My Eastern Painted Turtle

Oct 25, 2006
1,757
1
74
By request i have posted the following four pics of my Eastern Painted Turtle found by my daughter on a sidewalk on my street over 11 years ago. Of course we named him Sidewalk. He's shy.
IMG_0139_Medium_.JPG


The second pic. An underneath view.
IMG_0140_Medium_.JPG


The third pic. On the move.
IMG_0142_Medium_.JPG


The fourth and final pic. A little water and sunshine on my backyard pool cover.
IMG_0145_Medium_.JPG



Jim
 

dragoncjo

Piney
Aug 12, 2005
1,577
303
43
camden county
If the turtle was that size 11 years ago I would say it is around 16-18 years old. Some species of turtles you can count growth rings, such as box turtles, painteds you can't though. It is hard to determine water turtles age. The best way in the wild is by seeing how big it is. A painted that size in the wild would be around 6-10 years old. In captivity though they have a tendency to have there growth stunted due to lack of vitamins, calcium, sun, etc. He is a pretty turtle though and his shell appears to be free of shell rot. Nice turtle.
 
Oct 25, 2006
1,757
1
74
If the turtle was that size 11 years ago I would say it is around 16-18 years old. Some species of turtles you can count growth rings, such as box turtles, painteds you can't though. It is hard to determine water turtles age. The best way in the wild is by seeing how big it is. A painted that size in the wild would be around 6-10 years old. In captivity though they have a tendency to have there growth stunted due to lack of vitamins, calcium, sun, etc. He is a pretty turtle though and his shell appears to be free of shell rot. Nice turtle.

Thanks Chris for your expertise. Correct if am am wrong but would tank size be a major factor in growth, has he reached maximum growth ?

He has not shed or molted yet this year, if i am using the correct terminology.

Jim
 

andy1015

Explorer
May 4, 2007
234
1
42
cool, and i don't know if it is completly true but they grow to their environment, small tank small turtle, painters i thought only reached about 7-8 inches
 
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