Encyclopaedia
ReptileFreshwaterSemi-aquaticIntermediate
©AI Generated·Proprietary
Spotted Turtle
Clemmys guttata
The Spotted Turtle is a tiny, highly prized semi-aquatic North American species, famous for its smooth black shell beautifully adorned with bright yellow spots, preferring shallow wetland setups.
Class:Testudines
Order:Testudines
Family:Emydidae
Genus:Clemmys
Species:Clemmys guttata
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Water Temperature
15 - 32 °C
pH Value
6 - 7.2
Environment
Freshwater / Semi-aquatic
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
22 - 26 °C
Ambient temperature
22 - 26 °C
Night temperature
16 - 18 °C
Basking spot
30 - 32 °C
Adult size
12 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 150 L
Brumation temperature
4 - 8 °C
UVB
High
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: This species is native to eastern North America, ranging from southern Canada (Ontario) southward along the Atlantic coastal plain of the United States to northern Florida, and westward through the Great Lakes region. It inhabits shallow, slow-moving wetlands such as bogs, fens, swamps, wet meadows, flooded woodlands, and temporary vernal pools with soft, muddy bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation. It prefers shallow waters where it can easily reach the surface to breathe by extending its neck.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Clemmys guttata belongs to the family Emydidae and is the sole remaining species in the genus Clemmys. Phylogenetically, it represents an ancient, genetically isolated lineage. The species exhibits low genetic variation across fragmented habitats. Due to habitat loss, road mortality, and poaching for the illegal pet trade, it is classified as 'Endangered' by the IUCN and is protected throughout its range.
Behavior and Habits: A diurnal and heliothermic semi-aquatic reptile. It is highly active in early spring, spending long periods basking on logs, tussocks, or mats of vegetation to raise its body temperature. During the hot summer months, it may enter a state of estivation, burying itself in mud or terrestrial leaf litter, while in winter it hibernates underwater at the bottom of ponds or inside flooded animal burrows, tolerating near-freezing temperatures.
Morphology: The carapace is smooth, unserrated, and oval-shaped, with a solid black or dark brown coloration covered in a variable number of bright yellow or orange spots (hence the name guttata). The plastron is yellow or orange with large, dark blotches on each scute that expand as the turtle ages. It is a small species, with adults measuring 8-12 cm in carapace length. Males have brown eyes, a dark chin, and a concave plastron; females have orange eyes, a yellow chin, and a flat plastron.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a specialized aqua-terrarium (paludarium) or a secure, predator-proof outdoor pond. An indoor tank should measure at least 100x50 cm for a single adult. The aquatic area should cover 60-70% of the enclosure, with a shallow water depth of 15-20 cm and plenty of underwater structures (branches, live or fake plants, rocks) to allow the turtle to climb to the surface easily. The land area must be dry, easily accessible, and equipped with a humid hide containing damp sphagnum moss.
Lighting and Heating: A high-quality linear UVB light (5% or 10%) is mandatory, running for 10-12 hours daily over the land area. Position a basking spot lamp over the dry area to create a localized hot spot of 30-32°C (86-90°F). Water temperature should be maintained between 20°C and 24°C (68-75°F) using a submersible aquarium heater equipped with a protective guard. Ambient air temperature should be 22-26°C (72-79°F).
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain air humidity around 60-70% in the dry zone. Lightly misting the land area daily is recommended. Water quality is critical; use a high-capacity canister filter to provide mechanical and biological filtration, and perform weekly 25-50% water changes using declorinated water. Keep ammonia and nitrite levels strictly at zero.
Feeding and Supplementation: Primarily carnivorous and opportunistic. Feed a variety of live foods such as earthworms, crickets, dubia roaches, snails, small freshwater fish, and thawed shrimp, alongside high-quality commercial aquatic turtle pellets. They may occasionally consume aquatic plants (duckweed, Elodea). Dust food with pure calcium carbonate twice a week, and provide a multivitamin supplement once a week.
Compatibility: Can be kept singly or in small groups consisting of females only. Males are highly territorial and aggressive, often harassing females or fighting with other males, which can cause severe bite injuries; therefore, housing males with females is only recommended for controlled breeding purposes. Do not house with larger or aggressive turtle species.
Health and Common Diseases: Susceptible to shell rot and fungal infections of the skin and shell if water quality is poor or if the turtle cannot dry out completely under the basking light. Respiratory infections (pneumonia) can occur from cold drafts or low air temperatures. Vitamin A deficiency manifests as swollen, closed eyes. A well-heated dry area is essential to prevent these conditions.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
This species is native to eastern North America, ranging from southern Canada (Ontario) southward along the Atlantic coastal plain of the United States to northern Florida, and westward through the Great Lakes region. It inhabits shallow, slow-moving wetlands such as bogs, fens, swamps, wet meadows, flooded woodlands, and temporary vernal pools with soft, muddy bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation. It prefers shallow waters where it can easily reach the surface to breathe by extending its neck.
Origin
Tropical oceans and reefsNorth America
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 12 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 12 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 12 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.
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