The Map Turtle

The Map Turtle is a relatively common species of turtles, and some varieties of Map Turtles are very common in the domestic market. However, some varieties are relatively rare, which means that there are many subspecies of Map Turtles, and the range of their appearance variations is large, making identification difficult.

Map Turtles possess many unique characteristics that distinguish them from other aquatic turtles found in the same area. They are a diverse group of turtles, with each species having different behaviors, diets, and habitats. There are many varieties of Map Turtles, such as the False Map Turtle, Cagle's Map Turtle, Yellow-blotched Map Turtle, Mississippi Map Turtle, Northern Black-knobbed Map Turtle, Northern False Map Turtle, Alabama Map Turtle, Ringed Map Turtle, and Texas Map Turtle. Their distribution ranges almost entirely within the borders of the American continent, widely distributed from Florida to Texas, and northwards to the Dakotas and Quebec in various habitats.

Distribution range: It is almost entirely located within the borders of the continental United States and is widely distributed in various habitats from Florida to Texas, north to the Dakotas and Quebec. Although at first glance it bears some resemblance to sliders and painted turtles, the Map Turtle has many unique characteristics that set it apart from other aquatic turtles found in the same area. They are a diverse group of turtles, with many beautiful species, each with different habits, diets, and habitats.

Due to their limited distribution range, Map Turtles are constantly at risk. Many different factors, both natural and man-made, can have an impact on their long-term survival. Compared to scattered populations, clustered populations are more susceptible to being completely destroyed by natural disasters.

It is recommended to keep the Map Turtle as a pet. Map Turtles are relatively easy to keep, but it is also important to avoid purchasing juveniles that are too small in size. They are sensitive to water quality and can easily die if neglected.

1. Shell Rot

Cause: The shell becomes eroded, allowing bacteria to enter and cause shell rot. It could also be a result of mechanical damage, such as being injured by hard objects during capture or transportation, or from falling from a height and damaging the shell.

Symptoms: The surface of the shell becomes rotten, and in severe cases, holes may form and even muscles may be visible. The affected turtle may stop eating or eat less.

Prevention and treatment: Remove the affected area of the turtle's shell, wash the affected area with hydrogen peroxide, and then apply potassium permanganate crystal powder directly to the affected area. For fresh wounds, apply Yunnan Baiyao to stop bleeding, be cautious in bandaging, and provide careful care.

Shell rot: The shell has perforations and the internal skeleton is visible.

Shell rot caused by mechanical damage: The surface scutes are damaged and easily lead to bacterial infection and decay. Even if the condition is under control, it is difficult to restore the shell to its original appearance.

Shell rot caused by scute damage and bacterial infection

Shell rot caused by scute damage and bacterial infection

Shell rot caused by the wear of plastron in brackish water turtles due to prolonged activity on hard ground

Shell rot has been controlled, but the cracked area cannot be restored to its original appearance

2. Nutritional Bone Disease (Calcium Deficiency, Soft Shell Disease)

Cause: Turtles kept in artificial environments are often fed a single type of food or cooked food for a long time, resulting in a lack of various trace elements, especially vitamin D3, in their diet. This leads to a vitamin D deficiency and an imbalance or deficiency of calcium and phosphorus in the turtle's body, causing the turtle's bones to soften. Long-term indoor keeping without exposure to natural sunlight can also cause this disease. It is more common in rapidly growing hatchlings and juvenile turtles.

Symptoms: The affected turtle's behavior and appetite are normal, but when held, the shell feels soft and the limbs appear thicker. In severe cases, the scutes on the surface of the shell gradually peel off, the shell becomes soft, the nails/toenails start to fall off, and the shell becomes irregularly deformed.

Prevention and treatment: In the daily care and management of turtles, ensure exposure to sunlight. Whenever possible, allow the turtle to receive natural sunlight and avoid any barriers such as glass or plastic sheets. Indoor keeping can also use UVB fluorescent lamps. For aquatic turtles with the habit of basking, provide land in the enclosure above the water surface for basking. In the daily diet, regularly add calcium powder, shrimp shell powder, shell powder, fish liver oil, vitamin D, and complex vitamins, as well as some nutritional supplements such as Kylin. Hatchlings and juvenile turtles should be regularly fed live shrimp with shells. Additionally, the feeding should include a combination of animal-based and plant-based foods, and some green leafy vegetables. For severely affected turtles, inject 10% calcium gluconate (1 ml per kg of body weight) into the muscles. Once the shell deformity has occurred, it cannot be reversed.

3. Inflammation

Cause: Sudden drop in temperature by more than 5°C after turtle feeding, or inadequate temperature below 22°C, can easily cause this disease. In addition, feeding rotten and spoiled food and deterioration of water quality can also lead to this disease.

Symptoms: Affected turtles appear weak, lethargic, eat little or not at all; mildly affected turtles may have a small amount of mucus or loose stools in their feces, which can be yellow, green, or dark green, and the turtles eat very little. Severely affected turtles have watery or mucous-like feces, which can be reddish-brown or bloody. A small amount of feces can be smeared on white paper to observe the presence of blood. The turtle may refuse to eat. On autopsy, gastrointestinal congestion can be observed.

Prevention and treatment: In normal care and management, maintain a stable environmental temperature. After the turtle feeds, the temperature should be kept above 22°C, and the cleanliness of the water should be maintained. Do not feed rotten and spoiled food or cold food.

Treatment of gastritis focuses on inflammation reduction in the intestines and stomach, protection of the gastrointestinal mucosa, diarrhea control, and fluid replacement. For turtles that have been affected, add antibiotics such as tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and kanamycin to the diet. For turtles with diarrhea, feed medicines such as loperamide and berberine. The initial dosage may be larger, and recovery can be expected after about a week of continuous feeding. For severely affected turtles that refuse to eat, directly fill them with medication. The dosage should be based on the turtle's body weight. Chloramphenicol can also be administered by subcutaneous injection at a dose of 40,000-50,000 units per kg of body weight. Vitamin supplements should also be provided.

4. Internal Parasites

Cause: When turtles live and feed in the wild, they ingest various foods that contain parasite eggs or bodies, which allow parasites to infest the turtle's internal organs such as the intestines, stomach, lungs, and liver. Parasites include lung flukes, nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, blood flukes, Isospora, and pentastomes.

Symptoms: Affected turtles are weak, have poor resistance, become thin, and have weak limbs. In some newly acquired turtles, a large number of live parasites can be seen in their feces.

Prevention and treatment: In daily care and management, avoid feeding rotten and spoiled food. For vegetables, fruits, and other food items, thoroughly wash them before feeding. For newly acquired turtles, mix some internal parasite medications such as Fenbendazole or Metronidazole in their food, or directly administer the medication. For turtles that are regularly fed live fish, live shrimp, bloodworms, larvae, silkworm pupae, or cockroaches, deworm them with appropriate medication every six months to eliminate parasites.

Map Turtle Care Knowledge

Although the artificial breeding of map turtles has achieved great success, the living environment of wild map turtles is worrying. Therefore, people have grasped certain rules for the breeding of map turtles, and now the wild map turtles need people to protect their homes.

Artificially breeding map turtles is not as common as sliders and red-eared sliders. Even if they exist, they are often individual individuals, and usually male turtles. Map turtles can live well under artificial breeding, but they must be cared for in the correct way. In most cases, their care methods are similar to the requirements for breeding sliders and red-eared sliders. Compared with other turtles, map turtles have poor tolerance to poor water quality. In order to maintain the health of the turtles, the water quality must be kept clean.

As their distribution is limited, map turtles are constantly in danger. Many different factors, natural and man-made, may have long-term implications for their survival. Natural disasters are more likely to destroy congregated populations than spreading populations.

Degradation of habitat can also have a greater impact on these small populations. Agricultural competition, waste garbage from upstream industrial areas and cities, and large-scale development along riverbanks all affect local map turtles. Collecting wild animals, especially rare species, has also led to a decline in population size. Unfortunately, it is not enough to protect only places where map turtles are found. Because they live in rivers, not ponds or lakes, things happening upstream can have a huge impact on them beyond the protected areas. This is not a problem unique to map turtles, but it must be successfully solved if we want the next generation to enjoy the pleasure of observing these shy and colorful turtles in their natural environment.

Map Turtle Feeding Points

You may be surprised by the food that map turtles like to eat, because their teeth are very strong, so they will eat some very hard food. You don't necessarily have to feed them all the food, but you must ensure comprehensive nutrition.

Research has found that the breeding of map turtles is not as common as sliders and red-eared sliders. In general, map turtles can live well under artificial breeding conditions, but this premise still needs to be cared for in the correct way, and suitable breeding rules should be formulated for different map turtles. In most cases, the care methods of map turtles are similar to the requirements for breeding sliders and red-eared sliders. Compared with other turtles, map turtles have poor tolerance to poor water quality. Therefore, to ensure the health of map turtles, it is necessary to keep the water clean.

Whether map turtles are easy to raise depends not only on the habits and characteristics of individuals, but also on how the breeders breed. When it comes to how to raise map turtles, it also depends on the breeders. Usually, learn more about the habits and requirements of map turtles, meet their preferences, and targeted breeding is the key. The habits of map turtles are similar to those of Brazilian turtles. The stripes on the head and the protruding back ridge are common characteristics of this species. It is named after the map because its entire body is covered with yellow spots. There are many subspecies, and the one introduced in Taiwan is the Mississippi map turtle distributed in the Mississippi River Basin. Most other subspecies have not been introduced.

Map turtles mainly feed on aquatic clams and snails, so their dental plates are very hard and can crush shells. When mixed with other mild turtles, be careful that they may bite the tails or necks of other turtles. It is more suitable for mixed breeding with North American turtles. In the artificial environment, they eat any food and consume a large amount of it, and they grow rapidly. The identification of males and females is the same as Brazilian turtles. The habits of egg laying and reproduction are also the same. It's just that they have poor adaptability to the environment and the number of introductions is small. Therefore, they have not reproduced in large numbers locally like Brazilian turtles.