Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all, first time poster in this forum. I am looking at getting my first turtle sometime this summer. After some research, it looks like a stinkpot is the way I will be going, but I have a question regarding juvenile care. If I were to get a juvenile (2" or so) stinkpot, how long would a 20 gallon tank last? I am asking not because I want to keep it in their longer than necessary, but because I am unfamiliar with the growth rates of these turtles (mainly a snake guy, turtles are uncharted territory for me). I would be using a whisper in-tank 40i for filtration. As for my heating question. If I am using a 20 gallon with water up to about 4-5 inches until turtle gains a bit of size, I am wondering if the heat lamp over the basking area would keep the water temps at an acceptable level considering the depth of the water and the ambient room temps (already in the low 70's). I had heard of people saying stinkpots can be kept at room temperature, and while I would have to question that logic, I would think that at that depth, using a heat lamp over one side would warm it up enough, coupled with the small current provided by the filter to keep the temps at acceptable levels. However, if someone could point out any flaws in this thinking, please let me know. Of course, when the water is deeper, some sort of specific heater for the water would be used. Thank you for any and all replies.

Stinkpots typically only grow to about 4 inches and can live in a 20 gallon tank their whole life (though there's nothing wrong with a 40 gallon). You'd have to get a thermometer to see how much heat a lamp would create - though these turtles rarely bask, so I'd just get an underwater aquarium heater. I wouldn't use a filter that creates a current - stinkpots are usually found in shallow, non-moving water.

Here's a stinkpot I found in Kentucky a few days ago:

Third Eye

i kept muds and musks for years at room temp,until my wife made me move them into the garage.i still bring them in for the winter,as my garage dips into the 40's during the winter.it gets into the mid-high 80's during late summer,still about 15 degrees cooler than outside.i have noticed increased growth rates when kept warmer,but otherwise it doesn't really matter,in my opinion.if you do decide on a submersible heater,as previously suggested,do yourself a favor and protect the turtle from possible incidental contact burns.i have seen people take a piece of 1 1/2" pvc,with an endcap,and just absolutly perforate it with small holes,and cover the heater with it.this will allow water to flow over the heater,but will prevent the turtle from contacting the heater directly.
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1.1 cb spotted turtles (parker(f),stinky(m))
0.0.2 cb baby razorback musks (way too cute)
0.0.1 cb baby eastern mud (also ridiculously cute)
0.0.1 cb reeve's turtle (george)
0.1 cb '09 eastern box (bella)
3.6 ltc eastern box breeders
0.1 cb'06 eastern box(nanners)
1.2 cb'08 kenyan sand boas(1 albino,1 anery,1 normal)
1.0 cb'08 jungle carpet
1.1 stenodactylus geckos
0.1 redeye croc skink
1.0 cb '03 homo sapien(kaelan,6)
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