TankMatesTankMates
Sign in
Encyclopedia / Turtles / False map turtle
★New · no ratings yetPhoto

Photo by Matthew Inabinett, CC BY · source · credits

Variations

2 kinds · tap one for a closer look

False map turtle

Graptemys pseudogeographica · Map turtle, Sawback

Strong swimmer, shy basker.

Local price coming soon
· real AED shop prices, never conversions
25 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
  • False map turtle should be kept without other species, and it needs a land area too.
Not recommended
  • False map turtle should be kept without other species, and it needs a land area too.
Not recommended
  • False map 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 ?All levels
Care level ?Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ✓20–35 years
Size in shops 4–5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Strong swimmer, shy basker.

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 map turtles (Graptemys spp.) 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

Females are about twice the length of males; males have long front claws, more pronounced shell knobs and the vent behind the shell edge.

Health

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

Breeding

Egg-layer (substrate spawner) · Hard

Females dig a flask-shaped nest on land, often in open sandy areas, and lay 2-3 clutches from late May into early July.

Pairing

Buy a pair of adults.

Setup

A large tank with a basking spot and nesting area.

What starts it

A cool winter and warm spring.

Eggs

8-22 eggs per clutch (average 14), 2-3 clutches a year; hatch after about 2 months.

Raising the fry

Hatchlings eat insects and pellets.

Common mistakes
  • Poor water
  • No basking
  • Wrong temp
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionCentral USA
Rivers and lakesMississippi and Missouri river systems
HabitatLarge rivers and backwaters with fallen trees for basking
Native rangeAbout 1,200 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the false map turtle

Its shell has fine yellow lines that look like roads or waterways on a map, and females are about twice the size of males.

British zoologist J. E. Gray described the false map turtle in 1831, in a different genus. The fine lines on its shell resemble the contour lines of a map. It is a shy basking species that slips into the water at the slightest disturbance.

First described by John Edward Gray in 1831. Named for Pseudogeographica means 'false geographica', after its resemblance to the common map turtle.

  • Females grow much larger than males, roughly twice the shell length.
  • A row of low knobs runs along the top of its shell.
  • It feeds mainly on insects, snails and plants found in river shallows.

Sources

10 facts checked with sources