How difficult is it to keep Mississippi Mud Turtle?

Beginner. This is a beginner-friendly species. No special equipment or experience is required, and it can be kept successfully with basic care setup.

How large does Mississippi Mud Turtle get?

Mississippi Mud Turtle typically reaches Carapace length 7.6-10.2 cm (species-level figure) as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What should I feed Mississippi Mud Turtle?

Mississippi Mud Turtle feeds on: Omnivore (aquatic insects, snails, crustaceans). Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

What is the typical price for Mississippi Mud Turtle?

The price of Mississippi Mud Turtle varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Mississippi Mud Turtle

Beginner

Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis

A subspecies of the eastern mud turtle of eastern North America. A small aquatic turtle about 10 cm long with a plain, keelless carapace and a double-hinged plastron.

Difficulty

Beginner

Temperature

25〜32℃ (typical for Reptile & Amphibian)

Size

Carapace length 7.6-10.2 cm (species-level figure)

Humidity

40〜70%

Diet

Omnivore (aquatic insects, snails, crustaceans)

About

The Mississippi mud turtle is Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis, a subspecies of the eastern mud turtle. The species ranges widely across the eastern and southern United States, from New York to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma, and three subspecies are recognized: the nominate form, this one and the Florida mud turtle (K. s. steindachneri). This subspecies ranges mainly through the Mississippi River basin, including Louisiana, Texas, eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, Mississippi, western Tennessee and southeastern Illinois. The species is small, 7.6 to 10.2 cm in carapace length, and often hard to identify. The carapace is keelless and unpatterned, varying from yellowish to black. The large plastron has two hinges and is yellowish to brown, sometimes with a dark pattern. The chin and throat are yellowish grey streaked and mottled with brown, the limbs and tail are greyish, and the iris is yellow with dark clouding. It lives in weedy fresh waters such as rivers, lakes, ponds, ditches and swamps, rarely basks and hibernates by burrowing into mud. In Japan small numbers are sold by specialist shops.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Size of the Mississippi Mud Turtle

The Mississippi Mud Turtle grows to Carapace length 7.6-10.2 cm (species-level figure).

Basic Info

Origin

United States (the south, centred on the Mississippi River basin)

Size

Carapace length 7.6-10.2 cm (species-level figure)

Temperature

25〜32℃ (typical for Reptile & Amphibian)

Humidity

40〜70%

References & Sources

Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team

The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.

Primary sources

Taxonomy & Authority

Accepted name: Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis Gray, 1856

Synonyms: Kinosternon hippocrepis Gray, 1856, Cinosternon hippocrepis

Authority databases: GBIF · The Reptile Database: Kinosternon subrubrum · GBIF: Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis

Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.

Regulations & Conservation Status

CITES Appendix II

Listed in CITES Appendix II. International trade requires an export permit from the country of origin, but no registration is needed to keep or transfer the animal within Japan. The genus Kinosternon has been listed in Appendix II since 23 February 2023, except for two species listed in Appendix I (K. cora and K. vogti). This subspecies is covered as part of Kinosternon subrubrum.

Sources: Species+ (CITES): Kinosternon subrubrum

Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.