Colorado State Reptile

The process of designating the Colorado State Reptile began in 2007 with a 4th grade class of determined students and their teacher from Skyline Vista Elementary School who wanted the Western Painted Turtle to officially win the honor.  After considerable effort and time, on March 18, 2008 it became a reality. This species of reptile is truly a beautiful and artistic example of a turtle, whose shell and head, neck, feet and tail all appear to have been hand painted. The Painted turtle is the only species in the genus Chrysemys. It comprises four sub-species: the Eastern, Southern, Midland, and Western Painted Turtle.

This turtle lives in ponds, lakes, and calm waters which have soft, muddy bottoms. The maximum shell length for painted turtles is about 25 cm (10 in.) The shell comes in handy to protect the soft underbelly of the turtle against predator attack. It also makes a stunning canvas for some really beautiful designs. Yellow or yellow-orange with darker colored centers form patterns that may also contain red, orange and dark gray. Because the background skin tone of the painted turtle varies from olive green to solid black, it makes a nice contrast to the bold designs of color.

The Painted Turtle female will make a nest in the soft, sandy soil by digging with her hind feet down to a depth of 10 cm or so. They prefer to remain fairly close to the waters edge, and lay 4-15 eggs in the nest twice a season on average. The mother will cover over the eggs with sand and dirt, and leave it in the sunny location unattended.  After a period of around 72-80 days, the eggs are ready to hatch and the baby turtles make their way up and out of the nest – heading for the water as independent little creatures. Some painted turtles can lay up to 5 clutches of eggs in one season, but spend most of their time in the water, or lying in the sun on floating logs or on rocks by the shore. This behavior is called basking. (Just like people) Painted turtles bask in the warm sun because they cannot generate heat or regulate their own body temperature. Their temperature must be high enough for food in their stomachs to digest efficiently; about 65°F minimum. Basking episodes generally last for two hours at a time.

During the cold months of winter, painted turtles hibernate, burying themselves deep in the mud beneath streams and ponds. The mud insulates the turtle, which helps prevent freezing during the harsh winter months. While you may wonder how it breathes in up to 3 ft. of mud, Painted Turtles can survive without oxygen at 37°F for up to five months, longer than any other known air-breathing vertebrate.  It is able to accomplish this feat by slowing down its metabolic rate and some northern dwelling painted turtles can remain dormant for four to six months. These wonderful reptiles can live up to 20-30 or more years and some live even longer if they are well cared for. The males are smaller than the female, reaching about 5-7 inches across while the female can grow to 8-10 inches.

Western Painted Turtle Image Gallery

Can I Keep a Painted Turtle as a Pet?

Many people enjoy owning turtles, and their care and maintenance is important to a long and healthy life. The Herpetological Society has a lot of information about how you can raise a turtle properly.