Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there:

My local pet store recently obtained some beautiful captive-bred red cheek mud turtles. I checked out a good sized one, about 5 inches in length. It was flawless. Not a scratch on its body! I set up a 25 gallon long tank. I am using sand as a substrate, with water plants. It has an appropriately sized UVB light, a Fluval filtration system, a water temperature of 86 degrees, and a basking snare. I have many different types of foods. Does this sound like a good setup? I am going to talk a little bit more about it with the seller tomorrow before buying. Do you have any tips?

DAVE

Sounds like a really nice set up except a tad on the small size. They are fairly active and if down the road you can give it a larger tank that would be great.
Everything else sounds good--a varied diet is important for the long term health. You will find though that redcheeks, like most muddies, are pretty fool proof.

Hi there:

Today I went to the pet store to purchase the mud turtle. They keep theirs in a 10-gallon aquarium. I had tried to purchase this turtle before, and was not allowed for reasons I do not understand. The clerk refused to sell it to me until I got it an 80-gallon aquarium. She said she was appauled when I described the setup, and said the A.S.P.C.A. would arrest me if they found out I kept it that way. Eventually, she let me buy it, but I have to wait a whole week until I can get it!

DAVE

The ASPCA would arrest you? They don't have arrest powers. Besides, how crazy is that? If you don't provide at least an 80 gallon aquarium for a mud turtle you get arrested?
Why don't they get busted for keeping it in a 10 gallon?
Sounds like a lot of nonsense to me.
Well at least you now have it and can really take care of it.
I have to go now before the ASPCA kicks my door in and arrests me!

n/p

Hi there:

I brought home the turtle today, and bought it a 40-gallon breeder. Its really cool!

DAVE

Sounds like that Petstore is full of BS. Anway sounds like you got a good setup going. I would lower the water temp to about 78 and provide a basking area.
Chris
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Hey whats up, I'm Chris and I currently have 0.1 Midland Painted, 1.0 Western Painted, 0.0.1 RES, 1.0 Bearded Dragon

Hi there:

It was only about 5 weeks before I introduced a female and they MATED IMMEDIATELY! They were clucking like tree frogs. The male kept biting the female on the neck as they wrestled around the tank and began to breed. It lasted about 8-10 minutes. As for the pet store, they corrected their setup! They always learn through trial and error and fix their mistakes immediately. They always have very healthy specimens. In fact, I go in there just to look at their stuff. Just that one employee gave me trouble; the others helped me out. But I was really ticked off when the employee said that... Thanks.

DAVE