Painted turtles are called so mainly because of the marks on their shell.These animals are also called Chrysemys picta, the eastern painted turtle, the southern painted turtle, the midland painted turtle, or the western painted turtle. These turtles range from Canada to Mexico; they are fascinating to keep as a pet, but require a lot of care.Their characteristics and nature make them one of the most interesting pets. But despite what you call them, or how attractive their colors are, it is important to know that painted turtles require special concern. This requires a commitment to changing the water of the pond or tank frequently, making sure you have proper tank temperatures, providing aquatic plants and foods. Let’s discover more about how to tend to your painted turtle pet.After you finish reading this article, make sure to check our other articles like how to take care of a box turtle and what is a group of turtles called?How long do painted turtles live in a tank?The painted turtles can live a long life in captivity. With a proper diet and suitable tank setup, their life can be improved quite a bit. These animals can lead a healthy life in the proper environment.Painted turtles can live for 20-25 years in captivity. As these painted turtles are aquatic, these animals have to spend the majority of their time in the water eating and basking on a dry surface in the sun. The care of painted turtles is very similar to that of an aquatic reptile, like an alligator, these animals need a place to bask in the sun.Male Vs Female Painted Turtle Life SpanAdult females painted turtles are slightly larger than the male painted turtles. But apart from their differences in size, there are no impacts on their life span with regard to their gender.In the wild, these turtles eat aquatic plants, algae, and similar vegetation, insects, and fish. The painted turtles are active during the summer when they like to bask in the sun on a rock for many hours. They are mostly found near slow-moving bodies of water such as ponds basking in the sunlight. However, they are perfect prey as eggs or hatchlings by snakes, rodents, or canines, when they’re older, the turtle’s tough shell protects them from predators. Female hatched turtles grow for 6-16 years and males grow till 2-9 years, until sexual maturity.Painted Turtle Size And Life SpanThe painted turtle is a commonly found species of North America. Painted turtles can be a good pet for beginners due to their social nature. Although, they are not the easiest to take care of and require a lot of time and care.An adult painted turtle female is said to be about 4-10 inches long, whereas the male is smaller. The turtle’s top shell is smooth and dark, and there are no ridges. The skin is olive to black with red, orange, or yellow stripes on the exterior.How can you predict the age of a painted turtle?Painted turtles are a common pet for families that adopt a reptile, and they are adored by kids. They can be found easily in stores in various sizes and colors. However, it may be sometimes tough to tell the age of painted turtles. You can try to tell its age by the following steps.Hold your turtle stomach side up. Be gentle, as the turtles do not like being held, especially like this, but painted turtles do not bite. If your turtle starts hissing, leave them on the ground and try to hold them gently next time. Take a close look at the abdominal area, especially on the lower half. There must be eight sections, approximately. As there are two abdominal areas in the third section at the bottom. Choose either the right or left side of the abdomen. The rings stand for the growth cycle and might be able to give a good age estimation of your painted turtle. Count the rings carefully. The first ring is present at birth, so count it as zero and so on. If, for example, there are four rings, the first is denoted as zero and the others one through three, you can then estimate your turtle’s age. Therefore, your turtle is approximately three years old and has completed three growth cycles. Did you know that a painted turtle’s shell is made of 13 bone plates that are called scutes? As the painted turtle grows, it sheds the outer layer of the shell and grows new ones instead!Life Span Of Subspecies Of Painted TurtlesDid you know that this colorfully painted turtle was named a trickster in Algonquian tribes? Today, four states of the United States, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, and Vermont, have named them their official reptile. Adult turtles can live up to 55 years in the wild. So, not only your pet turtle is famous, but it is also a long-lived reptile!Painted turtles are native to North America. Painted turtles can be found in Canada and northern Mexico and are related to the species of sliders, cooters, etc. There are four painted turtle species, Chrysemys picta, found in North America in each of its aquatic regional areas. They are known as the eastern painted turtle, the midland painted turtle, the southern painted turtle, and the western painted turtle. These species are mostly found basking near the slow-moving streams or ponds.The eastern painted turtle, Chrysemys picta picta, has a black shell that is in line with red, and its plastrons are yellow. The male eastern painted turtle can grow up to 5-7 inches (12-17 cm), while the female can grow into 6-7 inches (15-17 cm). Their bottom shell is yellow or spotted lightly. Their life span varies from 15-20 years in captivity and up to 50 years in the wild.The midland painted turtles, Chrysemys picta marginata, are much like the eastern painted turtles but have a dark color on their bellies. The pattern of their shell is different too. Midland-painted turtle’s habitat in Ontario, Canada, and along the lines of Alabama. Their size can be up to 7 inches (17 cm) long. The midland painted turtle’s lifespan is of 35-40 years. The oldest midland painted turtle was 55 years old.The southern painted turtle, Chrysemys picta dorsalis, is the smallest subspecies, with a size of 4-7 inches (10-17 cm) long as an adult. The southern painted turtle is notable by its prominent yellow-orange stripe running down its shell in the middle. They are native to the Mississippi River region. The southern painted turtle can live up to 30 years with care in captivity.The western painted turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii, can grow up to 10 inches long and is the largest subspecies of the painted turtle. The western painted turtle has a shell that is olive green in color. The western painted turtles are natives and are found in ponds and other aquatic areas that range from Canada, the U.S., to Mexico. These pets can live up to 15-25 years.Most painted turtles can hold their breath all through winter while hibernating at the bottom of a pond or lake near aquatic plants.Health Concerns To Watch ForPainted turtles are usually easy to care for with the proper environmental setting and diet, but they are not immune to certain health problems. Common health problems in painted turtles are vitamin A deficiency, respiratory diseases, abscesses, shell infections and fractures, ear infections, and parasites.Vitamin A deficiency: When a painted turtle lacks a proper diet, it may develop a vitamin deficiency. Lack of vitamin D, improper UVB light function, and calcium result in bone diseases and shell infections. They may get swollen eyes, raw skin, etc.Intestinal parasites: Intestinal parasites are a common problem for painted turtles. An intestinal parasite can cause serious health problems for painted turtles if not cured. Parasites can enter the tank via something you put inside, which was outside the tank initially. Cleaning the tank thoroughly is a good way to minimize this.Shell infections: When a shell becomes soft and starts lifting away from the rest of the shell, it has become infected. Usually caused by parasites, bacteria, or fungi, and can cause the formation of ulcers and penetrate the shell layers. If not cured, it can spread into the blood and organs.Abscesses: If there is swelling on the sides of the turtle’s head, then infected pus-filled swellings are forming within the ear canal. Abscesses can lead to vitamin A deficiency. The painted turtle can stop eating food and feel discomfort.Common signs you can look out for are, swollen eyes, bubbles through the nose, lack of appetite, excessive basking, unable to swim or breathe in water. These health problems are mostly due to dirty habitat, improper temperatures, lighting, and diet. If you think your painted turtle is feeling any discomfort, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.How to care for painted turtles?Painted turtles are attractive due to the striking colors they carry and their docile nature. They are a common pet among the native areas. But it is important to understand how to care for your aquatic friend. Taking care of a painted turtle can be a commitment you might want to make if you wish to keep your pet turtle healthy.For an adult painted turtle, the minimum size of the tank should be at least 30 gallons in size. The tanks should contain a water filter, heater, UVB light, light timer, humidity gauge, and thermometer to check the temperature of the water in the tank. Gravel can be used as the base and rocks to create a basking area for your painted turtle. Did you know that some researchers have seen 50 turtles stacked up on one another on one log to bask in the sun?A proper lighting system and temperature are required to keep your pet turtle healthy. From 72-90 F (22- 30 C) as their housing temperature, which can be achieved through multiple lighting systems. Water temperature between 60-70 F (15-21 C). The basking area’s temperature should be between 90-95 F (32-35 C). Replacing the UVB bulb every six months is advisable, and the working of the lighting properly is important. As the invisible UVB rays expire earlier than white light does. A painted turtle requires at least 12 hours a day under a UVB light for basking.As painted turtles are omnivorous, they enjoy various types of food. The basic regular food can be high-quality commercial store-bought food with high nutritional value. For treats, painted turtles like to eat meats like insects, worms, fish, and leafy greens.If you wish to bring a painted turtle into your life, it is important to find a veterinarian specializing in reptiles. As they are prone to various diseases and infections, it is important to keep an eye out for any symptoms of discomfort your pet turtle might be showing. If there are any symptoms of illness, consult your veterinarian.It is important to remember that if painted turtles are not provided proper care and habitat they may start to become lethargic, not eat well and go into hibernation. As a housed painted turtle, it is important to keep the water clean as it significantly affects the turtle’s health.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how long do painted turtles live? Then why not take a look at different types of turtles, or painted turtle facts?
Painted turtles are called so mainly because of the marks on their shell.
