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Eastern Musk Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus
A tiny, almost entirely aquatic turtle that stays small enough for a 30-gallon tank — the practical pet turtle.
3–4.5 in30–40 years
Habitat
Enclosure
20–30 gal, mostly water with a basking dock
Temperature
Water 72–78°F · basking 85–90°F
Humidity / Water
Fully aquatic · pH 7.0–7.5
Heating & lighting
Aquarium heater plus a basking lamp and UVB over the dock. Water must be shallow with an easy ramp — musk turtles are poor swimmers and drown in deep water.
Diet
Feed these
- Aquatic turtle pellets
- Frozen bloodworms
- Earthworms
- Snails
- Occasional feeder shrimp
Never feed
- Deep water without a ramp — drowning risk
- Feeder goldfish (disease & fat)
- Iceberg lettuce
- Handling — they emit a musky smell and bite
Feed pellets every other day plus protein treats. They're messy — strong filtration and weekly water changes are part of the deal.
Cohabitation
Can live with
Other musk turtles — large tank only
Never house with
Small fish — they'll be eaten Tropical community fish like Bettas and Guppies Any frogs or newts
Can share big tanks with other musk turtles, but males harass females — separate at the first bitten tail.
