Loggerhead musk turtle (Sternotherus minor)

Short answers

Loggerhead musk turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

An aquarium from ~80×40×40 cm for one animal; a low water level with plenty of climbing and exit aids (a moderate swimmer), a reachable basking spot; strong filtration.

Loggerhead musk turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–26 °C water temperature, basking spot 32–35 °C (basking spot, ~90–95 °F), at night slight drop.

Loggerhead musk turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2, UV index 2–3) above the basking spot.

Loggerhead musk turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20–30+ years (up to ~50).

Loggerhead musk turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–26 °C water temperature

Night temperature

slight drop

Basking spot

32–35 °C (basking spot, ~90–95 °F)

Humidity

aquatic (—)

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2, UV index 2–3) above the basking spot

Enclosure

Minimum size

an aquarium from ~80×40×40 cm for one animal; a low water level with plenty of climbing and exit aids (a moderate swimmer), a reachable basking spot; strong filtration

Substrate

Sand or fine gravel (they like to bury themselves partly)

Feeding

Food

Mainly carnivorous: water and land snails, mussels, crustaceans, worms, insects, fish (powerful jaws for molluscs)

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

10–14 cm (females up to ~14.5 cm, males smaller)

Life expectancy

20–30+ years (up to ~50)

Origin

The south-eastern USA (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B (Sternotherus spp. listed since 2023): registration requirement + proof of origin.

Brumation

No compulsory winter dormancy in captivity; a slight drop in winter temperature (cooling) can stimulate breeding – depending on their origin

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Aggressive towards its own kind and towards other species (bite injuries), especially the males; do not house it with anything

Notes

A small, ground-oriented aquatic turtle that swims badly – a risk of drowning if the water is too deep with no way out. Under stress it releases musk. A mollusc specialist – a proportion of snails matters for wearing down the jaws.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Loggerhead musk turtle (Sternotherus minor) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Flattened musk turtle (Sternotherus depressus) – Intermediate
• Razorback musk turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) – Beginner
• Common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) – Beginner
• Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) – Intermediate
• Spotted box turtle (Terrapene nelsoni) – Expert
• Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) – Expert
• Rough-footed mud turtle (Kinosternon hirtipes) – Intermediate
• Mississippi mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Loggerhead musk turtle (Sternotherus minor) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (an aquarium from ~80×40×40 cm for one animal; a low water level with plenty of climbing and exit aids (a moderate swimmer), a reachable basking spot; strong filtration), substrate (Sand or fine gravel (they like to bury themselves partly)), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.