Western Pond Turtle

1 Overview

The western pond turtle, also called the California pond turtle, is a widespread pond turtle in the United States whose appearance resembles the spotted turtle, so it belongs to the same genus. It is rather timid, prefers rivers in the wild, and is a strong swimmer.

Chinese name: Western pond turtle

Other names: Northern spotted turtle, mottled turtle, California pond turtle

Latin name: Clemmys marmorata

English name: Western Pond Turtle

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Testudines

Family: Emydidae

Genus: Emys

Species: Western pond turtle

Distribution: Mainly the U.S. West Coast, throughout the area west of the Sierra Nevada.

Reproduction: Oviparous, producing two clutches per year of 5–8 eggs each, hatching in about 70–80 days.

Habitat: Rivers and streams, vegetation-rich ponds and small lakes; also marshes, slow streams, reservoirs, and occasionally brackish water.

Appearance: Smooth, low, broad carapace, olive to dark brown; carapace 13–15 cm.

2 Physical Characteristics

The western pond turtle may be the most aquatic of the pond turtles. It has no striking features and, being pricey, is kept by few; overall it resembles the European pond turtle but differs, with less obvious carapace pattern.

1. Appearance

The western pond turtle measures 3½–7 in (8.9–17.8 cm). The carapace is smooth, low, and broad, olive to dark brown; often decorated with a net pattern of dark speckles and radiating lines from the center of each scute. The plastron is pale yellow with no hinge, and may bear dark brown or black stains along the scute edges. Males have a concave plastron.

There are two subspecies: the northern has well-developed triangular thigh scutes on the bridge, ranging from British Columbia south to San Francisco Bay and western Nevada. The southern has smaller or absent thigh scutes, ranging from San Francisco Bay south to Baja California.

2. Purchasing

Because it is rare, the western pond turtle is expensive; at U.S. reptile expos a hatchling can fetch $300, twice the price of the more common spotted turtle. Yet in looks it is among the plainer members of its genus—another reason it is scarce in the market.

3 Health & Care

The western pond turtle, also called the California pond turtle, has long been taxonomically disputed; only recently was it placed in the genus Emys alongside the spotted turtle and European pond turtle, hence the name California pond turtle.

It is a native pond turtle of California, mainly on the West Coast, unlike most U.S. turtles concentrated in the East. Mainly in California, with small populations in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Baja California, it belongs—like the spotted turtle—to the genus Clemmys, which has four species: besides the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) and western pond turtle, the largest is the wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta) and the smallest the bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii). All four are scarce and pricey, popular in the water-turtle market. All are federally protected in the U.S., so most sold are captive-bred.

On another classification: per a 2003 revision by U.S. experts, the genus Clemmys retained only the spotted turtle. The western pond turtle and the North American Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) were moved into the European pond turtle’s genus Emys, while the wood turtle and bog turtle were placed in a new genus Glyptemys. This revision is more appropriate—especially for the western pond turtle, whose looks truly resemble the spotted or European pond turtle, making the same genus reasonable.

4 Habitat & Environment

The western pond turtle is a strong swimmer; in captivity provide deep water and ensure quality, and offer a comfortable basking spot for rest and sunning—you will find it loves to bask.

1. Natural Habitat

Vegetation-rich ponds and small lakes; also marshes, slow streams, and reservoirs, occasionally brackish water. They are often seen basking alone. When disturbed, they plunge into the water. To contest a basking spot, one turtle may stretch its neck, open its mouth, and show its yellow-edged jaw and reddish interior to challenge another.

2. Captive Environment

As we now know, basking is the most characteristic behavior. In the wild they sun on floating logs; during cooler months, basking raises body temperature and sustains vitality. In captivity, provide a basking platform and good sunlight; once the environment is right, you’ll see them spend most of the day basking. If indoor light is insufficient, use a spotlight, but ideally also provide trichromatic lighting for good color temperature and brightness. They are not shy and like bright surroundings.

5 Care Guidelines

The western pond turtle is not hard to keep and is not picky about food—an easy species. Offer aquatic turtle pellets and some meat; it occasionally eats vegetables. Vary the diet for complete nutrition.

1. Feeding Tips

Its food choices are broad but lean carnivorous: fish, shrimp, insects, mollusks, etc. I found it readily accepts shrimp, likely from its wild habit of eating abundant shrimp in vegetated waters, so it favors this food.

2. Difficulty

Dietarily it is omnivorous leaning carnivorous—crickets, mealworms, frozen bloodworms, small fish and shrimp as staples; greens and fruit accepted, and it likes aquatic turtle pellets. Basically sturdy and easy, but shy and timid, so provide a hide for juveniles. Sexing is easy: males have a thick tail and concave plastron; females a slender tail and flat plastron.