Ava M. Painted (water turtle)

PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION COMPLETELY before contacting MATTS. Many of your questions will be answered below. I CANNOT be adopted to PA, WV, or VA due to state regulations in those states. I'm an adult aquatic lady midland painted turtle who is available in the Baltimore area. I eat Mazuri, Omega One, and other brands of commercial turtle pellets, dark leafy greens, and thin slices of carrots. I won't turn up my nose at a piece of plain cooked chicken or insects, either. I ONLY eat in the water. I'm for adoption because my person had to find a new home with little notice and couldn't take me. I'm about 5-6" and FULL GROWN, and probably around 10 years old (which means I could live another 10-20 years). A 55-gallon aquarium would be a great home, especially if it has an above tank basking platform so that the aquarium could be filled all the way. I'll also need a heat light, UVB light, water filter, and a place to sit out of the water under the lights. If the room is below 70F, I'll also need a water heater. I can also live outside all year in a FENCED IN backyard pond, such as a koi pond, so long as I get into the pond before September. I can live by myself or with another lady turtle, such as another painted, a map, cooter, or maybe a slider (although sliders can be hit or miss with having another turtle in their pond). I cannot be released to the wild because I've spent time with a turtle from another state, so we don't want to take a chance in case I might have picked up a disease that doesn't hurt me but could hurt local turtles. The pond or the backyard it's in MUST be escape-proof. For ideas on how to prepare an aquarium, visit www.turtleforum.com to chat with other keepers. Review the slider and other aquatic turtle care sheet to learn more about caring for a slider. http://nebula.wsimg.com/ae4cb36565545a257b1ff6f17a885dc2?AccessKeyId=A3E784782F81D21389AD&disposition=0&alloworigin=1 A great e-book for beginners for all aquatic turtles is Red-Eared Sliders (Animal Planet Pet Care Library) (available at Barnes & Nobles https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-eared-sliders-katrina-smith/1102168496?ean=9780793849246 or on Amazon). A more in-depth book, for FREE download, is https://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-lunsford/captive-care-of-north-american-water-turtles/ebook/product-17551523.html REQUEST AN ADOPTION APPLICATION from [email protected] Please INCLUDE YOUR CITY AND STATE when contacting MATTS. An application will be e-mailed to you. Return the completed application. If the application is approved, you'll then be asked to submit pictures of your set-up before picking up a turtle. Complete the application BEFORE buying supplies, if you don't already have an enclosure. We meet adopters in central locations such as near Fells Point in Baltimore and in Parkton, MD, as we foster from our homes and do not have a central shelter. Shipping is possible if temperatures allow, if you're willing to pay for shipping, and if it's legal to have a midland painted in your state. MATTS cannot place eastern painted turtles into PA, VA, or WV. NJ adopters are required to obtain a NJ permit AFTER adopting the turtle (the permit is pretty easy to get). NY residents would need an educational permit from the DEC. MATTS can show you ideas for making your own basking platform from PVC pipe and egg crate light diffuser but a larger floating platform can be use for a basking area. 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. You can also share our Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/MATTSTurtles/ 2) MATTS has educational fliers (photos) to share on social media if you email [email protected] 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!