Any info on map turtles and red eared sliders??

MAP TURTLES:





General Description: The Northern Map Turtle is a medium-to-large sized turtle capable of reaching straight carapace lengths of 4 to 6" in males %26amp; 7 to 10 3/4" in females . The Northern map is only one of the 12 currently recognized species of map turtle, a group of basking aquatic turtles native to large permanent water bodies in the U.S. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced.The body form is ‘classic basking turtle’ style, with an oval body form (circular in hatchlings), mildly domed on top %26amp; flat-bottomed, blunt head with peripherally-placed eyes %26amp; a blunt snout, feet with webbed (%26amp; clawed) toes %26amp; a small to medium tail. The shell has an internal bony foundation on which are bone plates covered with keratin laminae called scutes. The shell includes a mildly to moderately domed carapace (upper shell) %26amp; a hingeless plastron (lower shell); the turtle can withdraw into the shell but the shell cannot close at all (map turtles rely on vigilance, water, rapid swimming %26amp; hiding for protection; on land they're vulnerable to predators). The carapace scutes are smooth (note: captives reared too fast with excess dietary protein may have raised scutes (a 'bumpy' carapace) with concentric rings. This is termed pyramiding). In males %26amp; hatchlings the carapace is keeled (mildly triangular in cross-section; the sides slope upward to the spine, like the roof on a house) with some 'spikes' (knobs), but adult females have a rounded carapace (often with less keeling %26amp; no spines). In hatchlings the plastron has dark color along the scute seams %26amp; plastral scutes may have a few spots, but this tends to fade to a bland yellowish in adulthood. As Northern Maps mature %26amp; age they typically develop darker, duller carapaces %26amp; more subdued/obscured patterns.





Carapace: smooth scutes, keeled (more in juveniles %26amp; adult males; females are more rounded), hard, brown to olive base color with small light reticulate patterning (like roads on a map). On top down the spine is a single row of small knobs/spines in adult males %26amp; juveniles (may be absent in adult females). Marginal scute undersides have intricate circular patterns. Carapace rear mildly serrated. Northern maps tend to have smaller dorsal spines/knobs than Mississippi maps, and much smaller than black-knobbed maps. The dorsal keeling/knobs of map turtles are absent in sliders, cooters %26amp; painted turtles.





Plastron: Moderately sized (more developed than in snappers %26amp; musk turtles, less so than box turtles), hingeless (can't close like a box turtle's), cream to yellow base color (hatchlings have dark plastral seams with a few variable dark spots or smudges; often absent in adults).





Head: Males have a blunt face, peripherally placed yellow eyes with a horizontal bar through the pupil %26amp; a short snout . Females have larger, broader heads. They typically have a small vaguely triangular yellow spot directly behind the eye. The head %26amp; neck have plenty of yellow striping on a dark skin. On the lower neck just behind the head a yellow line curves up to form a 'C' %26amp; in some a similar stripe curves down from the upper neck. Northern map turtles are considered part of the 'broad headed' map group, but this is most readily observed in adult females.





Size %26amp; Distinguishing Sex Characteristics: Male Northern Maps are much smaller than females, reaching ~ 4 - 6" adult SCL (vs. ~ 7 - 10 3/4"). Males' carapaces have more keeling %26amp; more prominent dorsal spines/knobs. Northern Maps don't have prominently elongated front claws (unlike sliders, cooters %26amp; the 'False Map' complex turtles) %26amp; their tails are much longer %26amp; have a much thicker base than females (broad base tapering to a point making a large triangle, much more prominent than in sliders); with the tail fully extended the cloaca will be past the edge of the carapace. Large females often develop bulky, muscular-looking heads.





The Northern Map Turtle has by far the largest natural range of any map species. They naturally range from the north-central to north-eastern U.S. (extending up to Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan, the northern border of New York, up to southwestern Maine %26amp; extreme southeastern Canada) %26amp; extend down in 2 separate branches, a west branch descending across Iowa down through Missouri %26amp; into Arkansas, %26amp; an east branch coming down through Indiana %26amp; Ohio through Kentucky %26amp; Tennessee into Alabama. Ranges given via my interpretation of Peterson's Field Guide3 range map (Page 168)3. Only the False map and Ouachita maps extend nearly as far north, %26amp; neither has such a broad northern distribution.





Northern Map Turtles are mainly restricted to large, permanent water habitat such as rivers %26amp; large lakes, but are occasionally found in smaller water bodies such as permanent streams (i.e.: 'Little River' in southwestern Kentucky). Map turtles are avid baskers %26amp; require habitat with basking platforms. In a Pennsylvania river the most captures occurred in deep, slow-moving areas, large turtles were more often caught in deeper slow areas %26amp; smaller turtles in shallower slow areas, and large adults avoided areas with emergent vegetation but congregated in areas with fallen limbs.





Although some species such as Red-eared Sliders %26amp; Common Snappers often travel significant distances overland %26amp; colonize isolated smaller water bodies such as farm ponds, map turtles generally do not. Maps are more inclined to migrate via aquatic avenues such as temporary floodplains %26amp; irrigation/drainage canals.





Map Turtles, along with Painted Turtles, are the main 'second tier' basking turtles in the U.S. pet trade (after the phenomenally numerous, wide-spread Red-eared Slider). However, the Mississippi Map turtle is far %26amp; away the most populous pet map turtle (in the U.S.), with Ouachita %26amp; False maps coming up next. Northern Map Turtles are somewhat uncommon in captive collections, sporadically available from online vendors but persistent searching for a few weeks on online classifieds in later Summer and Fall will turn some up. As of Fall '05 hatchlings ran around $30 apiece + shipping





TEMPERATURE RANGE (°F)


Air Temperature: mid 70's - 80's


Basking Temperature: Adults: Mid. 80's up to 110º F.* Hatchlings: Mid. 80's up to 100º F.


Water Temperature: ~ 72 to 76 degrees for sub-adults %26amp; adults, 78 to 80 degrees for hatchlings %26amp; smaller juveniles.


*Cris Hagen reported captive map turtles kept indoors benefit from hotter basking platform temp.s than we typically recommend for basking turtles (i.e.: 85-95 degrees). He said this is a factor in the poor shell condition sometimes seen in map turtles at public exhibits. That said, with temp.s this high be sure to offer a large enough basking platform so the turtle can choose from a range of temp.s (up to 100-110º F, but not restricted to that range).


Northern Maps encounter a range of temperate climates across their range, making them a possible option for a year-round outside enclosure (if it's deep enough) in their native range %26amp; elsewhere with comparable (or warmer) climate. Research (Pluto %26amp; Bellis, 1988)8 documents that in Pennsylvania deep riverine pools are used as hibernacula, %26amp; a personal observation by Ernst that in Kentucky impoundments are often used to over-winter. This suggests they don't hibernate in the shallows near shore, so how well they over-winter in shallow man-made enclosures (i.e.: large stock tank, Koi ponds ~ 4 feet deep, etc...) isn't clear. Since local populations over long time periods may be shaped via natural selection to their local environment, in theory Northern Maps from the southern part of their range may not be well-adapted for winters in the northern part of their range. Be mindful of this if outdoor hibernation in the northern U.S. is planned (ask the breeder if he knows where the parent stock originated from). Other options for year round outdoor keeping up north include the Western, Eastern %26amp; Midland (but not Southern) Painted Turtles, Stinkpots %26amp; Common Snappers (all species on condition of Northern parentage).





CARE DIFFICULTY


Northern Map Turtles are decent beginner turtles for people with large aquariums or outdoor garden ponds (if deep enough) to house them year round. They are not considered particularly delicate but map turtles as a group have a reputation for being problem-prone if water quality isn't excellent; your mileage may vary, but if skin fungus or shell rot arise, check your water! Maps as a group have a reputation for being nervous/skittish around people but many are comfortable around people %26amp; vigorously beg for food (some tolerate some handling, some don't), %26amp; take readily to both commercial %26amp; natural foods. Males are medium-sized; females get quite large and can put a strain on housing. Map turtles lack the 'power strike' of chicken turtles %26amp; common snappers, %26amp; aren't gifted fishermen. Males are prone to harass females so incessantly permanent separation is often necessary. As with any turtle species, an individual may be naturally aggressive or a pair incompatible. That said, there are other good species who stay much smaller (i.e.: Texas maps %26amp; Cagles maps).





CAPTIVE DIET


Throughout their lives, Northern maps are predominantly carnivorous but even juveniles may take some vegetation (such as Anacharis), although not as much as cooters, sliders %26amp; painted turtles. Their raw drive to gorge on higher protein foods makes it easy to feed too much protein (causing very rapid growth %26amp; a pyramided shell, %26amp; suspected to cause liver %26amp; kidney damage %26amp; shorten life span). Keep a check on the turtle's diet and ensure it gets a low-volume well-rounded diet. There are many foods they eat: Mazuri and ReptoMin, Reptile/Pond 10, Cichlid Sticks, feeder fish, feeder crickets, earthworms, krill, blood worms, occasional crayfish %26amp; ghost shrimp; try aquatic plan



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