All About Mississippi Map Turtles

The Mississippi Map Turtle (Graptemys kohnii) is a fantastic pet for a beginner pet turtle owner.

They’re considered one of the more visually appealing types of turtles because of their pronounced ridge of scales down the the top of the shell and also the intricate pattern of yellow to orange designs over the carapace. These designs resemble that of a map, hence the name map turtle.

Map turtles are the shyest of aquatic turtles. And while they are avid baskers, they have a tendency to be really skittish and may go into the water at the slightest sign of danger.

When it comes to size, mississippi map turtles are “normal” for aquatic turtles. Females, being bigger than males, can get to about 7 inches long. Males tend to grow to around 5 to 6 inches.

As they grow, be sure to watch the mississippi map turtle for aggressive tendencies. Larger turtles, especially females, are usually more aggressive to subordinate males in addition to other small turtles. Consider this if you have multiple turtles in an enclosure.

To avoid this be sure have ample decorations (hiding spots) and basking areas for each turtle. Avoid over crowding as much as possible.

Where Are Mississippi Map Turtles Be Found?

You’ll find eleven types of map turtles recognized that are spread throughout north america. Mostly they reside in the southeastern regions near river systems.

They appear in the Mississippi Valley from Nebraska to Illinois, down into the sourthern US between Texas and Mississippi.

They like lakes, rivers, and big streams when compared with more isolated ponds and small creeks.

Although they are like other aquatic turtles such as red eared sliders, mississippi map turtles have more specific needs in terms of care and housing.

Because they tend to prefer clear, fast-flowing rivers, their housing will need plenty of filtration and oxygenated water. Map turtles appear to be less tolerant of poor water conditions than other aquatic turtles. Water hygiene and quality has to be maintained for the health of the turtles.

What Do Mississippi Map Turtles Prefer To Eat?

What do turtles eat you may well ask? Well for mississippi map turtles you will discover they tend to prefer a wide range of plants and animals. Because they’re omnivores, they’ll pretty much eat anything they can find or scavenge in the water.

In The Wild:

Typically, hatchlings and young map turtles prefer more of a plant based diet but develop more carnivorous as time passes.

Due to their muscular jaws, particularly in adult females, their natural diet includes:

Slugs, Crayfish, Insects, Lettuce, Crickets, Earth Worms, Meal Worms, Minnows, Aquatic Vegetation, Carrots, etc.

In The Home:

However when considering the question of what do turtles eat as pets, you will find that many of the same items in the wild can be incorporated into their diet.

It’s important to remember that, like many pet turtles, mississippi map turtles don’t always get 100% of the required vitamins from the food they eat. Because of this it is best to make an effort to add a multi-vitamin supplement with their meals.

In captivity they will eagerly eat:

Fish, Shellfish, Poultry, Turkey, Liver, Lettuce, Various Insects, Shrimp, Krill, Carrots, Tomatoes, Aquatic Plants, etc.

If fresh foods aren’t always readily available, you can always go the route of giving your turtle commercial pet food.

Whatever it is you think would be better for your own turtle keep in mind that these are like all animal and possess tastes and preferences.

You shouldn’t be upset if you notice that your turtle isn’t taking a liking to their meal instantly. Be patient and if after days they are still not interested, think about making a change on their behalf.

What To Avoid When Feeding Mississippi Map Turtles

Just like any pet, you need to ensure that your red eared slider can be as healthy as possible. Furthermore you need to be sure your household is just as healthy as it can be at the same time.

Below are a few helpful suggestions to balance the both of best worlds.

No Fried Foods: Avoid giving your turtle any sort of deep fried foods. No fried potatoes, donuts, onion rings, etc.

No Sugary Foods: No candy, chocolate, or some other kind of sugary foods. As well as being unhealthy for a turtle, these types of foods are generally hard and will pose a choking hazard to your little friend.

No Dairy Products: This includes milk, cheese, butter, etc. Turtles do not have the necessary enzymes to correctly digest lactose.

No Sharing Foods: Avoid sharing your meals or snacks with your turtle. Many turtles, like most aquatic animals, carry salmonella bacteria. Salmonella doesn’t affect them as it does humans.

No Kissing: No seriously, don’t kiss your turtle. Although they are incredibly cute when they’re young or small, they carry salmonella and the last thing you want is to become sick from your own turtle.

No Dirty Hands: When ever you handle your turtle be sure you wash both your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap.

And there it is. What do turtles eat you may ask? For mississippi map turtles you now have the Do’s and Don’ts of a happy healthy turtle. Like every pets, red eared sliders make excellent companions when cared for properly.

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