Feeding Mississippi Map (mud) Turtle

[srs753421]

Hello,

I cant find much in terms of research material on these little critters so I would appreciate some advice from people in the know.

I am considering keeping a pair and I am ok on things such as the tank set up. Could somebody tell me what kind of vegetation the turtles eat, i.e. stuff that can easily be found in my kitchen cupboards?

Thank you.

 

[srs753421]

.....Also: -

Is it best to have sand or gravel in the tank?

Cheers.

 

[xautomaticflowersx]

Did you try using Google to find information? Because a very quick Google search using the phrase 'map turtles' found these useful sites:
http/www.unc.edu/~dtkirkpa/stuff/maps.html
http/www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/re...map_turtle.html
http/www.chelonia.org/articles/graptemyscare.htm
http/www.turtlepuddle.org/american/maps/graptemys.html

Reptiles generally can't (and shouldn't) be fed 'from the kitchen cupboard'. They have specialist dietary needs which must be met. You'll need to give them live crickets, shrimp, worms and snails along with a commercially produced carnivorous turtle pellet. They'll also need lots of calcium to help keep their shells healthy. Sprinkle calcium powder on food and offer them cuttle bones to crunch up when they want. Most of their diet should be made up of meat-based foods. But some vegetation that they may eat includes some of the things found on this page: http/www.turtlepuddle.org/health/turtlefood.html
Also don't forget to provide them with a UV light source to bask under as well as a heat lamp to facilitate the production of vitamin D3 for calcium absorption.
Good luck with your turtles .