Reptile & Amphibian Forums

this is jaws.he is a male mud turtle.i got him in S.carolina in june 94'.i was told he was an eastern mud turtle for very long time.i am trying to breed him and was told that he might not be an eastern mud.

i was also told that central american mud turtles were brought over to the u.s and some survived in small populations.it looks like an alamos mud turtle but i cannot find many close up shots of it.can anyone help me?

there is a few photos of him on my myspace page on the comment part.it was left by b creature under pics of english toads and a crested newt.there is a few diff shots and it is clearly labeled "jaws".i dont know how to post photos so if anyone can re post it please feel free to do so.my freind brandon attempted to but i guess the photo messed up.

myspace.com/madecipha

scroll down and u will see him.he needs a girl freind.help me out.

It does look a little different as it is a pale specimen but otherwise a typical eastern mud turtle.

ya.originally i was told that.could it be he is loosing color because he is old?

Many of the american mud turtles become more pale as they age but it doesn't mean he is 'old'. It could be from not getting direct sunlight, diet, or that he is simply a light colored specimen. He looks healthy from the photos. I wouldn't worry...in fact, he is nicer looking than the average subrubrum.

well he is definitley somewhat old.it has been 12 years since i got him, and a herp buddy of mine thinks he is in his late teens.he is definitley active.i have all the proper lights,diet and temputure.i was just wondering because every other eastern mud has alot more facial markings and he has none.but ya, he is definitley nicer looking than the average.i met with a few other people who said the same thing you said.i just found someone with female eastern muds.im going to purchase them and attempt to breed him.any tips on breeding?thanks for your help by the way.

I think breeding the eatern muds should be pretty straightforward.... Cooling them for a month or so in the winter and then a gradual warm up in spring. Feed the female heavily during that time.
They will do the rest.
Make sure to provide a land area with a suitable substrate for the female to nest in. There was an issue last year of Reptiles Magazine (by Mark Packer) that had a good article on breeding tropical mud turtles. The information would be of use to you.

Looks like an eastern mud