Full Grown Wood Turtle: Size, Appearance, Price & More

The wood turtle is a hardy species of freshwater turtle found throughout eastern North America. As wood turtles mature into adulthood, their size, habits, and needs change considerably. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about fully grown wood turtles, including their appearance, personality, care requirements, and suitability as pets.

About the Wood Turtle

The wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) is a medium-sized turtle species typically weighing 1-3 pounds as adults. They have a rounded brown or black carapace with yellow spots or lines and a hinged plastron. Wood turtles can be distinguished from other turtle species by their sloping brown shells and long necks and tails.

Wood turtles inhabit forests near bodies of fresh water like streams, creeks, and small rivers. They are excellent swimmers and climbers, rarely leaving land for water except to breed.

Wood turtles are omnivorous opportunists, eating plants, fungi, insects, worms, and carrion. They play an important role in seed dispersal for many forest plants.

Size at Full Growth

On average, a fully grown male wood turtle will be 5-7 inches in carapace length, while females tend to be slightly larger at 5.5-8 inches.

In terms of height, fully matured wood turtles stand around 2-4 inches tall from the bottom of their feet to the highest point of their shells.

Weight-wise, adult male wood turtles typically weigh between 1-2 pounds, and females 1.5-3 pounds on average.

Appearance at Full Growth

As wood turtles reach adulthood, their shells take on a more rounded, domed shape. The carapace color darkens to a chocolate brown or dull black and develops subtle ridges and bumps. Yellow spots or lines remain along the edges but fade with age. The hinged plastron retains its smooth yellow pattern.

Fully mature wood turtles also develop thick scales on their legs and long tails compared to juveniles. Males can be identified by their longer front claws used for mating. Overall, adult wood turtles appear more rugged and agile suited to their woodland environment.

Personality at Full Growth

Adult wood turtles tend to be more confident and territorial than younger turtles. While still generally shy when disturbed, fully grown males in particular may hiss or snap their jaws if handled during breeding season. Outside of this period, they remain fairly docile.

Mature wood turtles also display greater roaming behaviors, traveling longer distances over land each day in search of food and habitat. Their increased stamina and mobility allow wood turtles to traverse miles of forest if necessary.

Price

Due to their reptile trade value and sensitive species status across parts of their native range, fully grown pet wood turtles command a high price tag. Expect to pay anywhere from $150-300 for an adult male and $200-400+ for female wood turtles legally acquired from a specialty breeder.

Food and Feeding

The diet of adult wood turtles broadens to include more plant matter like berries, fruits, mushrooms, and greens in addition to the bugs, worms, and occasionally small vertebrates eaten by juveniles.

Fully grown wood turtles should be fed 3-4 times per week and given a variety of vegetables, lightly cooked eggs, fish or protein, and commercial pellets or gel food.

Proper hygiene must still be maintained to prevent intestinal impaction from uneaten food. Uneaten items should be removed within 15 minutes of each feeding to avoid contamination.

Lifespan

With excellent care and environment, wood turtles can live 30-40 years in captivity. In the wild, their average lifespan is 20-25 years, though some wood turtle populations face reduced lifespans of 15 years or less due to habitat destruction and road mortality.

Proper husbandry and preventative veterinary care for fully grown pet wood turtles can help maximize their natural longevity potential.

Health at Full Growth

Adult wood turtles are still at risk for the same health issues as juveniles like shell rot, respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal stasis or impaction. Females may also develop calcium deficiencies if not given proper lighting and nutrition required for egg-laying. Regular checkups with an exotic vet can monitor for early signs of illness.

Care and Nutritional Needs

While wood turtles require less direct care and handling once mature, their basic needs remain the same:

• A spacious enclosure of at least 75-100 gallons that replicates their natural habitat
• A basking area with a strong UVB bulb and temperatures of 80-85°F during the day, dropping to 65-75°F at night
• A shallow water bowl large enough for soaking and drinking that is cleaned daily
• A varied, nutrient-rich diet as described above
• Regular calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation in the diet
• Opportunities for exercise and roaming outside the enclosure each day

Maintaining optimal husbandry conditions is key to keeping adult wood turtles healthy and stress-free as pets.

Costing

While wood turtles reach maturity more economically self-sufficient, their lifelong care does present ongoing costs:

• Enclosure - $150-500 for a wood or pvc tank with lights, filter, decor
• Food - $30-50 monthly for a varied diet
• Vitamins/supplements - $15-30 every 2-3 months
• Annual veterinary wellness exam - $75-150
• Miscellaneous upgrades - $50-100 annually

Plan to budget $500-1000 annually for husbandry essentials and unforeseen veterinary expenses of a fully grown pet wood turtle.

Possible Behavioral Changes

Most wood turtle behaviors remain consistent through maturity with a few exceptions:

• Increased roaming - Fully grown turtles explore more extensively each day.
• Seasonal aggression - Males become territorial during breeding.
• Brumation - Adults require an enclosed winter dormancy period.
• Egg-laying - Females dig nests and lay 1-5 clutches annually.

Patience and providing space is key to avoid stressing adults unnecessarily during these natural behavioral shifts.

Notable Characteristics

Some notable traits of fully matured wood turtles include:

• Dark, domed shells with subtle ridges and script-like patterns
• Thickened legs, scales, and long tails for terrestrial mobility
• Distinct domed profile and rounded carapace edges
• Bright yellow plastron and spotting becomes faded
• Males develop thicker front claws for mating rituals
• Increased size and weight compared to juveniles

These characteristics along with behavior help properly identify fully grown adult wood turtles.

When is a Wood Turtle Really Fully Grown?

Wood turtles generally reach sexual maturity and adulthood at 5-8 years of age depending on conditions and gender.

However, their growth plates do not fully fuse until 8-10 years, meaning they can still put on some additional size and weight each year up until roughly decade of age.

For the purposes of their needs and care, vets typically consider wood turtles "fully mature" over half a decade old once their behavior and habits are consistent as a definitively adult turtle.

Suitability as a Pet

While wood turtles can adapt well to captive care with experience, there are factors to consider regarding their suitability as pets:

• Require a very large enclosure that mimics their natural woodland habitat
• Need opportunities to roam and forage outside regularly for mental stimulation
• Can be shy, slow to tame, and never truly "pet" animals due to instincts
• Sensitive species legally restricted or banned as pets in some areas
• Lifelong commitment of 20+ years is needed to provide for their needs as they age
• Specialized veterinary care from an exotics vet may be required
• Captive breeding has low success necessitating wild-caught specimens be acquired

While rewarding pets for dedicated owners, wood turtles are not ideal for households unable to replicate their natural lifestyle indoors or commit long-term. Research is recommended before taking one on as a fully grown pet.

In Summary

The wood turtle matures into a resilient adult turtle uniquely adapted to forest environments. With proper care that meets their changing needs over a lifetime, fully grown wood turtles can thrive as companion animals.

Key factors include optimizing humidity, lighting, feeding a varied diet, and allowing space to roam as they do in nature. Appropriate handling helps socialize more reclusive adults. Comprehensive husbandry supported by preventative veterinary care helps wood turtles achieve their full lifespan potential of 20+ years as pets.

For experienced keepers capable of long-term commitment, fully grown turtles' rewarding personalities and activities make them suitable scaled companions. Just be sure habitat, living situation, and regional laws permit wood turtles as pets before acquiring a mature specimen.