I recently acquired a baby common musk (or stinkpot) turtle from my herpetology lab at school and although I have a lizard at home, I'm not too familiar with turtle care. He's vary small (not more than an inch long and a couple months old) and currently I have him housed in a 5 gal tank. I have the tank set up on an angle so that one side has low water/dry ground (along with a flat rock) and the other side has about an inch or so of water. I have an infrared lamp as opposed to a basking lamp because I was told musks are not huge on basking. This stays on for about 12 hrs each day. I also have in there some fake plants, a hiding log, and some dead leaves for him to hide under. When I first got him a couple weeks ago he would only eat worms but eventually I got him on reptimen. However the last 5 days or so he hasn't eaten anything...I don't know whats wrong! The only thing that's changed about his habitat is that I added a small underwater heater because I was concerned the water temperature on the side without the lamp was too cold. Because of this, I don't think he is too cold to eat. I dont have a thermometer yet but he water feels quite warm, like bath water almost. In addition, today I noticed he has a kind of slimy film on his shell and feet...it comes of if I try but I didn't want to mess with it too much in case this is normal...
Could someone who knows about musks tell me what I might be doing wrong or how I can improve his habitat? Thank you!
