Anyone have native turtles as pets

[boodlefoof]

Looks like an Eastern Painted to me too. Good job on rescuing the little guy!

I have had a few aquatic turtles over the years. I currently have two Mississippi Map turtles and used to have an Eastern Painted (had him for about 8 years then released him into the wild when I went to college). I pulled the Eastern Painted out of a pond in which it had gotten itself tangled up in some plastic wrap. It was about the same size as that one you've got.

I fed mine mainly Tetra Repto Min (the sticks). He seemed to like them. I gave him a live fish every now and then, but sometimes he wouldn't go for it. My current Map tutles really love the dried shrimps that you can buy at the pet store. I have noticed that in the winter time, all of my tutles have exhibited less interest in food.

Good luck with him. Get him a nice half-full fish tank with a nice rock for him to perch on and he'll do well. The Eastern Painteds are very hearty turtles.