A strongly aquatic basking turtle with a keeled 'sawback' shell and intricate maplike markings, native to the Mississippi River drainage. The widely sold subspecies (G. p. kohnii) sports a distinctive backward crescent behind the eye.
ℹ️
Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
🩺 Need expert help with your mississippi map turtle?
Connect with a specialist near you or ask a licensed vet — never substitute online guidance for hands-on care in an emergency.
Sexually dimorphic: males 9-13 cm (3.5-5 in), females much larger at 15-25 cm (6-10 in) carapace
Lifespan
15–35 years
Social needs
solo
Native region
Central United States — Mississippi and Missouri river drainages
Origin
New World
Climate
🍂 Temperate
Water type
💧 Freshwater
Family
Emydidae
Genus
Graptemys
Part of the Freshwater turtles
Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles kept in heated, filtered aquariums or ponds with basking areas, UVB, and clean water — from tiny musk turtles to large sliders.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Adult aquarium
75 gal (10 gal per inch female; smaller males)
Graptemys pseudogeographica females reach 8–10 in, males 4–5. Female minimum is 75 gal with strong filtration, basking dock, basking 32 °C, 5–10% UVB, water 22–26 °C, strong current. Highly aquatic active swimmers.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Larger aquarium
100–125 gal planted
A 100–125 gal aquarium with oversized canister filtration, large basking platform, current, and live plants. Map turtles are skittish — visual barriers reduce glass-strike.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Stock tank or pond
150 gal+ stock tank or pond
Large stock tank or seasonal outdoor pond with current, basking dock, and shade. Mimics Mississippi River system habitat.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg / Neonate
Most reptiles lay leathery- or hard-shelled eggs incubated by ambient warmth, though some snakes and lizards give live birth. Incubation temperature can influence sex and development in many species.
Photo coming soon
Hatchling
Hatchlings emerge as fully formed miniatures of the adult, often using an egg tooth to slit the shell. They are independent from birth but small and vulnerable, and may show brighter or different juvenile patterning.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles grow steadily, shedding their skin periodically as they enlarge. Coloration and proportions shift toward the adult form, and growth rate depends heavily on temperature, diet, and basking/UVB access.
Adult
Adults reach the species' full length and mass and become sexually mature. Many reptiles show sex differences in size, coloration, or features (such as larger heads, hemipenal bulges, or femoral pores), and continue to shed throughout life.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
Natural
representative
Mississippi map turtle (G. p. kohnii)
The most commonly kept form; identified by a backward-curving yellow crescent behind the eye that isolates the eye from the neck stripes, often with a plain whitish eye lacking a horizontal bar. Treated as the subspecies Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii.
representative
False map turtle (G. p. pseudogeographica)
The nominate subspecies, with a yellow spot/blotch behind the eye and neck stripes that reach the eye (which typically shows a dark horizontal bar). More variable head striping than kohnii.
Habitat & enclosure
Active swimmer requiring large, deep, clean water. A lone male needs at least 285 L (75 gallons); a female needs 450+ L (120+ gallons) or a stock-tank/pond. Provide strong water flow to mimic river habitat. Water 24-27°C (75-80°F) with a dry basking platform at 32-35°C (90-95°F) — map turtles bask heavily and need to dry off completely to prevent shell disease. UVB is essential. They are skittish and need open swimming space plus visual cover.
Substrate
Bare-bottom or large smooth river rock is easiest and safest. Fine sand can be used in planted setups but complicates cleaning. Avoid swallowable gravel. Robust filtration matters more than substrate choice.
Equipment & setup
Oversized canister filter (2-3x tank volume turnover) — these are messy, water-quality-sensitive turtles. Submersible heater, high-output T5 UVB (10.0/12% over land) plus a basking heat lamp reaching 32-35°C. Sturdy, fully dry basking platform or above-tank basking dock. Thermometers and frequent water changes.
Diet
Omnivorous, leaning carnivorous when young. Base of high-quality aquatic-turtle pellets supplemented with snails, crayfish, insects, earthworms, and small fish — females in particular are molluscivores with broad crushing jaws and benefit from snails. Add leafy greens and aquatic plants (anacharis, duckweed) for adults. Provide a cuttlebone for calcium.
Behavior & temperament
Shy, alert, and quick to dive off the basking spot at the slightest disturbance — a display animal, not a handling pet. Generally non-aggressive toward keepers but stresses easily, so place the tank in a calm area. Males may harass tankmates; best housed alone.
Health
Pristine water is critical — map turtles are more sensitive to poor water quality than sliders and prone to shell rot, fungal/bacterial skin and shell infections, and respiratory disease if husbandry slips. Strong UVB and dietary calcium prevent metabolic bone disease and shell pyramiding. Provide a fully drying basking area to avoid shell fungus. Like all turtles they can carry Salmonella — wash hands after contact.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Sex matters hugely for planning — females reach dinner-plate size and need pond-scale housing, so confirm you can house an adult female before buying. Prioritize filtration and basking: a fully drying basking site under strong UVB prevents most health problems. Keep the environment calm to reduce stress diving.
