Midland Painted Turtle - Herp Quest #12 (Herpetology Education)

What a beautiful lady! Come check out this awesome and lively Midland Painted Turtle, the only subspecies of Painted Turtle found native in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. This is Michigan's most common turtle, but if you're anywhere in the Painted Turtle's range, this is definitely a familiar face for you as well. Learn more about these natural pieces of art, and what important roles they have in the ecosystems they call home!

Herp Quest is a series dedicated to celebrating and learning all about herpetology (reptiles and amphibians). Whether they be our cold-blooded friends in our back yards, out in the field, or even some of the ones we cherish as pets, if it's a reptile or amphibian, it's definitely something I want to learn more about. Let's learn some herpetology together!

[peggydetmers]

I am a licensed rescuer/assurance colony breeder in the Black Hills of SD. I mostly help our SD GFP relocate turtles from drying ponds to more permanent bodies of waters plus help road injured turtles or their eggs. I also am helping SD GFP start a colony of Ornate Box Turtles for release. Personally I have started a small pet breeding group of western painted turtles, Chrysemys picta bellii, (1male, 2 females) in proving out a rare color gene. Since I do not brumate my pet turtles, my females bellii reached 6" in two years and produce viable eggs. My male dropped his tail at 9 months old, and started breeding as a 1 year old. Growing them year round is key in raising threatened/endangered turtles for release as it speeds up the time table. To induce their breeding cycle, I simply do a brief 3 week cool down in lowering their aquarium water to 60°F in March, that is when most mating begins, then bring the water temp back up to 80°F.

[julioallday]

Awesome video and great information. 💪

[daddyching]

I think I have a Midland painted turtle but idk. It has a orange belly with like a big black spot on it's belly. It also has a orange ring around the shell. It has like yellowish stripes and also dots on her head.

[jthomjr]

You're saving my life right now this helps a lot.

[Romans.]

Loved it. Love painted turtles. I grew up on a creek and always caught and released them in my childhood. Thanks for the great information.

[sennstrato]

I drive truck for my money. I've saved two snappers and three painted turtles off the roads so far in MN.

[alexstrouse]

i love the awesome beat that you have at the end of the videos, pretty catchy!

[mellewedin]

Thank you for the info. Someone found a baby that must have just left the nest. It is a midland painted. I have learned a ton from you. Most importantly that have now properly ID which painted it is. It will be easier to feed. I have it set up as natural as I can get it. I will going to the lake and getting duck weed it should be insect infested by now which will be good for the turtle it can hunt. I do breed guppy's. I feed high quality fold them. I am now happy I have someone that can eat the population down.

[DF]

She may be looking for a place for her eggs.