Popular North American turtles include the eastern painted turtle, a subspecies of the painted turtle. From southeast Canada to the Appalachian Mountains, this North American turtle can be found. The eastern painted turtle is one of the most common turtles kept as pets due to its vibrant look and placid temperament.
The females are 6 to 7 (14 to 17 cm) inches long and a little bigger. Males of this species range in size from 5 to 7 inches (13–17 cm). The eastern painted turtle’s carapace is olive green to black with a thin, reddish stripe running down the middle and red markings around the edges.
Habitat
Very aquatic, the C. p. picta only leaves its aquatic habitat when the water is no longer there. They frequently inhabit brackish areas around the Atlantic since they are typically found there.
They prefer shallow, slow-moving waters like those found in ponds, creeks, and marshes rather than deep, swift water.
Care as a Pet
Heat
The eastern painted turtle is used to cold weather in its natural environment. They’ve even been observed swimming in frozen ponds. You won’t need to heat the water in their fake home as long as it is above 70 F.
You can provide the turtle the proper temperature ranges with the use of a basking lamp and a thermometer. The surrounding air should be at a comfortable 80 degrees. A temperature in the mid-90s is required for the basking area.
Enclosure
The more room the C. p. picta has, the better because it is an active turtle with good swimming abilities. In reality, babies need at least 10 gallons of water, while adults need between 20 and 40 gallons.
For a hatchling, you don’t need to buy a 10-gallon tank. choose to feel a 20-gallon tank filled with 10 gal. of water. If you intend to have more than one turtle, add 5 liters of water for every extra hatchling.
Feed
The omnivorous eastern painted turtle loves to eat while submerged in water. The eastern painted turtle typically eats dead or damaged fish, unlike other painted turtle species that consume both plants and tiny creatures such as aquatic insects, crabs, and fish. The eastern painted turtle subspecies has the least research on its food among the four painted turtle subspecies.
The eastern painted turtle is easy to feed because they take both plant and animal waste. As you might expect, it is wise to change up their nutrition. By doing this, the turtle will receive all the nutrients it needs and won’t develop a food aversion.
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