TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction 1
- Chapter One: Basic Biological Information 2
- Appearance 3
- Size 5
- Gender and Lifespan 6
- Care Level 6
- Diet and Feeding 7
- Health 7
- Behavior and Temperament 8
- Reproduction 9
- Protection 10
- Perils 10
- Ecology 11
- Chapter Two: Turtle Care Sheet 12
- Feeding Your Pet Map Turtle 13
- Habitat 16
- Basking Platform 18
- Temperature and Light 19
- Water Care 21
- Handling 22
- Hatchlings in Enclosures 24
- Special Care for Hatchlings 26
- Multiple Turtles Together 29
- Keeping Your Mississippi Map Turtle Happy 30
- Home Sweet Home 30
- Have Regular Exercise 33
- Prevent Odors from Your Pet Turtles 36
- Chapter Three: Health Care and Medical Attention: What to Do When Your Turtle Gets Sick 38
- Finding a Good Herpetologist 40
- General Health Issues 41
- Salmonella 42
- Pneumonia 43
- Respiratory Infections 44
- Coughing Up Stuff 44
- Crooked Swimming 45
- Inability to Submerge 45
- Septicemia 46
- Mouth Rot 47
- Prolapse 47
- Stunted Growth 49
- Lack or Loss of Appetite 49
- Not Swimming 51
- Not Basking 52
- Sleeping a Lot 52
- Burns, Bites, Cuts and/or Scratches 53
- Eyes and Ears Problems 54
- Shell and Skin Problems 57
- Chapter Four: Fun Facts and Myths 60
- Fun Turtle Facts 61
- Myths Surrounding Turtles 65
- Chapter Five: Mississippi Map Turtle Laws and Regulations 72
- Map Turtle Laws 74
- Taking a Wild Turtle Home as a Pet 76
- Chapter Six: Petting and Training Your Mississippi Map Turtle 78
- Chapter Seven: What to Do in Different Turtle Situations 86
- Turtle Adoption 87
- Moving to a New Place 88
- Can’t Take Care of Your Turtle Anymore? 90
- Photo Credits 92
- References 93
