Turtles on Herpeton Academy

Common Musk Turtle — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sternotherus odoratus · Common Musk Turtle · Common musk turtle · Stinkpot turtle

📋 At a glance


Adult size	8-14 cm
Lifespan	30-50 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Sternotherus odoratus is native to eastern and central North America, including much of the eastern United States and a limited southern Canadian range.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Beginner
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Aquarium or pond-style setup with strong filtration and secure escape prevention
Adult tank length and water volume must match species; bigger water volume is safer
Provide a fully dry basking platform with easy access
Avoid small unfiltered tanks, slippery exits, and dirty water

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Swimming space, resting ledges, basking dock, visual cover, and safe plants/wood
Substrate optional; if used, keep it easy to clean and too large or too fine to swallow dangerously
Filter intake protected from trapping animals

💡 Lighting

UVB essential over the basking area
Use a heat lamp to warm the dry basking platform
Replace UVB lamps on schedule; glass blocks UVB
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 22-26 °C

Eastern River Cooter — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Pseudemys concinna concinna · Eastern River Cooter · Eastern river cooter · River cooter

📋 At a glance


Adult size	25-40 cm
Lifespan	30-40 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Pseudemys concinna concinna is native to rivers and connected waters of the eastern and southeastern United States.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Intermediate
Legal	CITES: not listed; EU: not listed; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Aquarium or pond-style setup with strong filtration and secure escape prevention
Adult tank length and water volume must match species; bigger water volume is safer
Provide a fully dry basking platform with easy access
Avoid small unfiltered tanks, slippery exits, and dirty water

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Swimming space, resting ledges, basking dock, visual cover, and safe plants/wood
Substrate optional; if used, keep it easy to clean and too large or too fine to swallow dangerously
Filter intake protected from trapping animals

💡 Lighting

UVB essential over the basking area
Use a heat lamp to warm the dry basking platform
Replace UVB lamps on schedule; glass blocks UVB
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 22-26 °C

Florida Red-Bellied Cooter — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Pseudemys nelsoni · Florida Red-Bellied Cooter · Florida red-bellied cooter · Florida redbelly turtle

📋 At a glance


Adult size	25-35 cm
Lifespan	30-40 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Pseudemys nelsoni is native to Florida and adjacent parts of the southeastern United States.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Intermediate
Legal	CITES: not listed; EU: not listed; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Aquarium or pond-style setup with strong filtration and secure escape prevention
Adult tank length and water volume must match species; bigger water volume is safer
Provide a fully dry basking platform with easy access
Avoid small unfiltered tanks, slippery exits, and dirty water

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Swimming space, resting ledges, basking dock, visual cover, and safe plants/wood
Substrate optional; if used, keep it easy to clean and too large or too fine to swallow dangerously
Filter intake protected from trapping animals

💡 Lighting

UVB essential over the basking area
Use a heat lamp to warm the dry basking platform
Replace UVB lamps on schedule; glass blocks UVB
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 22-27 °C

Mississippi Map Turtle — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Graptemys kohnii · Mississippi Map Turtle · Mississippi map turtle · False map turtle (Mississippi form)

📋 At a glance


Adult size	9-25 cm
Lifespan	20-30 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Graptemys kohnii is native to the Mississippi River system and associated large rivers in the central United States.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Intermediate
Legal	CITES: Appendix III; EU: Annex C; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Aquarium or pond-style setup with strong filtration and secure escape prevention
Adult tank length and water volume must match species; bigger water volume is safer
Provide a fully dry basking platform with easy access
Avoid small unfiltered tanks, slippery exits, and dirty water

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Swimming space, resting ledges, basking dock, visual cover, and safe plants/wood
Substrate optional; if used, keep it easy to clean and too large or too fine to swallow dangerously
Filter intake protected from trapping animals

💡 Lighting

UVB essential over the basking area
Use a heat lamp to warm the dry basking platform
Replace UVB lamps on schedule; glass blocks UVB
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 22-26 °C

Red-Bellied Short-Necked Turtle — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Emydura subglobosa · Red-Bellied Short-Necked Turtle · Red-bellied short-necked turtle · Pink-bellied side-necked turtle

📋 At a glance


Adult size	20-26 cm
Lifespan	20-30 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Emydura subglobosa is native to southern New Guinea and northern Australia.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Intermediate
Legal	CITES: not listed; EU: not listed; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Aquarium or pond-style setup with strong filtration and secure escape prevention
Adult tank length and water volume must match species; bigger water volume is safer
Provide a fully dry basking platform with easy access
Avoid small unfiltered tanks, slippery exits, and dirty water

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Swimming space, resting ledges, basking dock, visual cover, and safe plants/wood
Substrate optional; if used, keep it easy to clean and too large or too fine to swallow dangerously
Filter intake protected from trapping animals

💡 Lighting

UVB essential over the basking area
Use a heat lamp to warm the dry basking platform
Replace UVB lamps on schedule; glass blocks UVB
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 24-28 °C

Reeves's Turtle — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Mauremys reevesii · Reeves’s Turtle · Reeves’s turtle · Chinese three-keeled pond turtle

📋 At a glance


Adult size	12-23 cm
Lifespan	20-30 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Mauremys reevesii is native to eastern Asia, including China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Intermediate
Legal	CITES: Appendix III; EU: Annex C; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Aquarium or pond-style setup with strong filtration and secure escape prevention
Adult tank length and water volume must match species; bigger water volume is safer
Provide a fully dry basking platform with easy access
Avoid small unfiltered tanks, slippery exits, and dirty water

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Swimming space, resting ledges, basking dock, visual cover, and safe plants/wood
Substrate optional; if used, keep it easy to clean and too large or too fine to swallow dangerously
Filter intake protected from trapping animals

💡 Lighting

UVB essential over the basking area
Use a heat lamp to warm the dry basking platform
Replace UVB lamps on schedule; glass blocks UVB
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 22-26 °C

Common Musk Turtle

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Sternotherus odoratus is the common musk turtle. The older combination Kinosternon odoratum may appear in older references.

English common names used in the hobby:

Common musk turtle
Stinkpot turtle

German common names used in the hobby:

Gewöhnliche Moschusschildkröte
Stinktopf-Moschusschildkröte

📌 Description

The common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) is a small bottom-walking turtle that often prefers cover over constant open swimming. Adults reach about 10-14 cm and may live 30 years or more with good long-term care.

Eastern River Cooter

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Pseudemys concinna concinna is the nominate subspecies of Pseudemys concinna. Many sources discuss it simply as Pseudemys concinna.

English common names used in the hobby:

Eastern river cooter
River cooter

German common names used in the hobby:

Flussschmuckschildkröte
Hieroglyphen-Schmuckschildkröte

📌 Description

The eastern river cooter (Pseudemys concinna concinna) is a large, active river turtle that needs powerful filtration and much more space than a beginner aquarium. Adults reach about 25-40 cm, with females usually larger and may live 30 years or more with good long-term care.

Florida Red-Bellied Cooter

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Pseudemys nelsoni is the Florida red-bellied cooter. It is often traded under broad cooter or red-bellied turtle names, so Latin-name identification matters.

English common names used in the hobby:

Florida red-bellied cooter
Florida redbelly turtle

German common names used in the hobby:

Florida-Rotbauch-Schmuckschildkröte

📌 Description

The florida red-bellied cooter (Pseudemys nelsoni) is a large, strong basking turtle that quickly outgrows small aquariums. Adults reach about 25-37 cm, with females usually larger and may live 30 years or more with good long-term care.

Mississippi Map Turtle

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Graptemys kohnii is treated here as the Mississippi map turtle. Many references discuss it as Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii rather than a full species.

English common names used in the hobby:

Mississippi map turtle
False map turtle (Mississippi form)

German common names used in the hobby:

Mississippi-Höckerschildkröte
Mississippi-Landkarten-Höckerschildkröte

📌 Description

The mississippi map turtle (Graptemys kohnii) is an active basking turtle that is sensitive to poor water quality and cramped aquariums. Adults reach about males about 9-13 cm, females often 15-25 cm and may live 25 years or more with good long-term care.

Red-Bellied Short-Necked Turtle

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Emydura subglobosa is the accepted spelling for the red-bellied short-necked turtle. The misspelling Emydura sublobosa is sometimes seen in trade.

English common names used in the hobby:

Red-bellied short-necked turtle
Pink-bellied side-necked turtle

German common names used in the hobby:

Rotbauch-Spitzkopfschildkröte
Rotbauch-Kurzhalsschildkröte

📌 Description

The red-bellied short-necked turtle (Emydura subglobosa) is a tropical aquatic side-necked turtle that needs warm clean water all year. Adults reach about 20-26 cm and may live 25 years or more with good long-term care.

Reeves's Turtle

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Mauremys reevesii is the current name for Reeves’s turtle. Chinemys reevesii is a common older combination in books and trade lists.

English common names used in the hobby:

Reeves’s turtle
Chinese three-keeled pond turtle

German common names used in the hobby:

Chinesische Dreikielschildkröte
Reeves-Schildkröte

📌 Description

The reeves’s turtle (Mauremys reevesii) is a hardy but messy semi-aquatic turtle that needs clean water and a secure basking site. Adults reach about 15-23 cm and may live 20-30 years or more with good long-term care.