Being the only species within the genus Chrysemys, the painted turtle is a freshwater turtle that inhabits various areas of North America. These elusive turtles are very popular among reptile lovers, as they are showy and special. In addition, they do not demand too much in terms of care, not being excessively delicate. Therefore, even if you are not an expert in the field, they can be kept in good condition quite easily.
Next, we'll talk about how are the painted turtles, what they eat, how they reproduce and what are the needs of these colorful and beautiful tortoises that cause a sensation among turtle lovers. Details as important as what your diet should be and the conditions of your aquarium, we bring you all this in this interesting article on our site!
Origin of the painted turtle
Painted turtles, whose scientific name is Chrysemys picta, come from the wetlands and rivers of Brazil Experts have established their origin in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Although we can also find painted turtles in various areas of Uruguay and northern Argentina.
Due to their popularity in the world of aquarists, painted turtles have reached all corners of the world, living freely in certain areas of South America and the United States, as well as rivers or wetlands where they temperatures are warm. Many of them, which for various reasons have gone from living in captivity to living in freedom, have ended up colonizing rivers in various parts of the world. For this reason, they have become invasive species in countries such as Spain, their possession being highly regulated.
Characteristics of the Painted Turtle
Painted turtles belong to the group of aquatic turtles and are of different sizes, the total length of the carapace being between 10 and 25 centimeters in males and 27 to 38 in females. The size depends both on the genetics and on the food that each specimen receives or obtains.
There are 4 subspecies of painted turtle, taking the males as reference, the characteristics would be:
- Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii): between 17 and 20 centimeters, with a green shell and yellow and orange reticulations, with a bright red or deep orange plastron. The shell is completely green or dark grey, without any patterns, although it may have small, thin red lines. Females can measure up to 26.6 centimeters.
- Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta): between 10 and 15 centimeters and with shields bordered by straight yellow lines, plastron solid and unmarked. The carapace is dark, with reddish outlines, its yellow plastron has a complex dark pattern. They have yellow spots and stripes of the same color on their heads and legs. Females can measure up to 18 centimeters
- Middle-earth Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata): about 14-15 centimeters and with shields bordered in black, arranged forming an alternate pattern. Its orange plastron has a black line that crosses it through the center, without branching.
- Southern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta dorsalis): it is the smallest, with about 10-12 centimeters, also the most showy. Its dark green shell has an orange line across it and marginal markings of the same color, its plastron is yellow, red, and black.
In all cases, the males are significantly smaller than the females, giving the males earlier development, so they are fertile at a younger age than the females.
Painted Turtle Habitat
These turtles live in regions of southern Canada, throughout various states of the United States and in northern Mexico, presenting a considerably wide distribution throughout North America.
They inhabit bodies of water such as lakes, wetlands, marshes, wells and rivers that are not too large, living in soft and muddy trend. On the Atlantic coast, painted turtles inhabit brackish waters, especially the eastern painted turtle subspecies.
In general, these turtles need a lot of aquatic vegetation, because in addition to feeding on it, it serves as protection against predators and as shelter.
Painted Turtle Play
A painted turtle reaches its fertile age at approximately 3-4 years of age, usually later in females. The reproductive season begins with spring and lasts until summer. Only occurs one copulation a year.
For turtles to reproduce, the male performs courtship, which consists of making his front legs vibrate in the face of the females, as if it were a kind of caress. In addition, they can give them small bites in the neck or leg areas, although this is more of a submission tactic when they are reluctant to mate. When they go to copulate, the females swim to the bottom of the river or pond, producing fertilization in an aquatic environment.
Once copulation has occurred, the turtles expel into the environment a clutch of between 2 and 8 eggs To do this, they prepare a hole outside of the water, in an area with little vegetation. There, the eggs mature, without being cared for by the mothers, in about 800 days, at which point they hatch.
Painted Turtle Feeding
What does the painted turtle eat? These turtles are omnivorous, consuming both vegetables, generally algae and aquatic plants, as well as small insects, slugs, tadpoles or snails, among other foods. However, in their juvenile stage these turtles are exclusively carnivorous, consuming crickets, worms and various types of fish. It's when they get older that their diet begins to reverse, including more and more plant-based foods.
If we have a painted turtle at home, we recommend giving it a varied and balanced diet, something that can be consumed with specific feed for turtles aquatic or with a homemade diet. If we resort to feeding through feed and specific preparations for aquatic turtles, it is important to supplement our turtle with vitamins and minerals from fresh vegetables. Some of the most beneficial for them are fresh parsley, dandelion or green leafy vegetables.
Painted Turtle Care
These tortoises are famous for being quite independent They tend to be alert all the time, avoiding contact with their keepers. If we want to have one of these turtles in our home, it is important that we prepare a good place for them to live. For this, it is necessary to have an aquaterrarium, since they spend most of their lives in the water, but they also need to be able to go out and bask in the sun or the light of the lamp that we have put on them. In addition, we must consider that these turtles hibernate, so when the time for hibernation arrives, we must ensure a good place where they are calm and warm all the winter.
Your aquaterrarium must be in certain conditions, maintaining a warm temperature, one of approximately 28 ºC being advisable. Temperatures below 15 ºC cause the turtle to be lethargic, being able to stop eating and hibernate when it is not the time for it.
It is also important that the painted turtle has good lighting, resorting to UVB lamps if the sun does not shine directly on the aquaterrarium or it's not strong enough. This is usually combined with heat lamps that allow a good temperature to be maintained. It is recommended to use submersible heaters with a power of approximately 250 watts, so the water will be at a good temperature for our turtle. The pond area must have a depth of at least 60 centimeters for adult specimens. In the terrestrial zone they must have vegetation or environmental enrichment.
For details on the care of the painted turtle, do not miss this article: "The turtle as a pet".
Painted Turtle He alth
For our painted turtle to be in good he alth, it is essential that we comply with the care regarding its diet and the conditions of its aquaterrarium. It is essential to keep the water in your pond clean and to renew it frequently, otherwise problems such as infections of the shell and skin may occur To avoid the development of fungi, some experts recommend adding a little s alt to the pond water.
Giving them a varied and quality diet is vital to avoid complications such as the development of kidney stones or fatty liver. This also prevents them from becoming obese, something very harmful for them.
They can suffer hearing diseases, these being much more frequent in specimens housed in poor conditions, especially in those exposed to temperatures that are too low or in standing water.
