Have you ever wondered how big map turtles can grow? These popular pets can reach surprising sizes, and their growth depends on a few factors. Keep reading to learn more about how big map turtles can get!
What is the biggest map turtle?
The biggest map turtle in the world is the Mississippi map turtle, with a length of up to eight inches.
These turtles have distinctive color markings that look like splotches of olive green and yellow on their shells, which also feature knobbly spines and a pair of long ridges running along the back!
Native to the rivers of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi, they usually live in shallow waters near riverbanks. These gentle reptiles are primarily herbivorous, feeding on plants like water lilies and duckweed as well as fish eggs and small invertebrates.
Although they are solitary animals, they don’t mind sharing their waterways with other turtles or aquatic creatures!
What is the smallest map turtle?
The smallest map turtle is the Piebald Map Turtle, which is native to the Mississippi River drainage system of America. These turtles typically measure four or five inches in length and feature distinctive yellow-rimmed dark circles that form an intricate pattern on their shells.
They also boast an attractive yellow stripe behind each eye and down the sides of their heads. Despite their small size, these turtles are quite resilient and can live up to as much as 20 years in captivity with proper care.
They are generally peaceful animals that enjoy basking in direct sunlight, but they have been known to become territorial towards one another when confined to a small space.
What is the best food for map turtles?
If you want to make sure your map turtle is getting all the nutrition it needs, its diet should consist of both plants and animals. The best food for your pet map turtle is a combination of store-bought pellets and live food such as mealworms and crickets.
Feeding them a few pellets once or twice a day and throwing in the occasional bit of live food will provide the perfect balance of proteins, minerals, and vitamins that are necessary for their health.
Variety is also important for maintaining your map turtle’s overall health—try supplementing store-bought feed with wild-caught insects, fireflies, slugs, fish, snail eggs, snails, and tadpoles.
Doing this you’ll be confident that you’re providing them with maximum nutrition!
Are map turtles friendly?
Map turtles make great pets as they are friendly and low-maintenance. With large eyes, smooth shells, and vibrant colors these turtles are not difficult to love!
Though they are small, they do require a sizable tank (at least 30 gallons). They can even live in captivity for up to 30 years with the right care. The best part of having a map turtle is the opportunity to watch it explore its habitat while avoiding social interaction with the owner.
Unlike some animals, map turtles won’t demand your attention or tap on their cages asking you to play with them — they’re just happy lounging around in their tanks. Overall, map turtles are excellent pets if you’re looking for something low-key and beautiful.
Do map turtles stay small?
When it comes to mapping turtles, the answer to “do they stay small?” is both yes and no.
Map turtles are one of the few species of turtles in which the size varies significantly based on gender, with male map turtles typically staying much smaller than their female counterparts.
Generally speaking, female map turtles can grow up to 8 inches in length, while males rarely reach more than 5 inches.
The key factor involved here is that the size difference isn’t due solely to age—female giant map turtles will reach a larger adult size regardless of how long they’ve been alive. It’s all about gender!
So if you want a large map turtle friend in your life, go for the females!
Final words
Overall, map turtles can grow to be quite large and make for wonderful pets! Being aware of the needs of your pet turtle is very important to keep them healthy and active.
Water temperature, basking spots, and UV light are only a few factors to consider when providing an ideal environment for your map turtle.
And while they may take some time to get used to it, they will eventually grow comfortable with your presence. Providing a proper habitat that meets these needs makes them an incredibly rewarding pet to have around.
So if you’re considering adding a map turtle to your family, have no fear – they’re great creatures whose sizes may surprise and impress you!