Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When I was young and dumb.. about 7 or 8, i had a common musk turtle... I kept him in a 10 gallon aquarium, and it had a rock to climb out on a d a flourescent lighting... That was about it. I fed him reptomin turtle pellets... Anywho, as I have aged i have gotten more in depth with all reptiles. In the turtle department i have a res and a cumberland slider living in an elaborate indoor pond system, ive had the res for 10 years now... Anyways, now im almost 19, and heading off to college in a month, on my way towards becoming a veterinarian... I want to keep a mud or musk turtle in my dorm, because they are small, and fairly simple, there is no room for larger turtles such as my sliders. I dont know however if the 10 gallons was large enough for my musk turtle, but if so, id like to set up a 15 gallon aquarium to house one mud or musk turtle. I know muds and musks hardly bask, because of this im not sure if they actually need a heat lamp shining on the basking area... or would it be sufficeient just to place some cork bark positioned between the glass to allow the turtle to get fully or mostly out of water, without a heat lamp? Well thanks for any one who posts back some info.

I would definately have a heat lamp, my common musk basks frequently. Also, a fifteen gallon is a bit small for an adult, make sure it's a 15 long, not high. A 30 gallon is better for an adult. Maybe try starting with a hatchling so that it's small enough to fit into a small tank?

Yeah I just ordered one. Its only a couple months old actually.