they are generally not too friendly towards humans, and you should avoid handling them roughly or excessively, or they may bite you.

Do musk turtles get lonely?

Turtles aren’t overly-sociable, and don’t prefer the company of other turtles, so no, they don’t get lonely.

How deep should the water be for a musk turtle?

Chlorine free water depth should be around 10 inches in the shallow end and 24 inches deep in the deep end for adults and 3 to 4 inches deep for hatchlings. Musk turtles enjoy a mild current in the water which can be created using strong filters or water jets.

Do musk turtles need light at night?

Many turtle owners wonder if they need to keep the light on in their turtle’s tank at night. Luckily, the answer to that is no. Your turtle will be just fine if the light is turned off during night time hours. It is actually recommended that they are exposed to a natural amount of light and darkness each day.

Do musk turtles sleep in water?

So yes, turtles do sleep underwater. Species such as painted turtles, map turtles, sliders, mud turtles, musk turtles all sleep underwater. Additionally, North American turtles such as the musk and painted turtles can even breathe underwater. They can remain perfectly still underwater as they sleep.

Do musk turtles need a friend?

Do turtles recognize their owners?

Turtles Know Their Owners! Most people don’t realize this, but many turtles recognize the sight and sounds of their owners! And remember, just like our furry friends, turtles also need routine veterinary care as well.

How often does a musk turtle eat?

Musk turtles less than 6 months old should be fed twice daily and turtles over 6 months old should be fed once every other day.

Do musk turtles need a heater?

Given that musk turtles are so highly aquatic, maintaining water temperature is key to their health. Chilly water is the fastest way to cause sickness in any captive turtle. A submersible heater should maintain water temperatures at 72 to 78 degrees (though some of my colleagues recommend 75 to 84 degrees).

What do you need for a musk turtle?

Aquatic plants (water lettuce, duckweed, etc.) can also be provided, as some musk turtles prefer more vegetables in their diet than others. Though less sensitive to limited access to UV lighting, common musk turtles require ultraviolet ( UVA and UVB) lighting as most other turtle species do for proper captive care.

What is the lifespan of a musk turtle?

Female turtles reach sexual maturity at 9 to 11 years, males at 3 to 4 years. A musk turtle’s lifespan is 20 to 50 years. These turtles hibernate for the winter on the bottom of lakes, ponds or streams. Sometimes they will use a riverbank muskrat burrow.

What is a common musk turtle?

Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) The common musk turtle is a member of the family Kinosternidae. It has a blackish-brown carapace that is highly domed with a vertebral keel. The keel tends to flatten out in adults, but is very prominent in hatchlings and juveniles. The plastron is reduced in size.

How big do musk turtles get?

The Common Musk Turtle is a small species reaching an adult length of 7.5-12.5cm (3-5 inch). Males can be determined by the longer tail and overall larger size. Their shell colouration can be black, grey or brown.