Northern map turtle (Graptemys geographica)

Short answers

Northern map turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

An aqua-terrarium from ~125×60×60 cm for one adult female (water at least twice the shell length); males from ~100×50 cm.

Northern map turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime water 22–28 °C (spring/autumn 20–23, midsummer 27–28), basking spot 35–42 °C (dry basking spot), at night 18–22 °C (air above the water).

Northern map turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 2–4); an HQI / UV metal-halide lamp is recommended.

Northern map turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to ~60 years.

Northern map turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

water 22–28 °C (spring/autumn 20–23, midsummer 27–28)

Night temperature

18–22 °C (air above the water)

Basking spot

35–42 °C (dry basking spot)

Humidity

Not critical (aquatic); the basking spot must stay dry

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 2–4); an HQI / UV metal-halide lamp is recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

an aqua-terrarium from ~125×60×60 cm for one adult female (water at least twice the shell length); males from ~100×50 cm

Substrate

Fine sand or rounded gravel; alternatively bare-bottomed for hygiene; an egg-laying site for the females

Feeding

Food

Durophagous and omnivorous: it eats mainly water snails and mussels (the broad-headed females), plus insects, crayfish and small fish; adults also take plant food and pellets, and a cuttlebone

Feeding interval

juveniles daily; adults animal food 2–3×/week, plant food available

Key facts

Adult size

females up to 26 cm (large-headed), males up to 15 cm

Life expectancy

up to ~60 years

Origin

The eastern and central USA and south-eastern Canada; the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Great Lakes systems

Protection status

CITES Appendix III (since 2006) = EU Annex C. Freely tradable within the EU, no registration duty; export and origin documents are needed for import

Brumation

A winter rest or brumation of about 3 months at 4–8 °C (a northern species)

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. A loner and territorial; never keep males together, and they harass the females. A group only with plenty of space, visual barriers and a surplus of females

Notes

A specialised snail and mussel eater (durophagous) – watch that there is enough hard-shelled prey and calcium. Very sensitive to water quality; strong filtration is needed. Considered one of the more demanding map turtles.

Do you keep this species?

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

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Related species

• Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra) – Intermediate
• Barbour's map turtle (Graptemys barbouri) – Intermediate
• False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) – Intermediate
• Yellow-blotched map turtle (Graptemys flavimaculata) – Intermediate
• Mississippi map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni) – Intermediate
• Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis) – Intermediate
• Black-knobbed map turtle (Graptemys nigrinoda) – Intermediate
• Cumberland slider (Trachemys scripta troostii) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Northern map turtle (Graptemys geographica) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (an aqua-terrarium from ~125×60×60 cm for one adult female (water at least twice the shell length); males from ~100×50 cm), substrate (Fine sand or rounded gravel; alternatively bare-bottomed for hygiene; an egg-laying site for the females), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.