The Common Musk Turtles are native to the Eastern US and Canada. Turtles are usually found in the wild. They are bred in captivity as their popularity has gone up as pets.
Common Musk Turtles are small, ranging in size from 1-5 inches across their shell. They have bright yellow lines running down both sides of their neck. These turtles weigh less than a pound at birth.
Common Musk turtles thrive near freshwater sources. They can be found in the mud and reeds near the water.
The species of turtle has seen a decline due to environmental destruction. Its status has been changed to reflect the declining populations in some parts of Canada and Iowa.
common musk turtle got the name stinkpot because they could release a foul odor if they felt threatened. These turtles can reach ripe old ages of 30 to 50 years old, and they can be feisty too. It’s a commitment that should not be taken lightly.
Common Musk Turtle Behavior
Due to their small size, the common Musk turtle is one of the most popular of the aquatic turtle species. They require a lot of care, and you should not underestimate it. Male common musk turtle has long tails that make it easy to have sex with them. They do not grow to be more than five and a half inches.
They come with a brown, grey or black carapace, which is very domed in young turtles, but flattens out as they grow older. The yellow stripes that run from the nose to the neck can fade with age, although they are very distinct.
While they spend most of their time in the water, they tend to stick to the shallows as they are not strong swimmers. They can be more active in the night.
common musk turtle gets their name from the fact that they can emit a foul-smelling odor if they feel threatened. They can scratch and bite if they feel uncomfortable. It’s easier to grab their target with a long and flexible neck.
All turtles need to be handled with care and respect. If you have to handle the common musk turtle, you should be especially careful to make sure you aren’t at the end of a nasty nip. It can be helpful to pick them up towards the rear of their shell.
There is a risk that aquatic turtles can carry a disease. You need to wash your hands after handling them. If you have children, you need to make sure they don’t put their hands in their mouth before washing. The common musk turtle is an aquatic turtle that is best observed rather than having lots of physical contact.
Common Musk Turtles Feeding
A variety of small snails, mollusks, crayfish, and aquatic insects can be found in the diet of the wild common musk turtles. They will be looking for small tadpoles and insects that fall into the water. They will occasionally eat plant matter, such as duckweed. The turtles will eat arthropods such as crickets, bloodworms, and cut-up fish. Reptomin and the Mazuri Freshwater Turtle Diet are some of the pelleted turtle foods that most pets eat.
Try some different foods to find out what your turtle likes best. It’s important to check that it’s something your Common Musk Turtle can safely eat.
If your Common Musk Turtle is young, you should feed it once daily if it is still young. Some people feed their turtles as much as they can eat in one sitting, while others give them only 15-20 minutes per feeding session.
common musk turtle Care
The preparation and responsibility of owning a Common Musk Turtle will be required by you. If you own a Common Musk Turtle, you should take into account the following factors to make sure it is happy and healthy.
A contained space is what your turtle will need. Common Musk Turtles will need a tank that can hold both a source of water and a rest area to swim in. It is recommended to keep the tank water shallow so that your turtle can get to the bottom.
If you have more than one turtle, you should purchase a 30-gallon aquarium, increasing the size if necessary. The 40-gallon aquarium is recommended for the two turtles. The space will be enjoyed by your turtle as he or she swims daily.
Even though they don’t come out of the water for a long time, you will still want to provide places where they can dry off and bask in the light. This can be as simple as a floating dock or log where they can climb out of the water, and it doesn’t have to be an extensive land feature.
The water in the tank should not be used for drinking or cooking. It is important to have a filter on your tank that will keep the water clean and free of chemicals without harming your turtle. To make sure your tank is at an optimal level of clean, please make sure the filter is compatible with shallow waters.
All turtles require certain specifications for heat and exposure to light, and the Common Musk Turtle is no exception.
The water temperature for the common Musk Turtles should be around 80 degrees. In their basking location, you can install an aquarium-safe light that will heat up the dry area. The water heater should always be submerged to prevent overheating or electrical shock.
Common Musk Turtles need UV light exposure to properly metabolize vitamins. UVB bulb lights designed for aquarium use are sold by many pet and reptile stores. Keep it on for 12 hours a day to make sure your turtle stays healthy.
The best way to keep common stinkpot turtles safe is to closely monitor their habitat and diet needs. If your turtle is well fed, gets all the vitamins it needs, and has plenty of sunlight and warm water to swim in, it will be much easier to keep it healthy than if you neglect any of these aspects.
It’s possible to keep your Common Musk Turtle safe by making sure it’s always swimming in clean, fresh water and isn’t in contact with an electrical wire.
Ensuring that your turtles are captive-born and are not interacting with turtles from the wild is one way to keep your Common Musk Turtle safe. Wild and captive-born turtles may fight or harm one another and this can lead to dangerous infections.
