I suggest you keep just the one musks, its nonsense that they become lonely, in the wild they are solitary creatures only coming together to bask or mate. By keeping two, you may well encounter aggression, meaning 2 set ups.

Can musk turtles live in groups?

Most turtles decide whether they like each other or not much sooner than that. The problem is that in nature, turtles are basically solitary animals. Groups of turtles may live in the same place because the conditions there are favorable for them, but they aren't really "social" animals.

Can musk turtles have tank mates?

Therefore, there is much more flexibility in terms of what fish you can put in a musk turtle tank. Some good suggestions for fish to live with musk turtles include: Tetras, Guppies, Angel fish, and Zebra fish.

What size tank do I need for 2 musk turtles?

How do you keep Common Musk Turtles? Due to their small size an adult can be kept in a minimum 24" aquarium (20 gallon), a pair or trio in a 36" (30 gallon). Babies should be kept in a smaller aquarium and moved as they grow.

Can you put a baby musk turtle in with an adult?

They can and will fight. Your musk will not eat a baby one, but yes they may fight or may breed, and the older may also dominate the younger such as at feed time etc.

3 Things You NEED To Know Before Buying A MUSK Or MUD TURTLE

18 related questions found

How much space does a musk turtle need?

Most turtle hobbyists recommend keeping common musk turtles in at least a 20- to 29-gallon tank. I have used a 20-gallon long tank to keep one adult musk turtle, with a Fluval 2Plus canister submersible filter to keep things clean. I filled the aquarium to a depth of approximately 8 inches and used dechlorinated water.

How fast do musk turtles grow?

How Fast to Common Musk Turtles Grow? The growth rate of common musk turtles majorly depends on feeding frequency and quality. Young common musk turtles typically grow slow, doubling their size in about 10 months or so. The growth rate of these turtles declines with age.

Do common musk turtles bask?

As mentioned, common musk turtles do not always emerge from the water to bask, but a basking light is still essential for captive turtle health; position it above the spot the turtle would bask should it choose to do so. ... A submersible heater should be used to maintain water temperature at 72 to 78 degrees.

Do musk turtles need a filter?

Musk turtles spend most of their time in the water so keeping it warm and clean is a priority. These turtles can be quite messy due to their high protein diet so require quite a strong filter to keep them clean.

Can you hold a musk turtle?

All turtles should be handled with care and respect. To ensure you are not at the end of a nasty nip, you should be especially careful if you have to handle the Stinkpot. Picking them up towards the rear of their shell can help. There is a risk that aquatic turtles can carry the salmonella bacteria.

Can turtles live in tap water?

Can Turtles Live In Tap Water? Turtles can live in tap water, but you may need to treat it first. This is because there is a possibility that it contains a bit of chlorine. For humans, this can be beneficial, but for turtles, it can irritate their eyes.

Can turtles live with betta fish?

In short, you can keep betta fish with turtles but to make the combination work, you'll need to meet a ton of conditions and be lucky enough. Before anything else, you'll need to choose the right turtle species. Besides, turtles have a tendency to chase fish and eat them. ...

How much does a common musk turtle cost?

The average Musk Turtle costs anywhere from $20 to $70, which is a low price compared to other reptiles. The main cost comes from setting up their enclosure, which requires a lot of enhancements.

Are musk turtles happy alone?

I suggest you keep just the one musks, its nonsense that they become lonely, in the wild they are solitary creatures only coming together to bask or mate. By keeping two, you may well encounter aggression, meaning 2 set ups.

Do turtles need companions?

Turtles are not social creatures. They do not get lonely and do not need a friend. ... You can always put more than one turtle in the same tank, though some species tend to be more aggressive and some may fight, so this is best handled on a case by case basis. Turtles DO carry salmonella (so do all other reptiles).

Is my musk turtle a boy or girl?

The most common way to determine gender in a turtle is to look at the length of its tail. 3 Female turtles have short and skinny tails while males sport long, thick tails, with their vent (cloaca) positioned closer to the end of the tail when compared to a female.

Do turtles like cold or hot water?

Maintain proper water temperatures.

If the temps get too high or too low it can turn fatal. The water should be 80 - 82 degrees Fahrenheit ( 26.5 - 27.5 Celsius) for a hatchling or a sick turtle, and 77 - 80 degrees F (25.5 - 26.5 C) for a healthy turtle over a year old.

Do musk turtles sleep underwater?

So yes, turtles do sleep underwater. Species such as painted turtles, map turtles, sliders, mud turtles, musk turtles all sleep underwater. ... Additionally, North American turtles such as the musk and painted turtles can even breathe underwater. They can remain perfectly still underwater as they sleep.

How can you tell how old a musk turtle is?

You want to count rings on the turtle's scutes to help determine age. The scutes are the scales that cover the turtle's shell. Keep in mind, this method only gives you a very rough estimate, as rings often develop in periods of feast and famine for turtles.

Can musk turtles live outside?

Musks do very well outdoors, however should not be introduced until spring.

How long can musk turtles stay out of water?

In general, however, an aquatic turtle can potentially go between one week and a few months without water. It won't be very comfortable, but it is possible for it to survive.

What does musk turtle poop look like?

The color, consistency, and volume of the feces will vary depending on what the tortoise is ingesting. But for the most part, the feces will be brown or greenish-brown. A healthy turtle/tortoise produces quite firm, well-formed feces.

Can musk turtles live with snails?

Snails are a natural food of loggerhead musk turtles, who probably enjoy them a lot. ... You COULD infect snails by keeping in a tank with a turtle already infected.

How big can musk turtles get?

How big do musk turtles get? Musk turtles are the smallest turtles in the Berkshire Museum Aquarium, growing only to 4-5 inches in adulthood.