Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok... well i FINALLY got to see my little cousins turtle. i 'believe' it's a western painted. it has a black head with yellow markss on it, it's shell has some orange on it under the top part, the top of the shell is black with orange on the outer edges, and it has orange on it's back legs. i have looked at a ton of pictures, and that is the only painted that this one resembles. I'm sorry i cant post a pic because it isnt my turtle and i didnt have access to a digital camera when i saw it. please tell me, if this IS a western painted turtle, are they just like a RES? are there any differences. i read that care sheet on austins web page, but it really didnt help me a lot. will the painted also switch almost completely over to vegetation as it grows older, or will it stick with the protein? do they get as BIG as a RES? if you have any information, please dont be afraid to share your input, everything is welcomed! thanks again...
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~ Evie

Pets:
0.1.0 German Shepherd {Dusty}
0.1.0 German Shepherd/Collie mix {Shadoe}
0.0.2 RES turtles {Booger and Snot}
1.0.0 African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
0.0.1 Snail {Gary}

Austin's Turtle Page didn't give you much help? That website rocks! Anyway, ya, they're pretty similar...both taxonomically and captivity-wise to RES, cooters, map turtles, and other painteds. Painted turtles, in general, don't get as large as RES even if they are western painteds, which are the largest subspecies. And in my experience, although painteds eat more vegetation compared to when they were young, they still prefer meat to veggies when give the chance. RES may take more veggies as they get older but I think they also prefer meat if available.

Johnny