Mud and Musk Turtles can be differentiated by examination of the lower shell (plastron). The lower shell of the Musk Turtle is considerably smaller than that of the Mud Turtle. Both turtles have front and rear lower shell hinges; however, the hinges of the Musk Turtle as less apparent and less moveable. Neither turtle's lower shell is sufficient to provide complete enclosure of the head, legs and tail, as in the Box Turtle. The pectoral scute (the parts of the lower shell immediately adjacent to the front hinge is triangular in shape on the Mud Turtle and roughly rectangular on the Musk Turtle.
Eastern Mud Turtles are found throughout South Carolina. Eastern Muds and other subrubrum subspieces generally range along the eastern coastal states from New Jersey to Texas, and into parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. The Striped Mud Turtle is found only in extreme southwestern portions of South Carolina near the lower Savannah River. Striped Muds are also found in coastal Georgia and the pennisula of Florida. Common Musk Turtles are found throughout South Carolina. They also range throughout most of the eastern United States, and west to eastern Nebraska to eastern Texas.
SIZE
Most musk turtle hatchlings are very small. These small babies, however, are great feeders and are very hardy. Offer them an enclosure with water that is filtered and warmed to the 74-78° F (23-26° C) range. They need to be able to climb out of the water to bask, so keep the water level low (3-4 inches), offer them plenty of decorations, and place UVB-emitting bulbs over them. The decorations should provide them underwater exploration sites and also break the surface of the water to offer a good basking site. A spotlight with a low-wattage bulb (40-watt or 60-watt) should be placed over the most accessible basking spot. This basking spot should reach 85° F (29° C) during the hottest part of the turtle’s afternoon. Young musk and mud turtles will feed on a variety of food. They love guppies and mosquito larvae and will feed on blackworms and small redworms and will soon begin taking a variety of commercial pelleted food.
Most remain small, with Common Musk Turtles (Stinkpots) reaching only 4 inches. Most of the Central American species reach 6-7 inches and the very aggressive Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus triporcatus) can grow to 15 inches.
Eastern Mud Turtles are found throughout South Carolina. Eastern Muds and other subrubrum subspieces generally range along the eastern coastal states from New Jersey to Texas, and into parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. The Striped Mud Turtle is found only in extreme southwestern portions of South Carolina near the lower Savannah River. Striped Muds are also found in coastal Georgia and the pennisula of Florida. Common Musk Turtles are found throughout South Carolina. They also range throughout most of the eastern United States, and west to eastern Nebraska to eastern Texas.
SIZE
Most musk turtle hatchlings are very small. These small babies, however, are great feeders and are very hardy. Offer them an enclosure with water that is filtered and warmed to the 74-78° F (23-26° C) range. They need to be able to climb out of the water to bask, so keep the water level low (3-4 inches), offer them plenty of decorations, and place UVB-emitting bulbs over them. The decorations should provide them underwater exploration sites and also break the surface of the water to offer a good basking site. A spotlight with a low-wattage bulb (40-watt or 60-watt) should be placed over the most accessible basking spot. This basking spot should reach 85° F (29° C) during the hottest part of the turtle’s afternoon. Young musk and mud turtles will feed on a variety of food. They love guppies and mosquito larvae and will feed on blackworms and small redworms and will soon begin taking a variety of commercial pelleted food.
Most remain small, with Common Musk Turtles (Stinkpots) reaching only 4 inches. Most of the Central American species reach 6-7 inches and the very aggressive Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus triporcatus) can grow to 15 inches.
No comments:
Post a Comment