TankMatesTankMates
Sign in
Encyclopedia / Turtles / Eastern mud turtle
★New · no ratings yetPhoto

Photo by Matthew Inabinett, CC BY · source · credits

Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Eastern mud turtle

Kinosternon subrubrum · Mud turtle

Bottom walker.

Local price coming soon
· real AED shop prices, never conversions
11 cmAdult size ✓
UnknownTemperature ?
UnknownpH ?
UnknownSmallest tank ?
Add to my tankCompare
Tank mates
Check your own mix →

This one is best kept on its own, or with its own kind.

Not recommended
  • Eastern mud turtle should be kept without other species, and it needs a land area too.
Not recommended
  • Eastern mud turtle should be kept without other species, and it needs a land area too.
Not recommended
  • Eastern mud turtle should be kept without other species, and it needs a land area too.
Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ?Unknown
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ?Semi-aggressive
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ?Easy
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ✓30+ years
Size in shops 3–4 cm
Growth Slow

Behavior

Bottom walker.

Check your local laws. US: live turtles under 4 in (10 cm) carapace length and viable eggs may not be sold or distributed commercially (FDA, 21 CFR 1240.62; exceptions for science/education/exhibition, non-business transfers and export). CITES: all mud turtles (Kinosternon spp., except two species already in Appendix I) are in Appendix II since 23 Feb 2023, so international trade needs CITES permits. Check the rules where you live before you buy one, and never release it into the wild.

Food

Pellets, insects, snails.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males have a much longer, thicker tail ending in a sharp nail, with the vent beyond the shell edge; females have a short tail with the vent near its base. Both sexes have a small spine at the tail tip.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-layer (substrate spawner) · Moderate

Lays small brittle-shelled eggs on land, in or under debris or in burrows; females may nest two or three times a year.

Pairing

Buy a pair of adults.

Setup

A shallow tank with a nesting area.

What starts it

A cool winter then warm spring.

Eggs

2-5 eggs per clutch; hatch in about 87-104 days.

Raising the fry

Hatchlings eat insects and pellets.

Common mistakes
  • Deep water
  • No nest site
  • Dirty water
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSouth-eastern & eastern USA
Rivers and lakesAtlantic and Gulf coastal plains and lower Mississippi valley
HabitatShallow, slow or still water with soft mud and plenty of plants
Native rangeAbout 1,200 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the eastern mud turtle

A small, mostly aquatic turtle that prefers shallow, slow-moving water.

Bonnaterre described the eastern mud turtle in 1789, making it one of the earlier North American turtles named in science. It is a small, secretive turtle that often wanders on land between wetlands. In the hobby it is kept as a compact, low-maintenance alternative to larger sliders.

First described by Pierre J. Bonnaterre in 1789.

  • Its lower shell has two hinges, letting it partly close up when threatened.
  • It often buries itself in mud or soil during dry or cold periods.
  • Adults are small, usually around 8–12 cm in shell length.

Sources

11 facts checked with sources