Mississippi Map Turtle Habitat Checklist (Shopping List)

Map Turtles are beautiful little aquatics creatures found throughout the United States through Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. They make amazing pets even for beginners but you need to be ready to take proper care of them. For the right care you will need the right tools and supplies.

Below is the list of all the things you will need to take care of a Mississippi map turtle.

Mississippi Map Turtle Requirements

1. Aquarium

A 30-gallon tank is the absolute minimum for a map turtle. For a female, you will need a relatively larger aquarium. We recommend getting at least a 75 gallon that will allow them more space.

Once you get the aquarium, you will need the below things installed inside the aquarium.

2. Water Heater

For map turtles you will need to keep the water temperature 74 to 76 degrees. It should not get cold or warmer than that. To achieve this, you will need to install a water heater inside the aquarium.

3. Thermometer

In order to keep track of the temperature and keep it on the desired level you will need a digital thermometer inside the aquarium. You can get one just for a few dollars.

4. UVA and UVB Lights

UVB and UVA lights are very important for a map turtle because it makes them get stronger. You can get a two in one bulb that will give them both UVA and UVB lights.

5. Plants

Plants are optional but we still recommend placing a few plants inside your map turtle aquarium so they can climb on them whenever they want and get out of waters.

6. Substrate

For substrate, you need something that’s not big enough for them to eat. Sand works ok as you wash it out. The only problem I see with sand is every time you clean your tank, the sand particles come up or when the turtles kicks and it gets really cloudy.

7. Water Filter

Filtration is very important for map turtles to keep the water clean. You will need to get a high-quality filter installed in the aquarium.

8. Food

Mississippi Map turtles are omnivores when they are younger but become more carnivorous as they age. They can eat live foods such as crickets, earth worms, and meal worms, & commercial dry foods.