Loggerhead Musk Turtle — Fact Sheet

Sternotherus minor · Loggerhead Musk Turtle · Kleine Moschusschildkröte

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• Single adult: at least 90 x 45 cm footprint; larger water volume preferred
• Aquatic aquarium, stock tank, or indoor pond with secure lid or high rim
• Strong filtration rated above actual water volume
• Hatchlings: shallow water with many resting routes to the surface
• Avoid tall empty tanks, slippery docks, sharp gravel, and unprotected filter intakes

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Dry basking platform, cool cover, submerged ledges, wood, cork, and plants
• Stable climbing routes from bottom to surface
• Optional cleanable sand or smooth river-stone areas
• No wedge-shaped holes, unstable rock piles, or abrasive ramps

💡 Lighting

• UVB required over the dry basking platform
• Moderate-output linear UVB tube preferred
• Separate heat lamp for basking surface
• Replace UVB lamps on schedule; glass blocks UVB
• Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no colored night light

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking spot: 30-32 °C

• Warm zone: 23-26 °C water

• Cool zone: 21-23 °C

• Night: 20-24 °C

• Clear gradient required between water, cover, and basking platform

• Measure water with digital probes and basking surface with an infrared thermometer

• Avoid heat rocks and unguarded heaters

💧 Humidity & water

• Water quality is the main humidity issue
• Dry basking platform must let the shell dry completely
• Regular partial water changes and ammonia/nitrite checks
• Dispose of tank water through household wastewater
• Never release turtles, eggs, plants, feeder animals, filter sludge, or water outdoors

🪳 Diet

Feed regularly:

• Aquatic turtle pellets, snails, earthworms, insect larvae, freshwater shrimp

In moderation:

• Whole fish, aquatic plants, leafy greens, richer protein extras

Avoid:

• Mammal meat, bread, salty seafood, goldfish-heavy diets, wild feeder fish

Supplements:

• Cuttlebone or other calcium source; balanced UVB; avoid vitamin overdosing

💤 Winter rest

• Optional only for healthy, established adults from seasonal lines
• Do not cool juveniles, thin turtles, sick turtles, or recent arrivals
• Use measured temperatures and a gradual seasonal change
• Consult a reptile veterinarian before cooling animals with uncertain health

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Soft shell → UVB, calcium, or diet problem
• Shell pits or foul smell → shell infection or dirty water
• Swollen eyes → water quality, vitamin, or infection issue
• Tilted floating or wheezing → respiratory disease
• Bite wounds → cohabitation or unsafe handling
• Persistent appetite loss → stress, wrong temperature, or illness

Consult a reptile- or exotic-animal veterinarian for breathing signs, deep shell lesions, injury, weakness, or prolonged refusal to eat.