Mississippi Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii)

Mississippi Map Turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii
Name	Mississippi Map Turtle
Name Lat.	Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii
Family	Pond Turtles & Box Turtles
Family lat.	Emydidae
Order	Turtles
Order lat.	Testudines
Origin	S-USA
Habitat	River systems
Diet	Fish, insects, plants
Humidity	50-80 %
Behavior	♂ semi-aggressive
Keeping	Individual, harem
Care Level	Difficult
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Aquaterrarium
Life Span	25-30 years
Protection	CITES Appendix III; EU Annex C
Metric Units
Size	15-25 cm
Temperature	24-28 °C
Temperature Local	35-40 °C
Housing Size	120 x 70 x 60 cm
US Units
Size	6"-10"
Temperature	75-82 °F
Temperature Local	95-104 °F
Housing Size	45" x 30" x 25"

Distribution and habitat

The range of the diurnal Mississippi humpback turtles is the southern United States, from Texas to Mississippi. There they live in the river systems (oxbow lakes, impoundments, etc.) of large, slow-flowing rivers with abundant vegetation and sheltered basking areas on the banks.

Maintenance

Minimum dimensions for the aquaterrarium, according to the size and number of animals

floor space for 1-2 animals: 5PL x 2,5PL (L x W)

Water level: 2PB

The carapace length (PL) and carapace width (PB) is measured on the largest animal. For each additional animal, increase the footprint by 10%, and for the 5th animal and larger, increase the footprint by 20%. An aquaterrarium of e.g. L 120 x W 60 x H 50 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

It needs a spacious, well structured aquaterrarium. The water part, with a soft, muddy substrate, should be structured with roots, aquatic plants and larger stones (visual barriers and hiding places), some of which reach the water surface. For this purpose, they need a terrestrial part (approx. 1/3 of the bottom surface) for drying, which is equipped with a soft, muddy-sandy bottom substrate, with plants and roots as well as with sunning places. To maintain water quality, a powerful filter with low flow is recommended, as well as frequent water changes.

	Water Temp	lighting	Sunny
Summer	20-28 °C	12-14 hrs.	35-40 °C
winter (2-3 months)	8-15 °C	6-8 hrs

They need daily UV irradiation and sunny places with radiant heat.

Diet

The diet consists of insect larvae, snails, earthworms, mealworm larvae, shrimp, fish pieces, scraped beef or liver, supplemented with pelleted or freeze-dried ready-to-eat food. Frozen food is also well accepted. Be sure to offer lettuce, dandelion, endive and aquatic plants (e.g. waterweed). Young animals should be offered food daily, adults twice a week. Regular addition of minerals and vitamins is important. A varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

Males are usually much smaller and have straight elongated front claws and a longer tail than females. The anal opening of the male is closer to the tip of the tail.

Mating takes place in the water in spring and egg laying (up to 7 eggs) occurs between May and June. A small, sandy shore is necessary for egg laying. The incubation period is 65-80 days (usually 70 days) at a temperature of 24-30 °C.

Life expectancy can be 25-30 years.

Species protection

Species protection: WA Appendix III; EU Appendix C. Export permit required for animals from the USA

Your pet store will be happy to provide you with further information.

Important

Care should be taken when keeping males and females together because of the significant size difference

The animals can be kept in an outdoor facility during the warm summer months

Winter hibernation can be done in water or earth-moist substrate

In order not to distort the native fauna, they must not be released into the wild under any circumstances.

The terrarium must have good ventilation without drafts and meet the species-specific needs. Measuring devices such as thermometers, hygrometers, etc. are necessary. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Contamination must be removed regularly.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Christian Sänger; Image: petdata

Source: BMELV (1997): Tierschutzgutachten - Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Reptilien; ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag; ROGNER (2009): Taschenatlas Schildkröten, Verlag Ulmer

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF