Scaly friends count too.
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
Also called Eastern painted turtle (C. p. picta), Midland painted turtle (C. p. marginata), Western painted turtle (C. p. bellii)
From North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It is the most widespread native turtle on the continent, found in 8 Canadian provinces, 45 US states and 1 Mexican state, in quiet, shallow, muddy-bottomed ponds, lakes, marshes and slow streams.12
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Aquatic turtle with a smooth, flat shell
A smooth, low, streamlined top shell in olive to black, edged with red and yellow markings that look painted on. The skin is dark with bright yellow and red stripes, and there are yellow spots and stripes on the face. The bottom shell is yellow, sometimes washed with red, and each subspecies has its own pattern. Females are clearly larger than males.12
Personality what they are like
Shy rather than cuddly: painted turtles generally prefer to be left alone and do not enjoy handling. Many become more confident around their keeper through hand-feeding. If one must be lifted, scoop it from underneath.3
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An active swimmer that basks every day, starting at sunrise, and needs both open water and a warm dry basking spot.13
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Use a canister filter rated for 2-3 times the water volume and change about 30% of the water every 1-2 weeks. Provide strong UVB over the basking spot (a T5 HO 6% or 5.0 tube giving a UV index around 3-4) and a cuttlebone for extra calcium.3
Home where they are happiest
Plan on roughly 10 US gallons of water per inch of shell, so at least about 100 gallons (around 380 litres) for an adult; a 200-gallon tub is ideal. Water 25-27 °C for juveniles and 21-24 °C for adults, with a basking spot of 35-40 °C.3
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Omnivorous. Young turtles eat about half protein and half plants, while adults shift to roughly one quarter protein and three quarters vegetables. Offer greens and aquatic plants daily and protein foods 2-3 times a week for adults. Wild turtles eat water plants, algae, insects, crustaceans and fish.312
Company who they like around
Gregarious when basking in the wild, but in a tank it is best to keep one per enclosure, as confined turtles may bully each other.23
The story where it all began
Painted turtles have a long history in North America, with fossils dating back about 15 million years. In the early 1990s they were the second most popular pet turtle after the red-eared slider, and four US states have since adopted them as their state reptile.1
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Western painted turtles can survive around 170 days without oxygen while overwintering under ice.1
- 2
In the north, hatchlings spend their first winter in the nest and only dig out the following spring.1
- 3
More than 50 painted turtles have been seen basking on a single log, sometimes stacked on top of each other.2
- 4
Their nostrils sit right at the tip of the snout, so they can breathe with almost the whole body underwater.3
- 5
A 10,000-pound painted turtle statue called 'Tommy the Turtle' stands in Boissevain, Manitoba.1
- 6
Studies in Michigan have recorded wild painted turtles living more than 55 years.1
Recognised by the official bits
- US states
- Official state reptile of Vermont (1994), Michigan (1995), Illinois (2005) and Colorado (2008)1
- Taxonomy
- Three subspecies: eastern, midland and western; the former southern painted turtle is now treated as a separate species (Chrysemys dorsalis)1
- US federal law
- Sale of turtles under 10 cm (4 in) shell length is prohibited1
Popularity Second most popular pet turtle after the red-eared slider in the early 1990s1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Painted 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.
- Painted turtle - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for subspecies, range, size and weight by sex, colours, overwintering, state reptile, history, popularity, fun facts
- Chrysemys picta - Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) animaldiversity.orgused for range, habitat, size, lifespan, colours, diet, basking
- Painted Turtle Care - ReptiFiles reptifiles.comused for tank size, temperatures, UVB, filtration, diet ratios, housing, handling
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.