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ReptileFreshwaterSemi-aquaticEasy
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Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
The 'Painted Turtle'. Perhaps the most famous, iconic and majestic freshwater tortoise of the Northern Hemisphere (7 inches). A biological miracle of colors: the shell is olive green framed by bright blood red edges, while the black neck is furrowed by gold and fiery stripes. Extremely tolerant to the Canadian cold, it lives for decades and is a spectacular swimmer that animates the aquarium. A hugely superior and ethical choice compared to the disastrous and infesting Trachemys.
Class:Testudines
Order:Testudines
Family:Emydidae
Genus:Chrysemys
Species:Chrysemys picta
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Water Temperature
15 - 30 °C
Environment
Freshwater / Semi-aquatic
Humidity
80 - 100 %
Day temperature
24 - 28 °C
Night temperature
18 - 22 °C
Adult size
25 cm
UVB
High
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Ponds dense with lilies, clear lakes and slow and cold currents lined with vegetation from Canada to the southern United States.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Family Emydidae. (The only species of the genus Chrysemys). Divided into 4 fascinating subspecies (C. p. picta, marginata, dorsalis, bellii). They are the ideal aquaterrarium animals: they never exceed 7-8 inches (18-20 cm), they are not invasive like the infamous Red-Eared Sliders (Trachemys) and tolerate domestic care with incredible calmness.
Behavior and Habits: Floating solar crystals. They love sociability: it is common in nature to see towers of dozens of Painted Turtles stacked on top of each other ('stacking') on the best emerged log of the lake to dry in the sun. Extraordinary swimmers, they spend their time munching underwater stems and lazily chasing larvae. Their eggs have a genetic antifreeze capacity that allows babies to hibernate in frozen nests until spring.
Morphology: Flat shell, ultra smooth like a polished stone (Dwarf males of 5 inches / 12-14 cm with huge 'Vampire' front claws for tactile courtship; robust females up to 7-8 inches / 18-20 cm). The armor is very dark olive green, bordered with brick red/orange. Raven black face sculpted with dozens of flaming bright yellow stripes and sun yellow plastron.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: PANORAMIC COMMUNITY AQUATERRARIUMS (Minimum 30-40 Gallons). Clean and well filtered water, deep (12 inches+), enriched with submerged fake plants, woods and large river stones to rest. MANDATORY the Island of the Sun: a 100% dry spacious emerged area, since they love to spend half a day thermoregulating in a group.
Lighting and Heating: Bright Solar Basking at 90°F (32°C). FRESH AND TEMPERATE WATER AT 72-77°F (22-25°C). Diffused 5% UVB radiation vital (avoids lethal metabolic decalcification MBD). They are turtles of the extreme north: they hate the soupy water of defective heaters. Below 59°F (15°C) metabolism collapses (Hibernation).
Humidity and Hydration: Exclusively aquatic (70-90% atmospheric).
Feeding and Supplementation: Very Balanced Omnivores. The most perfect aquarium eaters: they consume minnows (whole silversides), vitamin integral pellets, earthworms and phenomenal quantities of green vegetation (Radicchio, romaine lettuce, duckweed, water hyacinth which they will decimate for a hobby). Males and young are more carnivorous, large females graze salad.
Compatibility: Hyper-Docile, masters of coexistence. Together with the Sternotherus odoratus, they are the few non-assassin turtles: they tolerate large groups (in giant tanks) and even coexistence with agile fish and related terrestrial turtles. Handling stresses them, they shake their arms frantically to dive desperately.
Health and Common Diseases: Eye decay and carapace retention (Retained Scutes ). If the solar island is not hot enough to dry the carapace, the old scales do not flake off: the bacteria rot the underlying shell trapping dirty water that corrodes the bone, until leading them to septicemic death.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Ponds dense with lilies, clear lakes and slow and cold currents lined with vegetation from Canada to the southern United States.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsNorth AmericaEast AsiaCosmopolitan or introduced
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 25 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 25 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 25 cm for this species, recorded as straight carapace length (SCL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
