Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I finally set up my habitat and the sand settled. I got my musk turtle a couple of days ago and he seems fine in it. He's very curious and is always looking around. I have a flourescent hood that I try to keep on during the whole day and turn of at night, and a basking area. Is this sufficient or should I get a basking light? I just don't have any room to put a basking light because the flourescent hood engulfs the top of the tank. Also all my turtle will eat is reptile sticks. I bought can'o'crickets and can'o'pillars but he won't touch either. Is there a way to introduce him to this food or should I try feeding him something else?

It sounds as if you are doing OK as a start. If the temperatures can get up to around 90 under the florescent light (at a basking site) then you are fine with just that.
Or, you can try an aquarium heater to raise the water temps to around 82.
Can the Can-O-Whatever and try REAL foods like frozen krill, shrimp or clams. You can get these at any decent aquarium shop.
Some of the better pellet food for goldfish or cichlids are also a good supplement.
Fresh foods like cooked shrimp or chicken in very small amounts will be readily accepted too. But remember to keep the water clean! Light feedings are always best.
Musk turtles, despite their drab colors, are about the neatest little turtles that you can keep in an indoor aquarium. They become ridiculously tame and beg for food every time they see you--once they get established.

It sounds as if you are doing OK as a start. If the temperatures can get up to around 90 under the florescent light (at a basking site) then you are fine with just that.
Or, you can try an aquarium heater to raise the water temps to around 82.
Can the Can-O-Whatever and try REAL foods like frozen krill, shrimp or clams. You can get these at any decent aquarium shop.
Some of the better pellet food for goldfish or cichlids are also a good supplement.
Fresh foods like cooked shrimp or chicken in very small amounts will be readily accepted too. But remember to keep the water clean! Light feedings are always best.
Musk turtles, despite their drab colors, are about the neatest little turtles that you can keep in an indoor aquarium. They become ridiculously tame and beg for food every time they see you--once they get established.

Thanks that's much appreciated. The temperature variates. My thermometer on the side of the aquarium reads around 80-82. The air inside is hot if I leave the aquarium completely closed and humidity rises. One more question. I saw one of these hoods that has a slot for a flourescent bulb, and two incadescent so you could simulate day and night. Is this worth investing or is that going over the top?

Those things are nice but for mud/musk turtles they are kind of over the top.

Not sure why you'd feed cooked chicken or shrimp. Whole prey items are always best. Earthworms, minnows (not goldfish) supplemented by a decent brand of turtle pellets or trout chow makes a good staple diet.

whole food items ARE better.
I was suggesting the cooked shrimp and chicken as a supplement to a varied diet, since they are easier to have around. For example, I feed these things to my mud turtles because we eat them ourselves and so they are always available.
Earthworms, minnows, pink mice and some insects are superior food items but they are also a hassle to get sometimes.
As a side note, my turtles also get mole crabs ( known as 'sand fleas' in Florida) from the beach, fish like snapper or grouper that I spear when diving and scraps from lobster that I catch.

Another thing that you can do to keep the setup clean is to feed him in another container. I usually feed either reptomin, chopped minnows or thawed bloodworms or tubifex worms in a smaller container and leave him in there at least 2 hours. I usually feed him in the morning before work and then put him back in his regular setup when I get home. The tank will stay much cleaner.