Map Turtle

Looks how to spot one

Shell (carapace and plastron)

The upper shell is brown or olive with fine, wavy yellow lines like a road map and a low ridge along the centre. The back edge is saw-toothed. The lower shell is plain yellow or cream, and the head, limbs and tail are dark with bright yellow-green stripes. There is a small yellow triangle behind each eye.53

Personality what they are like

Northern map turtles are shy and easily disturbed. They will quickly drop into the water at the slightest hint of danger and spend many hours basking on logs or rocks. In captivity they are not handleable and should be treated as a watch-only pet.54

Daily activity how busy a day looks

They are strong swimmers and need plenty of swimming space. They are active foragers during early morning and late evening, and can bask for up to eight hours a day.5

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Requires a large aquarium with very clean, filtered water. A UVB lamp and a basking area with heat lamp are essential. They are less hardy than other map turtle species and prone to bacterial and fungal infections if water quality is poor.4

Home where they are happiest

Needs a spacious aquatic setup with plenty of basking sites (logs, rocks), a gravel or rocky bottom, and some aquatic plants. Water depth should be at least 30-45 cm. The enclosure must be secure as they will escape. They are a freshwater species and should never be kept in brackish or salt water.56

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Primarily carnivorous. Females eat large prey like crayfish, snails, mussels and clams. Males eat smaller snails and many aquatic insects. Both will also take fish, earthworms and some plant matter. In captivity they should be fed a varied diet of protein-rich items.56

Company who they like around

They are not social in the way mammals are, and can be kept singly or in small groups with caution. They may be aggressive to each other, especially males. They are not suitable for handling and are best kept as display animals. Wild populations are threatened by habitat loss and illegal collection, so captive animals should only be obtained from legal, ethical breeders.14

The story where it all began

The northern map turtle has been kept as a pet for many decades, but it is considered less hardy in captivity than other map turtles. Most animals in the pet trade are wild-caught, which poses conservation concerns. There is a small but dedicated group of breeders who work with this species, but captive breeding is not widespread. Their shy nature and specific care requirements make them better suited to advanced keepers rather than beginners.42

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group

Conservation status assessments and species account for Graptemys geographica4

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Species profile for northern map turtle1