Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. I got a 2.5" common musk.

I've about 6-7" of water in the tank she's in.

Is that too much water? I've got no slopes for the turtle, but I've got a wood with lots of branches for it to climb up to breathe.

Can the turtle climb all the way out to bask? Aquatic turtles like to be able to get all the way out of the water when they feel like it.
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PHRatz

Yes, very nice display tank!

Musk turtles rarely bask so this setup looks great! I usually feed mine in a different container so that the main on doesn't get dirty too fast.

>>Musk turtles rarely bask so this setup looks great! I usually feed mine in a different container so that the main on doesn't get dirty too fast.

I know they rarely bask but they still need a spot to come out if they want to.
I forgot to say it didn't I? I agree it's a beautiful tank.
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PHRatz

I haven't got a basking area. But the top of my powerhead is the basking area.

I only saw it climb up one time while exploring the new setup. But it is ignoring that spot now. Just hopping about at the bottom of the tank.

I've been feeding it with turtle sticks, shrimps, etc.
It's a girl. How much more would I expect her to grow?

Interesting setup!

First of all, what size is the enclosure that your turtle is in?

Secondly, you may want to increse your water level in the enclosure so that the musk can bask on the larger branches. In the field, I've encountered this species in bodies of water of depths over 5 feet, often with snags and other objects to climb on near the surface (your piece of driftwood mimics this environment very well). Musk turtles are bottom dwellers, and a greater water column may provide maore opportunities for the animal to thermoregulate more effectively.

Artificial plants are another option to consider, as they provide cover and an aesthetic quality to the display tank.

Your turtle will reach a carapace length of roughly 4 inches in adulthood.

Here is a good article about musk turtles in captivity.

Good luck!
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/oderatus.html

The tank is a 24" * 12" * 12" (L*B*H). I hope that will be big enough for the turtle for a long time.

I have some platy in the tank to pick up the bits of pieces of food left by the stinkpot.

Also inside the tank is a soft shell turtle. I'm going to remove her soon due to her size.

That is a nice habitat. Good looking and well thought out.