Here’s a quick list of all the foods that you can give your Common Musk turtle:
- Aquatic snails
- Black Soldier Fly larvae
- Bloodworms
- Canned snails
- Cockles
- Collard greens
What do musk turtles eat?
Musk turtles are omnivores which means that they can eat both meat and vegetable. But you should avoid giving them raw meat because they could choke on it. Instead, cook the meat before feeding it to your musk turtle. Beef, chicken, lamb, pork, turkey, duck, and veal are all common types of meat that you could feed your musks.
What do you feed a stinkpot turtle?
Commercial turtle pellets fed alongside high-protein foods such as earthworms, crickets, fish and shrimp are a good choice. Some Stinkpots may also enjoy grazing on leafy greens too, but don't be offended if they turn their nose up at them. The Common Musk Turtle is generally regarded as a healthy little species.
How to take care of a musk turtle?
Use a soft brush and clean, tepid water to wash the shell. Baby Common Musk turtles generally need much the same care as adult specimens. They can be kept in much smaller containers but will need much shallower water levels as well until they get bigger. A few inches of water is best at first, gradually increasing the depth as the turtles grow.
What kind of fish can you feed a turtle?
Note that marine fish can be very high in salt so it is advisable to only feed these occasionally. In contrast, freshwater fish like salmon or trout should be safe to feed routinely. Some keepers have found that bivalves like cockles and mussels are also readily accepted by musk turtles.
What should I feed my pet musk turtle?
They are primarily carnivorous, although they do sometimes eat certain algae. In captivity, providing a varied diet will help to ensure that they remain happy and healthy. Commercial turtle pellets fed alongside high-protein foods such as earthworms, crickets, fish and shrimp are a good choice.
What do baby common musk turtles eat?
Young musk and mud turtles will feed on a variety of food. They love guppies and mosquito larvae and will feed on blackworms and small redworms and will soon begin taking a variety of commercial pelleted food. Most remain small, with Common Musk Turtles (Stinkpots) reaching only 4 inches.
What can common musk turtles eat?
They are omnivorous (e.g., seeds, insects, snails, tadpoles, algae) and will occasionally scavenge on fish carrion. This species rarely emerges to bask and is most successfully captured with nocturnal trapping techniques. Musk turtles climb surprisingly well and occasionally rest fairly high in trees.
How often should I feed my musk turtles?
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.
How do you take care of a baby musk turtle?
7:0911:03Musk Turtle Care Guide (the best beginner turtle?!) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEat anything really floating on the surface of the water i've seen some people have success withMoreEat anything really floating on the surface of the water i've seen some people have success with floating foods.
How do I get my baby musk turtle to eat?
2:424:14Feeding BABY Musk Turtle BIG Worms - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn fast flowing streams they'll just typically. Be a pond or just really still water if you thinkMoreIn fast flowing streams they'll just typically. Be a pond or just really still water if you think mustard oils are awesome and you want to buy.
Do musk turtles eat lettuce?
Avoid feeding your turtles vegetables that contain little to no nutritional value, such as mushrooms, cucumbers, and eggplants. Instead, provide the turtles with fresh, nutritious vegetables, such as kale, collard, mustard greens, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, celery, and watercress.
Can musk turtles eat celery?
The answer is yes, turtles can eat celery. However, it's important to know that celery doesn't provide the essential nutrition turtles need to stay healthy. Let's delve into the turtle's dietary needs, celery's nutritional make-up, and some other foods you can give your turtle that are better choices than celery.
Can musk turtles eat fish food?
Fish food is safe for turtles to eat, but it should not be part of their main diet.
Can musk turtles eat carrots?
Shredded carrots, squash, and zucchini are great foods that turtles can eat, too. You can also go with edible aquatic vegetation such as water lettuce, water hyacinth, and duckweed. “For fruits, consider shredded apples and melons, as well as chopped berries,” recommends Dr. Starkey.
How long can a musk turtle go without eating?
A so-called “sub-adult” turtle (six months to one year old) can't go more than a day without eating. An adult turtle should eat, on average, every 2-3 days.
Can musk turtles eat mealworms?
As for treats mine love crickets, river shrimp, aquatic snails, wax worm and mealworms. If they are big enough to tackle it locusts. They get a treat no more than once a week, insted of that days feed.
How much do baby musk turtles eat?
Hatchlings and Juveniles Only feed your turtles what they can eat within 5 minutes. Or if that's confusing, their daily meal should only amount to how much can fit inside their heads, minus the necks. Be careful not to overfeed your baby musk turtles. Too much food at once may hurt their tiny stomachs.
Can musk turtles eat fish food?
Fish food is safe for turtles to eat, but it should not be part of their main diet.
How deep should the water be for a musk turtle?
Babies should be kept in a smaller aquarium and moved as they grow. Due to them being a ground walker rather than swimmer, provide a shallow water depth of 10-15cm (4-5 inches); increase this depth as they grow.
Can musk turtles eat mealworms?
As for treats mine love crickets, river shrimp, aquatic snails, wax worm and mealworms. If they are big enough to tackle it locusts. They get a treat no more than once a week, insted of that days feed.
1. High Protein Content Food
The first thing you need to know about feeding your musk turtles is that they should be fed high protein diets. It means turtles’ diet should contain more than 15% protein. The best sources of proteins are:
2. Fruits And Vegetables
Musk turtles are omnivores. That means that they will eat both fruits and vegetables.
3. Commercial Foods
Some musk turtles like to eat commercial foods. This option is ideal for those who live in areas where it is difficult to find fresh foods.
4. Turtle Food Mixes
Another option for feeding your Musk Turtles is to make your mixture of foods. This way, you can control what goes into the mix and ensure that it contains all the nutrients your turtle needs.
5. Algae
Algae is one of the best sources of nutrients for Musk Turtles. You can also buy algae supplements for your Musk Turtles. Algae is an excellent source of minerals and vitamins.
6. Freshwater
Your musk turtles need clean and fresh water to stay healthy. They may not drink as much as other species, but they still require plenty of water.
How to feed a musk turtle?
Placing food onto dry land very rarely elicits a feeding response in musk turtles. Instead, drop the food into the water infront of your turtle. If your turtle is hungry then it should start feeding rapidly. Note that some musk turtles can be quite shy.
What do musk turtles eat?
While musk turtles may eat the odd piece of pond weed in the wild , their diet is almost exclusively made up of meat. In captivity, this carnivorous diet can be supplemented with a number of specially-made turtle foods, which can make feeding your musk turtle much easier. Here are some of the best foods for your musk turtle:
How long does it take for musk turtles to eat roaches?
A better alternative here is known as “gut loading”. A mineral-rich supplement is fed to feeder insects like crickets or roaches for 24-48 hours, before the insects themselves are fed to your musk turtles. When your turtle eats the insect, they also benefit from all the nutrients inside the gut. Sale.
What kind of worms do turtles have?
Also available from aquarium shops are live bloodworms. These small, red aquatic worms are typically bought in a sealed plastic bag. Just snip the corner off and pour the bloodworms into your turtle tank.
Do musk turtles eat in water?
Observations in the wild have found that musk turtles do almost all their eating in the water – not on land. Furthermore, studies have shown that when the water temperature drops below 18’C musk turtles simply stop eating. The first step in feeding musk turtles is therefore ensuring that their water is warm enough.
Can musk turtles eat mussels?
Some keepers have found that bivalves like cockles and mussels are also readily accepted by musk turtles. Once again, however, be sure to limit the intake to avoid increasing sodium levels too rapidly.
Do musk turtles crawl?
An interesting observation is that musk turtles seem to crawl along the bottom of their cage looking for food, so food that sinks tends to be far more readily accepted than anything that floats.
What do musk turtles eat?
What do must turtles eat? Musk turtles are omnivores and eat both plants (vegetation) and animals (insects, worms) as well as various types of fruit. They will eat just about anything they can get!
How big can a musk turtle get?
Musk turtles can get up to 12 inches long! The largest recorded musks turtle was about 19 inches long. But that’s rather uncommon – most stay around nine or ten inches in length which is a good size as most people don’t want super large pet turtles.
How long can a musk turtle stay out of water?
All things considered, if the temperature, climate, humidity, and shade are all right, a musk turtle could stay out of the water for months or years .
What fish are good for turtles?
Fish that are very active and move a lot offer fewer attacking opportunities for your turtle to sink its beak into. Some fish that meet these stringent requirements are: Pictus Catfish.
Can musk turtles eat fish?
Yes! Certain types of fish can happily cohabitate with your musk turtle. There are some things you should take into account however when choosing which fish you wish to pair inside your turtle’s tank. Although often classified as omnivorous, the musk turtle is more carnivorous and will eat fish with long fins but avoid those with short fins.
Can a turtle eat snails?
Any fish larger than the turtle, be careful the reverse doesn’t happen and the fish eats the turtle tho! Snails can also be added to a turtle tank, as long as they are of the larger variety. Turtles are unlikely to attack and eat snails, although if they get bored they may.
What do musk turtles eat?
Common Musk Turtle Diet. A common musk turtle living in a wild habitat eats a variety of insects such as crayfish, snails, earthworms, and mollusks. They also feed on aquatic insects like damselfly nymphs, tadpoles, and dragonfly and fish eggs. Although musk turtles are considered carnivores by nature, however, they may also eat algae.
What are the predators of musk turtles?
They have many predators like raccoons, skunks, large wading birds, large fishes, foxes, American Bullfrog, snapping turtles, and Northern Water Snakes.
What are the characteristics of musk turtles?
Their unique features include a deep brown face with yellow lines and a highly arched carapace that tends to become flat as they age. Male musk turtles have a longer tail than females. They have a pointed nose and a rather large head. They are not the prettiest turtles, but other characteristics make them a good pet.
How long do musk turtles live?
Also known as Sternotherus Odoratus or eastern musk turtles, common musk turtles can live up to 50 years or more. Their unique features include a deep brown face with yellow lines and a highly arched carapace that tends to become flat as they age.
Why is the bottom of a musk turtle called a stinkpot?
It spends most of the time walking on swamps or marshes. It gets its name ‘musk’ or ‘stinkpot’ because it releases an orange colored musk that carries a heavily unpleasant scent that scares away its predators.
How many eggs do musk turtles lay?
Common Musk Turtle Breeding. The females lay 1 to 9 eggs of elliptical shape that have a hard shell. This breeding usually takes place during the spring that may last till fall, but the eggs take about 60 to 80 to hatch.
Where are musk turtles found?
Found in a vast geographical array, common musk turtles are commonly found in the Eastern United States and Eastern North America. Their hatchlings are the smallest turtles in North America.
What do musk turtles eat?
Being carnivorous, your musk turtle will enjoy items such as earthworms, ghost shrimp, crickets or fish. They will also eat turtle pellets and the occasional bit of greenery.
Why are musk turtles not easy to care for?
One of the main reasons is that they can have a bit of an attitude, which makes handling a bit tricky.
How to keep turtles from basking in tank?
Put their basking spot on the warmer side of the tank tank, and leave the other side open. Your turtle will go back and forth between the two areas. As far as a water heater goes, get one that is designed for this type of tank setup, and make sure that the water does not get above the recommended temperature.
How long do musk turtles live?
The typical common musk turtle lifespan is between 30 and 50 years when given proper care. In some instances these reptiles have surpassed the 50 year mark, but that’s uncommon.
What happens if a musk turtle's shell is soft?
If your musk turtle’s shell looks kind of whitish, and it seems kind of soft, it could have shell rot.
How big is a musk turtle?
The average size of an adult common musk turtle is around three to five inches long . Its small size makes it a good pet choice if you don’t have lots of room for a large enclosure.
What is a common musk turtle?
The common musk turtle is a very popular pet that many herp-lovers have considered at one point or another. They are relatively easy to care for, and quite fun to watch!
The Diet of a Musk Turtle
Musk turtles are omnivores, which means that they will eat fruits, vegetables, as well as meat, insects, and pellets. A well-balanced diet for a pet musk turtle will be mainly based on pellets, with the occasional fruits, vegetables, and dried insects.
How to Set Up the Tank of a Musk Turtle
The tank is where your musk turtle will spend most of its life so it’s important to make it as comfortable as possible. Luckily for us, musk turtles don’t require too many things in their tank, but the things that they require are completely essential.
Musk Turtle Size and Lifespan
On average most musk turtles live between 40 and 60 years and reach sizes between 2 and 4.5 inches.
How to Determine the Gender of a Musk Turtle
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to tell the gender of the musk turtle, as most of the distinctive signs only appear when they reach maturity. So if you own a baby musk turtle you could try to figure out the gender, but it’s usually impossible.
Possible Strange Behavior
After a while, you will start to know the normal behavior of your musk turtle. You will get to know how your turtle swims, when and how it will play, and all sorts of different things. And as a result, you will also notice some occasional strange behavior.
Final Thoughts
This article should cover everything that you should know about how to care for a musk turtle. But if you still have questions you can always leave them in the comment section below and I will answer them as soon as possible.
LEGAL INFORMATION
TurtleOwner.com is owned and operated by The Turtle Owner Team. TurtleOwner.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Care Guide
Owning a Common Musk Turtle will require preparation and responsibility on your part. When you own a Common Musk Turtle, please take into account the following factors to make sure your turtle is happy and healthy.
Habitat
Your turtle will need a contained space to live in that meets its habitat needs. Common Musk Turtles will need a tank that can hold both a source of water for them to swim in and dry areas where they can rest.
Heat and Light
All turtles require certain specifications for heat and exposure to light, and the Common Musk Turtle is no exception.
Diet and Feeding
Common Musk Turtles will require a specialized diet to make sure they are properly nourished. In the wild, this species of turtle most often eats the following things:
Lifespan and Health Concerns
Purchasing a Common Musk Turtle is a long-term investment. These pets can live up to 50 years in captivity and sometimes even longer if properly cared for. It is most common for these turtles to live anywhere between 30-50 years.
Behavior
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.
How to Keep the Common Musk Turtle Safe
Common Musk Turtles are best kept safe by closely following their habitat and diet needs. If your turtle is well-fed, has all its vitamins, and receives enough sunlight and warm water to swim in, it will be much easier to keep him or her healthy than if you neglect any of these aspects.
What do musk turtles eat?
Food and Water. In the wild, the Common Musk Turtle would eat a wide variety of water fish and insects. They are primarily carnivorous, although they do sometimes eat certain algae. In captivity, providing a varied diet will help to ensure that they remain happy and healthy.
What is the common musk turtle?
Similar Species. Back to Top. 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 are an aquatic turtle that comes from Eastern North America. If they feel threatened, they can release a foul, musky odor, ...
How to care for a stinkpot turtle?
The Stinkpot will need a suitable tank that will allow them to swim with ease. Unlike some aquatic breeds, they do not need deep water or a substrate (like gravel) on the base of the tank. This also makes the tank easier to clean. If you do want a more attractive looking tank, it will be okay to use a medium sized-gravel. The water depth should be shallow so that the turtle can touch the bottom of the tank and still stretch up to reach the surface without always having to paddle.
What is the most popular turtle?
The Common Musk Turtle , due to their small size, is one of the most popular of all the aquatic turtle species. You should not, however, underestimate the amount of care that they require.
How big of a tank do turtles need?
They do not need as big a tank as some of their larger species relatives. Generally, it is still recommended to have a tank designed to hold a minimum of 30 gallons for one turtle as they are an active species.
Why do turtles need a water filter?
A water filter compatible with shallow waters is needed to keep the turtle's habitat clean. Without it, you would have to empty the tank to clean it too regularly.
Do musk turtles need UVB light?
UVB-Lighting is recommended to ensure that your turtle is getting enough crucial Vitamin D3 to help them metabolize calcium properly. Although this is often added to commercially available pellets, if they do not get enough through their diet, the lighting will ensure that they remain in better health. It is worth noting, however, that the Common Musk Turtle is more capable of synthesizing Vitamin D3 than other turtles.
