what to feed musk turtles

You can feed your musk turtles

with their favorite foods, including crickets, earthworms, redworms, dragonflies, small shrimps, snails, and crayfish. Musk turtles also enjoy high-quality pellets as well as meats like chicken, turkey, beef, and pork, and vegetables such as kale, spinach, and celery.

Full Answer

What other turtles can live with musk turtles?

Turtles of the same species generally live peacefully together as long as they are all adults or all juveniles. Freshwater turtles such as map turtles, musk and mud turtles, painted turtles, cooters, and sliders can all live together.

What foods do turtles like to eat?

Foods that you should be giving to your turtle:

1. Fresh, raw foods: These are great for your turtle because they will be healthier. ...
2. Freeze-dried foods: Freeze-dried foods are perfect for turtles because they don’t get sick as easily as most other types of food.
3. Dry food: This food is also great for turtles because it doesn’t cause them to get sick as quickly as other types of food.

What are some fruits that turtles can eat?

• Spinach
• Rhubarb
• Beet Greens
• Cranberries
• Oranges
• Sweet potatoes

What can turtles eat besides turtle food?

What Can You Feed Turtles Besides Turtle Food? 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. What can turtles ...

What human food can musk turtles eat?

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 often should you feed a musk turtle?

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.

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 do musk turtles need?

Place bogwood, rocks, ceramic plant pots and other objects in the tank for your Common Musk Turtle to investigate and hide beneath. They prefer plenty of vegetation, the use of artificial plant or live can be use; latter will require UVB lighting for growth.

What veg can I feed my musk turtle?

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.

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 fish food?

Fish food is safe for turtles to eat, but it should not be part of their main diet. Fish food is not toxic to turtles and you do not have to fear if your turtle does end up eating a few bites worth.

Can you hold musk turtle?

All turtles should be handled with care and respect. To ensure you are not at the end of a nasty nip, you should be especially careful if you have to handle the stinkpot. Picking them up towards the rear of their shell can help. There is a risk that aquatic turtles can carry the Salmonella bacteria.

Can 2 musk turtles live together?

Common Musk Turtle Caging Housing two male common musk turtles in the same tank is not recommended. Keeping one male and one female in a tank may require that the two be separated if the male shows excessive interest in the female and begins to relentlessly harass her.

What should I put in my musk turtle tank?

Common musk turtles do require a place to bask and get out of the water, so placing a few stones, a turtle dock or some artificial plants around the tank, will work very well. Your pet turtle will also appreciate floating toys or pieces of driftwood.

Do musk turtles need heated water?

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).

How long can a musk turtle stay out of water?

Generally speaking, a turtle can go about 8 hours without water in a warm and dry environment.

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!

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.

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 .

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?

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.

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.

How many gallon aquarium for musk turtles?

It is utterly important that the aquarium is to be equipped with a submersible canister water filter. For housing a pair of common musk turtles, a 40-gallon aquarium will work great. Also, a powerful water filter should be utilized based on the aquarium’s size.

Where do musk turtles live?

Common musk turtles are almost completely aquatic, spending a huge amount of their time in slow-moving water, peacefully hidden among heavy vegetation on the shallow bottom of creeks and ponds.

What is the color of a musk turtle?

Common musk turtles are characterized by a carapace colored in blackish-brown, with no markings. The carapace is highly domed, with a vertebral keel. Meanwhile, the plastron is smaller in size. Among common musk turtle hatchlings and juveniles alike, the keel is strongly prominent. However, as these turtles mature, the keel usually flattens.

How many eggs do musk turtles lay?

Common musk turtles are known to breed in the spring. After successfully mating with a male, the female is to lay anything from 2 and up to 9 eggs right under the shoreline debris or in a shallow burrow . The eggs of Sternotherus odoratus are elliptical in shape, and with hard shells.

How high can musk turtles climb?

They do so by using the submerged branches, and tree trunks found underwater, and are capable of climbing as high as 6.6 ft. above the water surface. However, musk turtles are actually poor at swimming. Because of this, they are to walk along the bottom of their aquatic habitats.

What is the family of mud turtles?

Grouped in the same family as mud turtles, Sternotherus odoratus is part of the family Kinosternidae and is a species of a small turtle. Musk turtles are often confused with mud turtles. There are five species/subspecies of musk turtles, and all of them can be found in North America.

What is the habitat of a Sternotherus odoratus turtle?

The preferred type of habitats for these reptiles are aquatic and include the slow-flowing parts of streams, swamps, lakes, marshes, ponds, ephemeral pools, and rivers. As with most turtles, the lifespan of Sternotherus odoratus is quite long.

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.