Mississipi Map Turtles

[AJ Tudor]

I got back from volunteering at the sea life centre yesterday and they're looking after about 100 map turtles that were impounded at customs. I'm thinking about setting up a tank for some as I saw them feeding and they've got so much character! I was just wondering if anyone else has kept them and if they have any tips? Cheers guys

 

[loraxchick]

I got back from volunteering at the sea life centre yesterday and they're looking after about 100 map turtles that were impounded at customs. I'm thinking about setting up a tank for some as I saw them feeding and they've got so much character! I was just wondering if anyone else has kept them and if they have any tips? Cheers guys

hi there,
not up to speed on map turtles specifically, but i have an eastern painted turtle...im sure their care is similar. be warned that while turtles are very interesting pets, they are incredibly demanding as far as maintenance goes and the cost of initial set up for a proper habitat is very expensive (at least in my eyes it is...a "free" rescue turtle ended up costing, with all appropriate accessories, lighting, food and emergency meds around $500).
and i will reiterate the LOTS of maintenance part.
any specific questions feel free to PM me.
cheers

 

[saltynay]

I was actually looking at these guys today what a coincidence my LFS told me they are tropical 24-26C grow to 30cm and need to be fed lots of live foods. Can't vouch for how true that is but my LFS is normally fairly knowledgeable, look up a care sheet.

 

[Davo86]

I was actually looking at these guys today what a coincidence my LFS told me they are tropical 24-26C grow to 30cm and need to be fed lots of live foods. Can't vouch for how true that is but my LFS is normally fairly knowledgeable, look up a care sheet.

Males and females can vary in size by about 4inches or so (females being bigger)
They will also happily live off prepared foods including some veggies,

care sheet

 

[star4]

I have one map, he is really sweet. A varied diet is best with turtles and maps love nothing more than to chill out on a basking ares. Mine has a floating log which he loves. They are a ver gentle turtle, mine has a red tailed shark and a pink kissing gourami as tank mates. Both these fish were too agressive for any of my tanks so I had no choice but to put them in with the map, they get along fine. With turtles you need a very good filtration system, bigger the better and if you can create a flow into the water they love sitting under it. Dont have any gravel in your tank with turtles it can get picked up and cause problems.
Hope this helps