Common Musk Turtle (Stinkpot): Species Profile

The widespread musk turtle, also called the Japanese musk turtle or the stinkpot, is a well-liked alternative as a pet due to their measurement and relative ease of care. They’re an aquatic turtle that comes from japanese North America.

In the event that they really feel threatened, they will launch a foul, musky odor, which is how they bought their different title of stinkpot. They could be small, however these turtles can attain ripe outdated ages of 30 to 50 years outdated, and they are often feisty, too. They don’t seem to be a dedication that needs to be taken on flippantly.

Frequent Musk Turtle Conduct and Temperament

The widespread musk turtle, on account of their small measurement, is likely one of the hottest of all of the aquatic turtle species. You shouldn’t, nevertheless, underestimate the quantity of care that they require. Male stinkpots have longer tails which have seen spikes making it straightforward to intercourse this species. They not often develop to be greater than 5 and a half inches.

They arrive with a brown, gray or black carapace (higher shell), which is very domed in younger turtles, but it surely flattens out as they get older. In addition they have two very distinct yellow stripes that run from the nostril to the neck, though, once more, these can fade with age.

Whereas they do spend most of their time within the water, they have a tendency to stay to the shallows as they don’t seem to be significantly sturdy swimmers. They’re additionally naturally nocturnal and could possibly be extra energetic by way of the night time.

They get their title from the truth that, in the event that they really feel threatened, they will emit a powerful, repellant, foul-smelling odor from their scent glands. They’re additionally identified for being moderately spunky and may scratch and chunk in the event that they really feel uncomfortable. They’ve an extended and versatile neck which additionally makes it simpler to seize their goal.

All turtles needs to be dealt with with care and respect. To make sure you aren’t on the finish of a nasty nip, you ought to be particularly cautious if it’s important to deal with the stinkpot. Selecting them up in the direction of the rear of their shell might help.

There’s a danger that aquatic turtles can carry the Salmonella micro organism. You have to wash your arms after dealing with them. If in case you have kids, you will have to oversee interactions to make sure they don’t seem to be tempted to place their arms of their mouth earlier than washing.

The stinkpot is an aquatic turtle that’s finest noticed moderately than having a number of bodily contact.

Housing the Frequent Musk Turtle

The stinkpot will want an acceptable tank that may enable them to swim with ease. In contrast to some aquatic breeds, they don’t want deep water or a substrate (like gravel) on the bottom of the tank. This additionally makes the tank simpler to wash. In the event you do need a extra engaging wanting tank, it will likely be okay to make use of a medium sized-gravel. The water depth needs to be shallow in order that the turtle can contact the underside of the tank and nonetheless stretch as much as attain the floor with out all the time having to paddle.

They don’t want as huge a tank as a few of their bigger species relations. Typically, it’s nonetheless beneficial to have a tank designed to carry a minimal of 30 gallons for one turtle as they’re an energetic species. In the event you plan to accommodate a male and a feminine collectively, you will have to be careful for the male turning into too over-eager and harassing the feminine. If that is taking place, you ought to be ready to separate them. Two males shouldn’t be housed collectively.

Whereas the stinkpot spends most of its time within the water, you need to nonetheless make sure you present appropriate areas to permit them to return out of the water to bask and relaxation. They dehydrate shortly, so it’s not so widespread for them to spend prolonged durations basking outdoors of water. Offering constructions for basking and vegetation for assist additionally provides extra enrichment and exploration alternatives.

A water filter suitable with shallow waters is required to maintain the turtle’s habitat clear. With out it, you would need to empty the tank to wash it too often. Stinkpots, due to their high-protein food regimen, might be messier than another turtle species, so a powerful filter system is beneficial.

Alongside an environment friendly, regularly working filtration system, you need to nonetheless completely clear out the tank at the least each few months, and generally sooner. You should buy kits to check the water for cleanliness ranges to make sure it doesn’t get unsafe on your turtle to be in.

Each time you might be placing new water into the tank, you need to be certain that that is dechlorinated. The chlorine from faucet water can affect on the effectivity of the filter and the well being of your turtle.

If in case you have canine or cats, just remember to have an applicable cowl for the tank to maintain your turtle protected.

Warmth

Though they don’t seem to be prolific baskers, they need to have a heat space to permit them the choice, and the temperature in these areas ought to round 90 levels Fahrenheit. The water temperature needs to be stored at round 80 levels Fahrenheit. If you’re utilizing water heaters to take care of this temperature, be very cautious to make sure that the water doesn’t evaporate and expose the heater. This may end up in overheating, and it may be harmful on your turtle.

Mild

UVB-Lighting is beneficial to make sure that your turtle is getting sufficient essential vitamin D3 to assist them metabolize calcium correctly. Though that is typically added to commercially accessible pellets, if they don’t get sufficient by way of their food regimen, the lighting will be certain that they continue to be in higher well being. It’s price noting, nevertheless, that the widespread musk turtle is extra able to synthesizing vitamin D3 than different turtles.

Meals and Water

Within the wild, the widespread musk turtle would eat all kinds of water fish and bugs. They’re primarily carnivorous, though they do generally eat sure algae. In captivity, offering a different food regimen will assist to make sure that they continue to be glad and wholesome. Business turtle pellets fed alongside high-protein meals reminiscent of earthworms, crickets, fish and shrimp are a good selection. Some stinkpots may get pleasure from grazing on leafy greens too, however do not be offended in the event that they flip their nostril up at them.

Frequent Well being Issues

The widespread musk turtle is mostly thought to be a wholesome little species. As with all aquatic turtles, nevertheless, there are specific well being situations they may develop that it’s price being conscious of. A few of these embrace:

Hypovitaminosis A: That is when your turtle doesn’t obtain sufficient vitamin A of their food regimen. It may end up in swelling within the eyes and respiratory points that may result in additional problems. This may be handled by offering a vitamin complement and might be averted by guaranteeing that your turtle is fed a balanced food regimen. In the event you discover a pellet they get pleasure from, this may assist to make sure they get an excellent stability.

Infectious Illnesses are a comparatively widespread downside in aquatic turtles and these can vary of their severity. By guaranteeing that your turtle is residing in clear water, this might help to attenuate the danger of growing an issue.

Parasites: It isn’t unusual for even wholesome aquatic turtles to host sure parasites of their system, like nematodes or flagellates. If their numbers turn into too nice, or they choose up parasites like tapeworms from one other host, this could affect on their well being. You may even see issues like weight reduction, lethargy or diarrhea. By organizing an annual fecal examination by way of an unique specialist vet, this might help to make sure issues are stored underneath management.

Selecting Your Frequent Musk Turtle

It is rather necessary to just remember to hunt down a good breeder or rescue group when seeking to personal a stinkpot turtle. Your turtle needs to be captive-bred to make sure the preservation of the wild populations.

In the USA, there’s a regulation that prohibits gross sales of turtles with a carapace underneath 4 inches. This implies you’ll not discover a hatchling stinkpot by way of most breeders.

It’s normally higher to go to a small-scale specialist breeder moderately than only a normal pet retailer. Not solely will a good specialist have extra ensures round how the turtle was sourced and raised, but in addition they may typically present significantly better specialist recommendation.

Why not think about adopting a standard musk turtle in want of a brand new residence? There are a selection of rescues that re-home reptiles and amphibians and a few specialist turtle rescue organizations. normal place to start out your search is through Petfinder.com.

Comparable Species to the Frequent Musk Turtles

If you’re interested by discovering out about different aquatic turtles and their suitability for dwelling in your house, chances are you’ll want to think about:

• African Facet-Neck Turtle
• Mississippi Map Turtle
• Yellow-Bellied Slider

Or, you possibly can try our different aquatic turtle profiles that will help you select your subsequent pet.