Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)

Short answers

Spotted turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

~80×50×50 cm for one animal, shallow water (~20 cm) plus a land and basking spot.

Spotted turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime water 18–24 °C (cool, avoids heat), basking spot 28–32 °C, at night 15–18 °C.

Spotted turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3).

Spotted turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: very long-lived – usually 30–50, potentially up to 100+ years.

Spotted turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

water 18–24 °C (cool, avoids heat)

Night temperature

15–18 °C

Basking spot

28–32 °C

Humidity

— (aquatic)

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3)

Enclosure

Minimum size

~80×50×50 cm for one animal, shallow water (~20 cm) plus a land and basking spot

Substrate

Sand or soil, densely planted; shallow, still water

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: worms, snails, insects, small fish, water plants and greens

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

10–14 cm (a small species, females somewhat larger)

Life expectancy

very long-lived – usually 30–50, potentially up to 100+ years

Origin

Eastern North America (south-eastern Canada to Florida); shallow, cool waters

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B – registration required, proof of origin. IUCN: Endangered; protected in several US states.

Brumation

Yes – brumation of 8–12 weeks at ~4–7 °C; in addition they may aestivate in the heat of midsummer.

Cohabitation

Single housing. Both care sheets advise keeping only one animal per enclosure; males may fight in the wild, and females are harassed in the mating season. A pair or small group is only conceivable in very large, structured set-ups and ponds; the drawback is that males harass the females and several males fight each other.

Notes

A small, cool-loving species – NO tropical temperatures! Excessive warmth is a common and dangerous keeping mistake. A weak swimmer; it needs shallow water. An annual winter rest matters for health and reproduction.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Balkan terrapin (Mauremys rivulata) – Intermediate
• Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) – Intermediate
• European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) – Intermediate
• Ligurian pond turtle (Emys orbicularis galloitalica) – Intermediate
• Mediterranean pond turtle (Mauremys leprosa) – Intermediate
• Bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) – Expert
• Sicilian pond turtle (Emys trinacris) – Intermediate
• Wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (~80×50×50 cm for one animal, shallow water (~20 cm) plus a land and basking spot), substrate (Sand or soil, densely planted; shallow, still water), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.