Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello people,

I've taken care of various reptiles including turtles for years-- Red foot tortoise, Sulcatta, sliders, painteds, and snappers. But I never had a chance of taking care a musk turtle. How are they in terms of ease of care? Are they particular about heating and sun? I heard they are very hardy. I like turtles that have big heads and nice colors and legal. Do you guys have any recommendation what mud/musk turtle is best for me?

I've taken care of various reptiles including turtles for years-- Red foot tortoise, Sulcatta, sliders, painteds, and snappers. But I never had a chance of taking care a musk turtle. How are they in terms of ease of care? Are they particular about heating and sun? I heard they are very hardy. I like turtles that have big heads and nice colors and legal. Do you guys have any recommendation what mud/musk turtle is best for me?

Mud and Musk turtles are very hardy and are very easy to keep, most of the time. Like most other turtles mud/musk turtles will need a shallow area, hiding areas, and basking area. A turtle that is very fun to watch and has great patterns is the loggerhead musk not to mention its huge head, the razorback musk has nice patterns also. And for muds i like the eastern mud turtle and the three-striped mud they both stay small and have alot of personality. Good luck

hope this helps,
Kevin

Mud and musk turtles are fairly easy to care for. Both can be kept in indoor aquaria too. Go to chelonia.org for caresheets as theirs are very good. Also, there are many decent, inexpensive books out now that help with tips for care.
In general, keep them in water that is around 75 to 80 degrees and provide a basking site (loggerheads bask quite a bit in the wild) with a 40 watt bulb.
Filtration can be as simple or complicated as you want but try and keep the water as clean as possible.
Males of the tropical mud turtles (Kinosternon)will develop really big heads in time with powerful jaws but none beat a loggerhead musk turtle or a Staurotypus.
This photo is a wild female loggerhead musk. The male's head is a good bit larger.

But they are expensive, yea?

Some of the deals you are going to find online now are going to be expensive because it is winter, but if you wait until late spring early summer there will be alot more to choose from and the prices wont be so high, my eastern mud i got for 20 and payed 20 for shipping, a person online now at kingsnake classifieds has loggerheads got about 65 which i think is to expensive but if you decide to wait it out i think you will be able to find a better deal.

hope this helps,
Kevin

Eastern Mud-Pete
Razorback Musk-Scooter
Redearded slider-Leonardo
Redearded slider-Ralph

Of COURSE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN A GREAT HELP. That is why I prefer to ask real people for advices, they are always helpful.

THANK YOU GUYS. And um, I wish I get something like what mayday posted- "river gnome".

>>Razorback Musk-Scooter

Scooter seems to be a good turtle/tortoise name. My yellow mud is named Scooter. I've noticed since we took in our sulcata then met other sulcata keepers, that a lot of the tortoise keepers seem to choose that name too.
Tank is another popular name with the big tortoises for some reason. lol
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PHRatz

what's your definition of expensive?

Mayday that's a great up close pic of her face. Very neat looking turtle!
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PHRatz