What exactly are terrapins? There are a lot of turtle species, are they another turtle species? Or are they a different kind of turtle? To find out the answer to these questions I decided to do some research, and this is what I found out.
What are terrapins? Terrapin is one of many turtle species. There is no major difference between most aquatic turtles and terrapin. At the moment there are 13 different turtle species called terrapin.
There is no major difference between turtles and terrapins. But for some reason, they ended up being called terrapins instead of turtles. Let’s see why.
The Origin of the Name Terrapin
The word terrapin has its origins in North America. The Algonquin tribe used the word “torope” to describe some turtles as “edible turtles”. After the European colonists came to America they also started to use the word “torope” to describe turtles.
Over time, as the word traveled around the world, it took many forms, including: “turpine”, “tarpain”, “turupin”, and “terapen”. Over time the word achieved its final form in “terrapin”.
The word doesn’t mean edible turtle anymore, instead, it’s just the name of a few turtle species.
For some of the turtles in the eastern part of North America, where the Algonquin tribe lived, the name stuck and they are now called terrapins.
Difference Between Terrapins and Turtles
There is no major difference between most turtles and terrapins. They all are different species of turtles, so there will be some differences, but no major ones.
Terrapins got their name due to their role in history, the role of “edible turtle”, not because they have something that makes them different from the rest of the turtles.
Turtles and tortoises are different because turtles spend most of their lives in water, while tortoises spend most of theirs on land. But terrapins are aquatic turtles, they have just been named terrapins and not turtles.
Speaking of where they spend most of their time, let’s take a look at their habitats.
Habitats
Terrapins are aquatic turtles so they will live near large bodies of water, like rivers, lakes, ponds, and marshes.
They can be found on every continent with the exception of Australia and South America.
They basically share the same habitats as most turtle species.
List of Terrapins
There are only 13 species of terrapins, here are all of them, and the place where they can be found.
Red-eared terrapin ( also known as Trachemys scripta elegans), native to southern North America.
Diamondback terrapin ( also known as just Malaclemys terrapin ), native to the United States.
Painted terrapin ( also known as Batagur borneoensis), native to Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
European pond terrapin ( also known as European pond turtle, or Emys orbicularis), native to West Asia and parts of North Africa.
Indian pond terrapin ( also known as the Indian black turtle,or Melanochelys trijuga), native to South Asia.
Mexican spotted terrapin ( also known as Mexican spotted wood turtle or Rhinoclemmys
rubida), native to Mexico.
Serrated hinged terrapin ( also known as Pelusios sinuatus), native to southern Africa.
Smiling terrapin ( also known as the black marsh turtle, or Siebenrockiella crassicollis), native to Southeast Asia.
Bengal eyed terrapin ( also known as Burmese eyed turtle or Burmese peacock turtle, or Morenia ocellata ), native to Burma and possibly Yunnan, China.
Northern river terrapin ( also known as Batagur baska ), native to Cambodia.
Southern river terrapin ( also known as Batagur affinis ), native to Cambodia.
Striped-neck terrapin ( also known as Caspian turtle, or Mauremys caspica ), native to the eastern Mediterranean region.
Seychelles black terrapin ( also known as Pelusios seychellensis ), an extinct species of testudine in the family Pelomedusidae that was endemic to the Seychelles.
Now let’s see how to take care of a terrapin.
Care Guide
Since terrapins are just normal turtles, you will have to take care of them the same way. Here are the basics.
There are a few things that you are going to need if you want to take care of a terrapin properly, those are the things that you will need:
- A tank
- A water filter
- A water heater
- A basking area
- A heat lamp
- A UVB light
- Proper food
Here are a few things things that you have to take into consideration when taking care of a terrapin.
Make Sure That the Tank Is Big Enough
A very good general rule is that there should be at least 10 gallons of water per inch of shell. So if you only have on a turtle that has a shell of 2 inches you will need at least a 20-gallon tank. If you have two turtles and each of them has a shell that is 3 inches you should have a tank that has 60 gallons. It’s ok to have more, but it’s not a very good idea to have less. This is more of a general rule of thumb and not a scientifically proven rule or something like that, but if you follow this rule your turtles will always have enough space to move freely.
A Proper Died
A good diet for a terrapin should include:
- Berries
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Insects
- Fish
- Meat
- Turtle pellets
They need the protein form the meat, insects and fish in order to grow bigger, and the nutrients from the fruits, vegetables and berries to remain healthy. You don’t have to feed your terrapin all of those items daily, but try not to forget about them completely.
If you want to know more about what terrapins and turtles eat, check out my article: What do turtles eat?
The Temperature
Every species has its own slight requirements for the temperature of the water. If you want to know what temperature your terrapin will require check our Care Guides section, where you can find care guides for multiple species of turtles. But as an idea in all turtles and terrapins require a temperature that is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit ( 27 degrees Celsius ).
The Water FIlter
Terrapins will make a mess in the tank in no time, so a good water filter is essential, not just because it will save you a huge amount of cleaning time, but also because it will make sure that your terrapin won’t get sick from the dirty water.
If you want to know my recommendations for a water filter, check out the Recommended Gear Page.
The Basking Area
Just like all turtles, terrapins turtles will need a basking area. The basking area doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a place outside of the water, that your turtles can easily reach. The only things that a basking area is a UVB light and a heat lamp. If you don’t know too much about basking areas check out this article: Guide for Lighting and Heating a Turtle Tank and Basking Area, it will teach you everything you need to know about how to properly light and heat your basking area.
This should cover the basics of what you need to know about how to take care of a terrapin. But if you want to know more tips, or you are interested in a certain species, then you should check out the care guides section, where you will find a lot of different articles, all about how to take care of turtles, terrapins, and tortoises.
Related Questions
How long do terrapins live for? It depends on the species, but in general, you can expect a terrapin to live around 30 to 40 years.
Do Terrapins bite? Yes, like all turtles terrapins can bite. They are usually not very aggressive, but if you provoke one they can bite you.
Are diamondback terrapins good pets? Yes, diamondback terrapins can be great pets, as long as you take proper care of them. In fact, every turtle and terrapin can be a great pet if you take good care of them.
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