[Jeff H.]

Species Name: Chrysemys picta bellii

Common Name: Western Painted Turtle

Size: They can reach about 12 inches in size. Males are typically a little smaller than females.

pH: They are fairly tolerant of a wide range of pH’s. Neutral pH of 7.0 is fine for them.

Minimum Recommended Tank Size: Generally a 150 gallon aquarium will make a good size habitat for these turtles. Generally 40-60 additional gallons of space should be provided for additional specimens, depending on sex. These basking species will utilize anything possible to sun themselves. They generally aren’t very aggressive baskers and will work great with maps and other painteds. A simple enclosure will consist of a basking spot and the tank typically filled ¾ or more of the way to the top.

Native Location: Western US

Temperature: They need a basking spot temperature of around 90F. The ambient air temperature should be around 80F. The water temperature for this species can vary from 75F to 82F. Warmer water temperatures can make the painted not bask, which can lead to serious health problems (shell rot, respiratory infection, etc).

Diet: These are typically more carnivorous than sliders, but do accept some vegetative matter. They do very well on commercial pellets (reptomin and mazuri), worms, fish, romaine lettuce, etc).

Breeding: Fairly simple. Some cycling may be necessary, but males are typically very persistent in their attempts. A sufficient land area needs to be provided for egg laying. Eggs typically take 60-70 days to hatch at 82F.

Gender Differences: The males have extremely long nails on the front legs as well as a very large tail. The females typically have a short tail and short nails on the front feet. The females also get a little larger.

Aggression: They’re usually not very aggressive. Males will also fight with each other once they reach a mature age. They should be carefully watched for aggression issues.

Notes: These turtles need to have a source of UVB to help in the synthesis of vitamin D3 from calcium. This is necessary for the long term health of these turtles.