Graptemys pulchra

Male   3 ½” – 5”            Female   7" – 11 ½”

Strongly carnivorous, they eat snails, fish, insects and carrion.

Air Temperature:  Low to mid 80's

Basking Temperature:  High 80's to low 90's

Water Temperature:  Low to mid 70's

Makes its home in large, swift creeks and rivers, as well as some shallow streams.

Found is the Mobile Bay drainage system in Alabama, Georgia and possibly Mississippi. Some have also been found in the Alabama, Cahaba, Tombigbee, Coosa and Black Warrior Rivers.

Yes

These are aggressive baskers, so a basking spot is required. UVB lighting is needed as well as a heat lamp over the basking spot. A submersible heater is recommended if the water temps fall below the recommendation. They are excellent swimmers and their captive habitat should have a water depth as deep as possible. Substrate should be anywhere from a sand to a fine-to-large size gravel. Abundant vegetation, either artificial or real, is recommended.

Recommended size for a single adult Graptemys pulchra would be a 30 gallon aquarium as a minimum (40 or larger preferred) for males, and a 75 gallon aquarium as a minimum (90 or larger preferred) for females. This will provide adequate swimming area, as well as assisting the filtration in maintaining good water quality. For additional Graptemys pulchra, I would recommend adding 20 gallons of tank space for additional males and 50 gallons of tank space per additional female at a minimum

Stock Tanks and Rubbermaid containers also work well. The same space recommendations remain the same.

In captivity, they do well on Mazuri and ReptoMin, Reptile/Pond 10, Cichlid Sticks, snails, crickets and assorted worms and insects.

Graptemys pulchra is a great turtle for a community habitat with Sliders, Cooters, other Map Turtles and Painted Turtles.