Pacific Coast Giant Musk Turtle
Staurotypus Salvinii
   
     
   
general
description One of the largest of all mud and musk turtles
a.k.a Central American Musk Turtle
distribution Mexico (Gulf and Caribbean drainages of C/S Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Yucatan), Belize, NE Guatemala, W Honduras
housing
natural habitats Aquatic, sedentary;
aquarium Preferablly with a lot of aquatic plants. Water should be shallow where it can breathe by extending its long neck and tubed nose to the surface -- It is poor swimmer, can drown.
substrate Soil, mud, gravel, barks (e.g. Repti Bark, Coconut Bark)
activity period Nighttime (nocturnal);
give heat and help monitoring by infrared lamps (e.g. Nightlight Red Bulb, Infrared Heat Lamp) where the light is invisible for it but humans
temperature 28 - 30¢XC -- day
25 - 27¢XC -- night
diet
wild diet Carnivorous (meat-eating);
Fish, amphibian larvae, aquatic invertebrates, etc
captive diet Fish (e.g. minnows, goldfish), crayfish, shrimps, Aquatic Turtle Food
reproduction
reproduction Oviparous
   
         
 
     

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