In the wild-
The Musk Turtle (Scientific name Sternotherus odoratus) is native to the East of the United States, and nearby areas of Canada. They are rated by the IUCN as 'Least concern'. Their name 'musk' or 'stinkpots' comes from their ability to release a smelly liquid from glands around their shell. They are highly aquatic, and come out only to bask. Musk turtles are mostly bottom dwellers as they are not very strong swimmers. Because of this, the species prefers slow moving bodies of water, such as small streams, preferably with a muddy bottom. They are surprisingly good climbers, and will often climb fallen logs to bask. In the wild, they are carnivorous, feeding mainly off aquatic invertebrates, but sometimes small fish. They have been know to eat aquatic vegetation, but their usual diet is almost always carnivorous.
What do they look like?
Musk turtles are a relatively small species, usually getting no bigger than 14cm (5.5 inches). This makes them easier to keep in captivity than many other commonly kept species. They can be sexed by tail length, like most tortoises and turtles. Males have longer tails than their female counterparts. Despite this, females are often larger overall. They have a domed shell, which is usually black or dark grey in colour, but sometimes brown.
In captivity-
Housing-
Whilst musk turtles are not a large species, they still require a good sized tank to live happily. If possible, an indoor or outdoor pond is great. Care must be taken with turtles in outdoor ponds, from preventing escapes to keeping them from freezing during the winter, it comes with many risks. For this reason I would keep most species of turtle either in tanks or indoor ponds unless you live in a hotter climate where the species is native. There is much debate around proper tank size, but I would recommend a 30 gallon (140 litre) as the bare minimum for a single adult turtle. The tank should be as big as possible, so a 50 gallon (200 litre) aquarium is the best. A tank this size could house two fully grown adult turtles. Hatchlings and young turtles should be kept in smaller tanks, with a lower water level to prevent drowning (due to their poor swimming ability). Most tanks and setups marketed for turtles are too small for anything but a juvenile, so I would advise you go for the larger tank to start with, and lower the water level to suite your turtle. The water levels can be increased as the baby grows. An adult turtle will be happy with 1 to 2ft of water, provided there are plenty of decorations your turtle can hold onto to breath at the surface and an easily accessible basking spot. The water you put into your turtle's habitat must be treated with de-chlorinator first, and be kept at around 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit). It must be heavily filtered as turtles produce high volumes of waste. I use a canister filter meant for a tank twice the size of the one I have for my turtle.
Your turtle's basking area needs to be large enough for your turtle to fully fit on and be able to turn around easily. I have not used them yet, but fake floating logs seem to be popular among turtle keepers. If you use these, I would recommend getting another basking spot as well, to keep under the heat light permanently.
Substrate-
The substrate you use for your turtle is very important. Fish tank gravel should be avoided, as it it small enough to get swallowed. I would recommend either:
-Large pebbles
-The Exo Terra turtle pebbles
-Aquarium sand
I have tried each of these, and they all have their problems. Pebbles are hard to move and dig though (something musks enjoy) and uneaten food and turtle waste gets stuck between them. This can turn the water quality bad. Sand often builds up layers of dirt, and when the turtles dig, this causes the waste to get thrown into the water, and is sometimes missed by the filter. The final option is a bare bottom. Whilst this makes the cleaning job easier, I prefer to have a substrate as I enjoy making and looking at naturalistic setups.
Heat and light-
Musk turtles need a basking spot with both heat and UV lighting. I use the Exo Terra dome light fitting with the splash proof swamp basking bulb for my turtle. It is set at about 26 degrees Celsius (80 Fahrenheit) For UV, I currently use the Exo Terra turtle UV kit, but replacement bulbs are no longer sold. An alternative available is a 12% UV lighting tube. These should be used inline with the manufacturers instructions and be placed about 30cm above the basking spot (unless instructed otherwise).
Feeding-
Turtles enjoy turtle pellet food mix, but they do best on a varied diet. The bulk of my turtle's diet is pellets, but it is supplemented with shrimp, bloodworm and other foods. I find I get some interest in live aquarium plants, but you must make sure these are safe to use first. Occasionally, you can give small feeder fish. Various insects can be fed too, such as chopped up earthworms, mealworms, crickets and locusts. Some adult turtles could also appreciate small mice, but I would not feed these to often. I feed a combination of foods every day. You should also feed according to the instructions on the food, although some say to feed multiple times a day, I prefer to limit the number of meals offered.
Keeping with other animals-
Due to their size and temperament, Musk Turtles are commonly housed with other species, usually other turtles or fish. They can be cohabbed with various other small turtle species, such as those found alongside them in the wild. They should never be housed with large species for their own safety: this includes Snapping Turtles. Many keepers keep fish with their turtles- small, fast fish often have the best chances of avoiding becoming prey, but it is almost inevitable some will end up as snacks! We have had success with Malawi Cichlids, which in our experience are too big and fast for our turtle to bother with.
Buying turtles (any species)-
Always buy turtles from reputable breeders or pet shops. If possible, you could offer a loving home to an older turtle. Sometimes turtles find their way into rescues and there are often many adverts on rehoming sites, such as Pets4Homes (UK) and Craigslist (US). They can live to 40 years (although there are reports of up to 50) so musk turtles are a big commitment. This is another reason people have to find new homes for them, as they don't have the money and space for large tanks as they grow. In the UK, expect to pay anything from £30 to £100 or more for a hatchling.
Items mentioned on this care sheet-
Please note that these items are just recommended. You do not have to buy these in particular. This page is independent of any company mentioned.
-Exo Terra swamp basking light https://www.amazon.co.uk/Exo-Terra-Swamp-Basking-Spot/dp/B002YZ4SKW/ref=sr_1_37?crid=13ZRTWBK4V1BG&dchild=1&keywords=exo+terra+light&qid=1602177878&sprefix=exo+terra%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-37
-Exo Terra light fitting https://www.amazon.co.uk/Exo-Terra-PT2057-Light-Fixture/dp/B0041OU75O/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4XHCTYPO0246&dchild=1&keywords=exo+terra+light+dome&qid=1602178041&sprefix=exo+terra+light+%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1
-30 gallon (140l) aquarium https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DXQSYM8/ref=twister_B07DXRNQZX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
-50 gallon (200l) aquarium https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DXRZF12/ref=twister_B07DXRNQZX?_encoding=UTF8&th=1
PLEASE USE THE LARGEST TANK YOU CAN AFFORD, THESE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY
-Filters are tank size dependant. This is the type I use (not this size or brand) https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Pond-Solutions-1000EF-Aquarium/dp/B002NF5LDQ/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=canister+filter&qid=1602178434&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-4
-Water heaters are tank size dependant. I would recommend one for reptile tanks. This one is for smaller tanks. https://www.amazon.co.uk/HITOP-Adjustable-Aquarium-Protective-Thermostat/dp/B07XP6V6FL/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=turtle+water+heater&qid=1602178565&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-4
References-
My care sheets are mostly written from experience, however to make sure I give the best possible advice, I will compare with other owners views and successes. For this care sheet, I cross referenced with-
Northampton Reptile Centre-(Reptile Supplies | Live Food | Vivariums | The Reptile Centre)
Thank you for reading my Musk Turtle care sheet and I hope you found it helpful and informative. Good luck with your new turtle!