Charlotte False Map (Water Turtle) Turtle Turtle Baltimore, MD

UPDATE May 2024: I've been adopted by a wonderful family in New York who made a custom above tank basking platform so my aquarium could be filled all the way! MATTS might have more map turtles like me for adoption.

Please read everything below before contacting MATTS. Most of your questions will be answered below.

I'm a young adult female false map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica) who was for adoption in the York, PA, area with transport available to Baltimore and Harrisburg, PA, weekly. I am an aquatic turtle which means I have to live and eat in the water. I'd make a good first pet water turtle, since maps stay smaller than red-eared sliders. Turtles don't need a "friend" to be happy, and many of us prefer to be the only turtle in an enclosure.

I'm about 4-5" long but can grow to be 6-7". No one knows my actual age, but I'm probably around 4-5 years old. I would like a 40- or 55-gallon aquarium or 50-gallon Rubbermaid stock tank, but would probably need a 55-gallon aquarium or 75-gallon aquarium when full grown (when I'm around 10 years old). A stock tank costs less than an aquarium. I'll also need a basking platform where I can haul out of the water and sit under a heat light to dry off, a UVB light, a good filter (home-made or external canister preferred), and if my water gets below 72F at night, a water heater.

I eat pellets such as Omega One, Mazuri, and ZooMed Growth, and greens such as leaf lettuce and edible weeds.

I'm for adoption because someone realized I wasn't getting the proper care at a friend's home.

There is a $5 adoption fee.

If interested in adopting me, please E-MAIL matts_adoptions@hotmail.com TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION; please INCLUDE YOUR CITY AND STATE in the e-mail, since not all turtles are legal in all states.

Once you've completed the application and emailed it back as an attachment or in the body of an e-mail, the adoptions coordinator will go over it, and if everything is good, you'll be asked to create an enclosure if you don't already have one, and send pictures of the enclosure. Once that's reviewed, MATTS will contact you to arrange a pick-up or shipping time/location.

Local pick-up is by appointment on weekdays in Baltimore or Timonium, MD, or on weekends, early mornings, or evenings in Parkton, MD. Transport is available to Harrisburg, PA (T, W, Th), and York, PA, on Mondays and Saturdays. Transport is available once a month to Reston, VA.
Shipping is possible if the adopter pays for shipping (usually $45 - $90 depending on location).

If you're in NJ, my adoption contract serves as a sales receipt so you can get a permit for a turtle. https://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/exotic_apps.htm

A good e-book for beginners needing to learning about aquatic turtles is http://tfhpublications.com/reptile/redeared-sliders-animal-planet-pet-care-library.html

There's a great in-depth book that can be DOWNLOADED FOR FREE at https://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-lunsford/captive-care-of-north-american-water-turtles/ebook/product-17551523.html

Like turtles but can't have one? Want to help?
1) You can share my profile on social media and share www.matts-turtles.org so people can take better care of their turtles and help wild turtles stay wild.
2) MATTS has educational fliers (photos) to share on social media if you email matts_adoptions@hotmail.com to request them.
3) Share our "Monster You Made" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_935eZl84k on social media.
4) MATTS also accepts tax-deductible donations at MATTS, P.O. Box 341, Highland, MD 20777, or through PayPal at http://www.matts-turtles.org/support.html
Rescue is funded by donations only, and we find homes for over 100 animals a year.

Thank you!