Musk turtle
Musk turtles are the smallest freshwater turtles in the world. They have an interesting coloration, feel great at home, are completely unpretentious in food and are incredibly appreciated by lovers of exotic pets.
The musk turtle has a miniature size (the length of the shell does not exceed 13-14 cm, and on average is only 7 cm) and is famous for its unpretentiousness. Perhaps it is precisely because of these properties that the musky turtle is so often turned on by lovers of exotic pets.
The carapace (upper part of the shell) in musk turtles is oval, smooth, but in young individuals it is clearly expressed with three longitudinal ridges. The carapace is dark, uniform, the limbs, neck and head are also dark, but there are contrasting longitudinal stripes on the head and neck.
An interesting feature of turtles is their sharp musky smell, which is released from the receptors at the moment of fright of the animal. This property formed the basis for choosing a name for miniature freshwater turtles.
Another feature is the surprisingly long neck. If the turtle fully stretches it out, it can easily reach its hind legs. Such a developed, flexible neck is rare in other reptiles.
The average lifespan of musk turtles in captivity is 20-25 years.
Interestingly, in its natural habitat, this miniature turtle behaves quite aggressively, but in captivity its character changes, becoming more calm and peaceful. Nevertheless, when kept in an aquarium, males are occasionally aggressive, while females, as a rule, are calm and quite friendly.
Musk turtles live in the water and are kept at home in an aquarium. They are excellent swimmers, so the aquarium can be quite deep. But it must necessarily have an island of land with a gentle coast or a path to it (made of tree branches or stones), along which it will be convenient for turtles to get out of the water.
Unlike many species of reptiles, musk turtles do not require a UV lamp to be installed in the aquarium. Because they are almost all the time in the water, and at a considerable depth, their body is adapted to the good absorption of calcium and vitamins without a significant amount of sunlight.
Musk turtles have a fairly good appetite, in addition, they often seem to be naturally dirty. However, their home must always be kept clean, as dirty water is the main source of various diseases for them. To maintain cleanliness in the aquarium, it is recommended to purchase a powerful filter and, of course, do not forget about changing the water.
A real gift for owners of musk turtles is their unpretentiousness in nutrition. These pets are omnivores, they like both plant and animal food. They will also appreciate high-quality ready-made turtle food, the nutrient content of which is carefully balanced.
Musk turtles are native to the fresh waters of the southeastern United States and Canada. Turtles almost never leave the water, swim well and spend a lot of time at the bottom of the reservoir, where they find food: mollusks, aquatic vegetation, small fish, aquatic insects, etc.
Due to their omnivorous nature, musk turtles act as reservoir orderlies.
Due to their almost constant presence in the water, the shell of the musk turtle in the wild is often covered with algae.
