Scaly friends count too.
Common Musk Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus
Also called Eastern musk turtle, Stinkpot
From South-eastern Canada (southern Ontario and Quebec) and the eastern United States from Maine to Florida, west to central Texas, with an isolated population in Wisconsin. It lives in shallow, permanent fresh water such as ponds, slow rivers and swamps, usually less than 2 m deep.12
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Small aquatic turtle with a high-domed shell
A compact turtle with a smooth, high, rounded top shell in brown, grey or black and a small yellowish underside. Two pale yellow stripes run along each side of the head, one above and one below the eye. Males have bigger heads and longer, thicker tails than females.21
Personality what they are like
A busy little bottom-walker that is mostly active after dark. When startled it may release a musky smell, which usually fades as it gets used to its keeper. It has a long, flexible neck and may try to nip, so hold it towards the back of the shell.32
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Rather than swimming in open water, it strolls along the bottom and climbs onto roots and branches, sometimes up to 2 m above the water. Give it plenty of underwater structure to explore.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Use dechlorinated water with a canister filter. Keep the water at a depth where the turtle can stand on the bottom and still reach the surface to breathe. Provide UVB lighting on a 12-hour day and night cycle. A bare-bottomed tank is easiest to clean.3
Home where they are happiest
About a 20-gallon (75-litre) aquarium for one adult or 40 gallons (150 litres) for a pair. Water 22-26 °C (72-78 °F), a basking spot near 32 °C (90 °F) and air in the high 20s °C. A floating basking dock is useful, even though musk turtles bask less than many turtles.3
Food basics what goes in the bowl
An omnivore that leans towards animal food: snails, insects, crayfish, worms, small fish, algae and some plants in the wild. In captivity, earthworms, shrimp, bloodworms, crickets and good-quality aquatic turtle pellets work well.321
Company who they like around
Usually kept alone or as a pair. Do not house two males together, and separate animals if one keeps pestering another.3
The story where it all began
French naturalist Pierre Andre Latreille described the species in 1801 from a turtle found near Charleston, South Carolina, and John Edward Gray moved it to the genus Sternotherus in 1825. Its folk name 'stinkpot' comes from the musky scent it can release.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
When threatened it releases a strong-smelling orange fluid from special scent glands, which earned it the name stinkpot.2
- 2
Despite being a water turtle it is a poor swimmer and usually walks along the bottom instead.1
- 3
It can climb tree branches up to about 2 m above the water.1
- 4
One captive musk turtle was recorded living almost 55 years (54.8).2
- 5
Moved away from home, musk turtles show a tendency to return to where they were born.2
Recognised by the official bits
- Taxonomy
- First described by Pierre Andre Latreille in 1801 as Testudo odorata from a specimen near Charleston, South Carolina; placed in Sternotherus by John Edward Gray in 18251
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Common Musk Turtle. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingHow often depends on species and agevaries
- Basking checkCheck the basking spot temperatureevery day
- Water changePartial water changeevery week
- Water testevery 2 weeks
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank waterevery month
- UVB bulb changeFollow the bulb maker's adviceevery 6 months
- Weigh inevery month
- Vet check-upFind a vet who sees exotic petsevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Eastern musk turtle - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for names, range, size, lifespan, climbing, swimming, taxonomy, history
- Sternotherus odoratus - Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) animaldiversity.orgused for range, habitat, size, weight, lifespan, colours, diet, behaviour, fun facts
- Common Musk Turtle Care Sheet - Reptiles Magazine reptilesmagazine.comused for tank size, temperatures, UVB, filtration, diet, housing, handling, lifespan
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.