Do musk turtles really stink?

[ShadowFox_22311]

Thinking about getting getting a musk/ stinkpot but do they really stink or really have a strong smell or do they smell just like any other water turtle?

 

[Saleama]

Stink pots can let out an odor that is very hard to describe but I will say this, it does in fact stink very bad. It is not a continuous odor though. Baby mud turtles might be a better option but the little musks are so darn cute!

 

[Diamondbacks4Life]

If they are captive bred usually they don't release the yellow fluid since their used to being handled compared to wild ones. As for the smell most people say its a mild smell and you wont really notice it unless you have the turtle close to the face thats even if it were to release any fluid from its glands. Personally i like the smell. I don't mind it at all.

 

[diamondbp]

As said before, if it's captive bred I wouldn't worry about smell issues. But yes wild ones (especially old males) can stink pretty bad when upset.

 

[Saleama]

Well, I don't know about mild but the one that let loose in my Brother's truck must have been rotten because it stunk for weeks in there!

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The two babies I bought his son don't stink and have not so I am inclined to believe the captive bred theory and the young theory, but that old guy, whew!

 

[Carol S]

I have two Stinkpot musk turtles that are now 4 years old that I raised from hatchings and they do not stink. When I got them they were the size of a nickel - so cute.

 

[ShadowFox_22311]

Stink pots can let out an odor that is very hard to describe but I will say this, it does in fact stink very bad. It is not a continuous odor though. Baby mud turtles might be a better option but the little musks are so darn cute!

How big do mud turtles get?

 

[diamondbp]

American species of Muds are usually 4 inches on average. Very similar to musk for husbandry

 

[mike taylor]

I know wild ones smell like poo ! Never had one cb before so don't know on that part . But they are all made the same . So if you don't mess with them I'm pretty sure they will give you a stinky surprise .

 

[abbiepaigexx]

I have had two stinkpots for two years now, they do stink a little but it's bearable! And they only release the smell in stressful circumstances, so hardly ever! They're so cute that the smell doesn't even matter!