Mississippi mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis)

Short answers

Mississippi mud turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

An aquarium or aqua-terrarium from ~80×40 cm (at least 20 gal, larger is better); shallow water (they swim poorly), an exit or land section plus a basking spot.

Mississippi mud turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–27 °C water temperature, basking spot 29–33 °C (basking spot), at night slight drop.

Mississippi mud turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Mississippi mud turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20–40 years (up to ~50).

Mississippi mud turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–27 °C water temperature

Night temperature

slight drop

Basking spot

29–33 °C (basking spot)

Humidity

aquatic (—)

UVB

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

Enclosure

Minimum size

an aquarium or aqua-terrarium from ~80×40 cm (at least 20 gal, larger is better); shallow water (they swim poorly), an exit or land section plus a basking spot

Substrate

Sand or larger river pebbles, a soft floor (they like to dig)

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: snails, worms, insects, crustaceans, fish, a little plant matter; pellets (Mazuri or ReptoMin) to supplement

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 7.5–11 cm (small, 3–4.5 inches)

Life expectancy

20–40 years (up to ~50)

Origin

The south-eastern USA, the lower Mississippi valley

Protection status

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

Brumation

In the wild they take a winter rest or brumation (only mildly active in winter); in captivity a slight winter cooling is possible but not essential – it depends on the species and origin

Cohabitation

Keep them singly – aggressive towards each other (especially the males); do not house them with their own kind or closely related species. Housing them with larger basking species is risky and only advisable with plenty of space and matching sizes

Notes

A small, ground-oriented aquatic turtle and a poor swimmer – shallow water with a way out (a risk of drowning, especially for the young). It prefers quiet, densely planted shallow zones with a soft bottom.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Mississippi mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Rough-footed mud turtle (Kinosternon hirtipes) – Intermediate
• Scorpion mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) – Intermediate
• Sonora mud turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense) – Intermediate
• Striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii) – Beginner
• Tabasco mud turtle (Kinosternon acutum) – Intermediate
• White-lipped mud turtle (Kinosternon leucostomum) – Intermediate
• Yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens) – Intermediate
• Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Mississippi mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (an aquarium or aqua-terrarium from ~80×40 cm (at least 20 gal, larger is better); shallow water (they swim poorly), an exit or land section plus a basking spot), substrate (Sand or larger river pebbles, a soft floor (they like to dig)), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.