How difficult is it to keep Stripe-necked Musk 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.

What should I feed Stripe-necked Musk Turtle?

Stripe-necked Musk Turtle feeds on: Mostly carnivorous omnivore (aquatic insects, snails, crustaceans). Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

What is the typical price for Stripe-necked Musk Turtle?

The price of Stripe-necked Musk Turtle varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Stripe-necked Musk Turtle

Beginner

Sternotherus peltifer

A small musk turtle of rivers in the south-eastern USA. Distinct stripes on the sides of the head and neck and a net-like crown pattern separate it from the spotted loggerhead musk turtle.

Difficulty

Beginner

Temperature

25〜32℃

Lifespan

Few data on lifespan in captivity

Size

Few species-specific size data (a small musk turtle)

Humidity

40〜70%

Diet

Mostly carnivorous omnivore (aquatic insects, snails, crustaceans)

About

The stripe-necked musk turtle is a kinosternid of the south-eastern United States (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina). Long treated as S. minor peltifer, a subspecies of the loggerhead musk turtle, it is now recognized as a species following work including Scott et al. (2017), although CITES (Species+) still includes it under S. minor. According to the diagnosis cited by the Reptile Database, it has a round, low carapace with flared margins and, in young animals, a single low vertebral keel but no lateral keels. Distinct stripes on the sides of the head and neck, a reticulate pattern of lines rather than spots on top of the head, small paired gular scutes and a single pair of chin barbels distinguish it from other Sternotherus. It occurs in the greater Mobile River basin, the upper Tennessee River drainage and the Pearl and Pascagoula river systems, and the assignment of Tennessee River animals needs further study. It lives in swamps and slow rivers. Species-specific size data are limited. In Japan small numbers are sold by specialist shops.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Basic Info

Origin

South-eastern United States (Mobile basin, upper Tennessee, Pearl and Pascagoula river systems)

Lifespan

Few data on lifespan in captivity

Size

Few species-specific size data (a small musk turtle)

Temperature

25〜32℃

Humidity

40〜70%

Diet

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: Sternotherus peltifer (Smith & Glass, 1947)

Synonyms: Sternotherus minor peltifer Smith & Glass, 1947

Authority databases: GBIF · The Reptile Database: Sternotherus peltifer · GBIF: Sternotherus peltifer

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 whole genus Sternotherus has been listed since 23 February 2023. Species+ includes this species under Sternotherus minor.

Sources: Species+ (CITES): Sternotherus minor

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