Care guide
Mississippi map turtle care
There's no guide just for Mississippi map turtle yet. Here's caring for aquatic turtles; ask the seller about anything specific to this species.
- Kind
- Turtle
- Adult size
- About 25 cm
- Typical lifespan
- 20–30 years
- Eats
- Insects and plants
- Handling
- Tolerates some handling
- Suits
- Some experience
- Temperatures
- 24–27°C, basking 32°C
- Humidity
- 50–70%
- UVB lighting
- Needed
Sliders, map and musk turtles live 20 years or more and need a large tank with powerful filtering, a dry basking area with UVB and heat, and a varied diet.
Shell size and the law
In the US and Canada, turtles can't be sold until their shell is at least about 10 cm (4 inches) long, to protect children from salmonella. Florida also prohibits red-eared sliders.
Tank and water
Allow roughly 40 litres of water per 2.5 cm of shell length, a strong filter rated for much bigger tanks, and a dry basking dock with a heat lamp and UVB.
Change part of the water weekly. Dirty water causes shell and skin infections.
Diet
Feed turtle pellets, leafy greens and aquatic plants, with occasional insects or fish. Young turtles eat more protein, adults more plants (musk turtles stay mostly carnivorous).
Never release a turtle
Released sliders spread disease and outcompete native turtles; they're invasive in many places.
Further reading
General information to help you prepare, not veterinary advice. Every animal is different: ask an experienced vet about yours. Reviewed by PerfectPal on October 13, 2026.