Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering,

I always see Southerns, Easterns, and western painteds being sold but how come there are no midlands? Is it because they're so similar to easterns anyway (with the added plastron blotch)? No breeding projects? I already all 3 subspecies and I always thought having a midland would be more complete.

Johnny

Thats a good question... I have thought the same thing. I live in Indiana so Midlands are native here. I catch them all the time and have had several over the years (wild caught hatchlings). They are, I think, the second best looking painted species, the Western being number one.
Chris
-----
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

Chris,
What part of Indiana are you from? Where are you finding the Midland turtle? I am from central Indiana.
-----
~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Kaiya, & Austin)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 African Cichlid (Arnie)
1 Red-Eared Slider Hatchling (coming soon!!)
1 Eastern Painted Hatchling (coming soon!!)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

Hello fellow herper! lol. I am from central Indiana as well. I live in Johnson County (right below Indianapolis). I work at a golf course, and whenever I have free time I go down to the ponds and catch some. Where are you located?
Chris
-----
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

I'm in Tippecanoe County, just northwest of Indy. Yeah, I'm the county that got hit by two tornados....I think Indy got them too though. One of the tornados was one block away from my house. A bit too close for me!!

Anyway, I'd love to find some wild turtles. I've never seen any though. Where should I look...ponds, streams??
-----
~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Kaiya, & Austin)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 African Cichlid (Arnie)
1 Red-Eared Slider Hatchling (coming soon!!)
1 Eastern Painted Hatchling (coming soon!!)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

Never seen a wild turtle! Are you deprived? lol. Go out to most lakes, and secluded ponds and you should find Common Snappers, Midland Painteds, and Common Musks turtles. Dont go looking for them in that foggy neighborhood pond. Chances are there wont be any there. I would not waste my time looking in small creeks and streams, I never seem to find any there. Look for larger, permanant bodies of water.
Chris
-----
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

Actually, come to think of it I'm not quite as deprived as we both thought! I have seen a wild turtle but it was some kind of box turtle or wood turtle. It was not an aquatic turtle. It was a few years ago...

I think I'll have to find myself a few ponds and lakes.....lol...
-----
~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Kaiya, & Austin)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 African Cichlid (Arnie)
1 Red-Eared Slider Hatchling (coming soon!!)
1 Eastern Painted Hatchling (coming soon!!)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

np
-----
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

Wow..so midlands DO exist...:-P

Man, Chris...I should strike a deal with you to get one of them (buy/trade/gift..*nudge, nudge...hehehe). I don't see these guys offered for sale, EVER. I live in Philly, PA rite now so yea, my odds are slim.

Johnny

Well I would but its illegal to have them in Indiana since there native. So I believe they are illegal to ship out of the state or sell in state. If you can think of some way around this, I may be able to hit you up.
Chris
-----
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

Can you post a picture of one of your Midland painted turtles?
What kind of set up do you have for all of them?

I only have one Midland, the other is a Western. Here is a link to my photo album. It has pictures of both Painteds and their tank. Enjoy!

Chris
My Photo Album

-----
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

I've had him for 5 years, he is a male, probably 10 years old or more. They are common around here where I live, we don't find many easterns. Awesome turtle, eats alot and whatever you throw to him he'll get. Next year I hope to get him a mate, but ya never know.
Michael
Michael's Place

-----

http://www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

Helmz614@aol.com

Ok so I looked at your pictures and your Midland looks exactly like my Binx. I thought Binx was an Eastern because he was found in Canada (above NY) by a friend of mine visiting his grandma.
So how do you tell the diff. between all the kinds of Painteds?

Midlands and Easterns look very similar. Easterns usually have 2 yellow blotches on the sides of their heads. Also, an Easterns carapace has lighter streaks around the scutes. If you post a pic I can tell you what it is.
Chris
-----
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

Some of these pictures aren't that great but I hope they are good enough. I really think he is an Eastern still. I also don't know how to post links or pictures so I hope these links work. If not then you can copy and paste them.

http://home.comcast.net/~jgibson9890/t.Binx_Belly.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~jgibson9890/t.Binxback.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~jgibson9890/Binxhead.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~jgibson9890/binxside.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~jgibson9890/Binxbelly.JPG

Sorry some of them are big too.

I am 100% that its a Midland. The way you can tell is that Easterns do not have any markings on their plastrons, Midlands do.
Chris
-----
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

I looked in my Feild Guide and the Midlands are native to the area you are describing.
Chris
-----
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

Thanks for taking the time to figure it out for me. I was wrong all these years lol. The care for them is the same right?

Yea, Binx is defintiely a midland.

However, my Eastern has a small splotch in the center of his plastron as well so I'm not quite sure what he is either. It's definitely not as developed as Binx, just a bit smaller and circular. Who knows anyway..considering interbreeds do occur, except mine was from eastern Jersey.

Johnny

No problem ladybug.

Easterns have NO markings on the plastron. It should be completely yellow/orange. My Midland has a smaller black plastron mark also. It varies between turtles. I would say yours to, is a Midland. Do you have any pics?
Chris
-----
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

Also, Eastern Painted Turtles are the only known turtles to have their scutes arranged in straight lines across their backs. That's another really easy way to tell them apart! I've been reading ALOT lately!
-----
~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Iguana (Irwin)
4 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, & Tiki)
1 African Cichlid (Arnie)
1 Red-Eared Slider Hatchling (Otis)
1 Southern Painted Hatchling (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

My Midland's name is Nemo! She had some toes eaten off before I got her, so that's why she got her name. I got her about a year ago, and there were two midlands and about 10 westerns...and since than I haven't seen another one. All I ever see is southerns and westerns. I was looking to get another one, but I couldn't find any one in the area with them, so I went the opposite route and got an african sideneck. Luckily for me and the turtles I got lucky and they are the best of friends...at least that is how it looks, but they are not aggressive towards each other at all, and the only problem I have is that the painted turtle hogs all the food!
Here is a pic of Nemo.....

-----
*Amy*