Common Musk Turtle
(Sternotherus odaratus)
Contributed by:Stuart Dodsworth of www.reptiletrust.com
Distribution
The Stinkpot turtle is common throughout most of its range, although it is rarely seen due to its nocturnal and aquatic habits.
It occurs in Southern Ontario in Canada, right the way down to Florida and west across to Texas and Wisconsin.
Size
When they hatch Stinkpot turtles measure approximately 2cm.
Adults can reach sizes of up to 13.7cm (5.48 inches), although they usually reach sizes of 5 - 12cm (2 - 5.5 inches).
Diet
The Stinkpot turtle is an opportunistic omnivore.
In the wild it will eat aquatic plants, fish, molluscs, anthropods and small crustaceans.
It finds the majority of its food by foraging in the soft mud / silt at the bottom of its aquatic habitat.
Therefore, when feeding a Stinkpot in captivity it must be fed a varied diet which can include: insects, pieces of meat, fish, prawns, crab sticks, pond-weed, cockles, pink mice, earthworms etc. It is advised to feed this turtle in a separate feeding container and not in its terrarium.
This will reduce the pollution in the tank from spoilt food and faeces.
Requirements
Heat Source:For the water, a thermostatically controlled water heater will be required. For the basking area, a guarded reflector (spot lamp) will be required. The basking lamp should be turned off at night.
UV Light Source:Turtles require a UVB 5.0% light.
This should be left on for 8 to 12 hours a day and replaced every 6 months unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer.
This turtle is almost entirely aquatic, but it supplies the turtle with the correct photoperiod as well as aiding D3 synthesis.
Filtration: Good filtration is essential in maintaining a clean environment for the turtles.
Land Areas:Although Stinkpots are aquatic, they do still occasionally come out of the water to bask and to lay eggs, so two land areas should be provided, one at the cool end and one at the basking end.
These can be made to have hollow areas underneath for aquatic hides.
Housing: An aquarium or terrarium measuring 90cm x 45cm x 45cm (3ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft) is adequate for a pair of adults.
Water:The water should be maintained at a depth of around 10 - 15cm.
NBMales can be aggressive towards each other and should not be housed together.
Temperature
The water temperature should be maintained at 18 - 25ºC (64.5 - 77ºF). A basking area should be provided for the turtle, should it choose to use it. This should be maintained at around 26 - 28ºC (78 - 82ºF).
Hibernation
In the wild the Stinkpot is inactive during the colder months of the year.
However, in captivity it is not regarded as necessary unless you are planning to breed.
If you do choose to hibernate, a temperature of 8 - 12ºC (46 - 54ºF) for 3 months is adequate.
Hibernation should not be considered if your turtle has been ill or not eating well.
Your pet should not be fed for two weeks prior to the commencement of hibernation.
Longevity
The oldest Stinkpot recorded was 54 years old and lived at the Philadelphia Zoo, however they tend to live up to about 30 years in captivity.
Salmonella
Many reptiles carry the naturally forming bacteria Salmonella. It must be stated that salmonella bacteria can only be contracted by ingestion (via the mouth). Good hygiene is therefore very important when keeping any animal.
Linear Mode
