Cagle's Map Turtle

 

 

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Graptemys cageli

ADULT SIZE

Male   2.5" - 4"            Female   4" - 6.5"

DIET

In the wild, Females eat snails and insects, while Males eat insects.

TEMPERATURE RANGE (°F)

Air Temperature:  Low to mid 80's

Basking Temperature:  High 80's to low 90's

Water Temperature:  Low to mid 70's

HABITAT

Limestone or mud bottomed ponds and river drainages.

DISTRIBUTION

Guadalupe and San Antonio river drainages in south-central Texas.

BEGINNER TURTLE

Yes

CAPTIVE HABITAT

These are aggressive baskers, so a basking spot is required. UVB lighting is needed as well as a heat lamp over the basking spot. A submersible heater is recommended if the water temps fall below the recommendation. They are excellent swimmers and their captive habitat should have a water depth as deep as possible. Substrate should be anywhere from a sand to a fine-to-large size gravel. Abundant vegetation, either artificial or real, is recommended.

RECOMMENDED ENCLOSURE

Recommended size for a single adult Graptemys cageli would be a 30 gallon aquarium as a minimum (40 or larger preferred) for males, and a 40 gallon aquarium as a minimum (55 or larger preferred) for females. This will provide adequate swimming area, as well as assisting the filtration in maintaining good water quality. For additional Graptemys cageli, I would recommend adding 20 gallons of tank space per additional turtle at a minimum.

Stock Tanks and Rubbermaid containers also work well. The same space recommendations remain the same.

CAPTIVE DIET

In captivity, they do well on Mazuri and ReptoMin, Reptile/Pond 10, Cichlid Sticks, snails, crickets and assorted worms and insects. I have also witnessed Graptemys cageli taking bites of leafy, green vegetables.

COMMUNITY HABITAT

Cagle's Map Turtle is a great turtle for a community habitat with Sliders, Cooters, other Map Turtles and Painted Turtles.

OTHER INFORMATION

Cagle's Map Turtles are the smallest of the map turtles. Like all map turtles, they are sensitive to water quality, but I have found that Cagle's Map Turtles are less sensitive than most other species of maps, although they are still more sensitive than other species that are commonly kept.

At present, Cagle's Map Turtles are illegal for sale in the state of Texas.