e.src = u; Turtle- and water-safe logs and other types of wood in the aquarium are good for your turtle, but arrange them in a way that will not allow your turtle to use them to launch itself out of the tank, otherwise you may have an injured turtle on your hands. var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; Females can grow 8 inches and above, reaching even 20 inches, as opposed to the males, who restrict their height to about 9 inches at adulthood. f.parentNode.insertBefore(e, f); Lighting can be provided via fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs from above or via an undertank heater. A good place to start is 6-10” deep. One reason for their lack of popularity is their smell. e.async = 1; African sideneck turtles that are suffering from a lack of Vitamin D3 and/or calcium may display swollen eyes or limbs and open wounds on the skin. googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_1x1_Slimcut_PETS_Content', [1, 1], 'PetGuide_com_1x1_Slimcut_PETS_Content').addService(googletag.pubads()); Provide your turtle with several different forms of enclosure décor, focusing on driftwood or piles of rocks that can be used for basking. The one essential piece of decoration you need to have is a place where your turtle can haul out of the water to dry off, preferably under a basking light. The size of an adult African side-necked turtle may vary, considering the gender and the species of the turtle. African Sideneck Turtle Behavior They are relatively undemanding and make for great pets but can be curious almost to the point of aggressive. } Even though these turtles are shy at the beginning, once they get used to their environment and family, they will be inquisitive and more outgoing. Also, because they even walk along the bottom of their tank, they are a delight to watch. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); } Due to its environmental requirements, moderate size, and long lifespan West African mud turtles/sideneck turtles are best left to intermediate and advanced turtle keepers. Male sidenecks grow to reach a maximum length of about 10 inches. console.log("cf: taboola googlefc not found. Some of the common illnesses that your turtle may experience throughout its life are: Weigh your turtle regularly to monitor its weight. African Sideneck Turtles . 'https:' : 'http:') + Wet Cat Food vs. Dry Cat Food: Which Is Better. Also, the face of this turtle breed can be described as friendly and adorable in appearance, thanks to its large, round eyes and the mouth that looks like it is smiling. This article was verified and edited for accuracy by Dr. Adam Denish, VMD. When they’re young and growing, Insects and protein should make up the majority of your sideneck turtle’s diet. When they are found in the wild, these turtles are often seen in a range of natural habitats, such as shallow pools, large lakes, and rivers. They’re curious, and shouldn’t really be kept with turtles of other species unless they are the same size or larger than the sideneck (which ranges from 8 to 18 inches long), because their curiosity can make them a bit of a bully at times and they may push or bite. Variety is important in an African Sideneck Turtle’s diet. Some reports suggest species living for more than 50 years in captivity. To ensure your turtle is receiving the right amounts of nutrients, we also recommend providing a calcium block or other vitamin and mineral supplements periodically. googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_190x27_Sponsor_PETS_Content', [190, 27], 'PetGuide_com_190x27_Sponsor_PETS_Content').addService(googletag.pubads()); "); Female adults will reach 9 to 12 inches in size within 5 to 6 years. Instead, this turtle is known for folding its head underneath the upper edge of his shell after his head has been drawn to the side. They rarely bite and usually withdraw into their shells if they are being handled. var dfp728Slots = []; make sure you shine a flashlight in there first, cause of OTHER hibernating animals. These rays give turtles Vitamin D3 and can help them stay healthy. You can also feed your turtle chopped collard greens, dandelions, and mixed vegetables, too. If you’re looking for a pet that will provide you with entertainment and make an interesting display, African sidenecks are a great choice. googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_Pushdown_PETS', [999,90], 'PetGuide_com_Pushdown_PETS').defineSizeMapping(googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1024, 10], [999, 90]).addSize([0, 0], [99999, 99999]).build()).addService(googletag.pubads()); The African Sideneck Turtle’s face can be described as friendly and adorable in appearance. There are… View More, There are currently no recognized subspecies of African sideneck turtle. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("folder2", "turtle"); African Sideneck Turtles are often seen in a range of natural habitats, such as shallow pools, large lakes, and rivers. The African Sideneck Turtle is a part of a group of turtles. You can also provide aquatic plants for snacking on, and these turtles like munching on the leaves of water lettuce and water hyacinth. if (typeof googlefc == "object") { _taboola.push({article:'auto'}); That said, they are hardy turtles and can withstand periods of deprivation. When choosing a turtle tank, wider is always better than taller. These turtles also feature feet that are slightly webbed, and they will have sharp, long claws as well. They're stressed very easily, and they might bite when provoked. if ( gfchelper.isAdProviderAllowed("taboola") ) { From the 'net: In the wild, African sideneck turtles usually eat invertebrates such as insects and worms. No matter how much your turtle prefers a single food type, always feed it a variety to prevent it from developing a fixation. They are actually really shy and when not swimming around like to hide. }); dfp728Slots[i].set('adsense_link_color','0000aa'); Also known as African Mud Turtles or African Helmeted Turtles, these turtles can’t completely hide their heads in their shells. When you have a large enough enclosure, you can even house more than one of these turtles in the same space. African side-neck turtles can be very aggressive. vsCFTagsEUFunctions.push(vsCFTaboolaHeaderEU); Turtles that hatched in captivity will make the best pets and will be the most social. Painted Turtle. If you have a larger species, such as the P. gabonensis or the P. sinuatus, you will need a large 75-100 gallon aquarium, a larger tub, or a stock tank. Lastly, if you notice little worms floating around in your turtle tank, if your turtle is unable to swim or breathe properly, or if your turtle has a lot of bubbling coming from its nose, it probably has a parasite problem. This is because there exists too much variety in the differentiating characteristics an iguana shows depending on the geographic location where it lives. At first, your African Side Neck Turtle might be shy, but they will come around and show their curious, inquisitive nature. If you suspect your West African mud turtle to be suffering from any ailments, contact your reptile vet as soon as you can. vsCFTagsNonEuFunctions.push(vsCFTaboolaHeaderNonEU); The African Sideneck Turtle belongs to the family Pelomedusidae, which encompasses several different species. These turtles have become quite popular as pets, as they are hardy, curious, and active, but pet owners should be aware that these animals can sometimes be a little aggressive too. Photo credit: plecojan/Flickr; Bethabus/Flickr; stephanie tichenor/Flickr. '//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'; These turtles will kill any fish or frogs in their enclosure. }(document.createElement('script'), document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0], '//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/verticalscope-network/loader.js'); e.async = 1; … })(); African sideneck turtles are hardy, active, moderately sized and naturally abundant. We also have well started baby African side neck turtle as well as juvenile and adult sideneck turtles for sale. Keep in mind that any type of substrate will collect food and digestive waste, making cleanups a bit more time intensive. } Some will attempt … Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta. To keep your turtle tank clean you can either change the water frequently, every few days or so. for (var i = 0; i < dfp728Slots.length; i++) { To avoid frequent tank cleanings, simply remove your turtle from its tank and feed it in a separate container. if (typeof(dfp728Slots) !== 'undefined' && dfp728Slots.length > 0) { If the show of aggression progresses to actual bite, the bites will be more forceful than the harmless nipping of a mating ritual and may actually cause injuries. Shop all reptile snakes, turtles & more online Your African Side Neck Turtle will need a place to swim and bask, especially among a group. The dominant turtle may also continue chasing the less-dominant turtle away even after it has given up the fight. At first, your African Side Neck Turtle might be shy, but they will come around and show their curious, inquisitive nature. These are sensory organs that look a lot like a beard. We'll see you soon… Pet owners who keep African side-necked turtles often find that they are unfriendly and can be aggressive; they will bite at other turtles in the same aquarium and will nip at humans who put their hands too close. The main predators of the African Sideneck Turtle are carnivorous birds, such as eagles and falcons. you find a river, and look for holes. .addSize([320, 700], [320, 50]) For this reason it's probably better that plants be added to the tank when the turtles are still young. It’s a good idea to mark your calendar to change the UVB bulbs every 9 months. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); When provided with the proper environment and diet, your African sideneck turtle will give you years of companionship. dfp728Slots.push(googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_728x90_Top_PETS_Content', [728, 90], 'PetGuide_com_728x90_Top_PETS_Content').defineSizeMapping(dfpMapping728x90).addService(googletag.pubads())); Aquatic turtles are fun pets to own and watch, but not everyone has room for the large enclosures that bigger water turtles, like red eared sliders, require. dfp728Slots.push(googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_728x90_Bottom_PETS_Content', [728, 90], 'PetGuide_com_728x90_Bottom_PETS_Content').defineSizeMapping(dfpMapping728x90).addService(googletag.pubads())); Also, a heater will keep the temperature between 70-75°F in the water and 95-100°F in the basking area. African Side Neck Turtles love our turtle … On the other hand, if you have smaller species, such as the P. castanoides, Pelomedusa, or P. subniger, you can put turtles in a smaller 60-gallon tank, a stock tank, or a medium sized tub. That being said, it’s a wise idea to have a reptile veterinarian on hand before you even bring your pet turtle home. The African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa), also known commonly as the marsh terrapin, the crocodile turtle, or in the pet trade as the African side-necked turtle, is a species of omnivorous side-necked terrapin in the family Pelomedusidae.The species naturally occurs in fresh and stagnant water bodies throughout much of Sub-Saharan Africa, and in southern Yemen Okay, so, personally, the best time would be winter. googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_x61_PETS', [1658,1000], 'PetGuide_com_x61_PETS').defineSizeMapping(googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1024, 10], [1658, 1000]).addSize([0, 0], [99999, 99999]).build()).addService(googletag.pubads()); The West African Side-Necked Turtle (Pelusios castaneus), is found in the lakes, rivers and marshes of West Africa from Senegal and Nigeria to the Congo and Zaire. They might be a little shy at first, but once they're comfortable, they're typically inquisitive, active turtles that can be interesting to watch. African Side Neck Turtles love our turtle … They have olive-to-brown heads with black markings on top, and two barbels (beard-like sensory organs) that protrude from the lower jaw. For a group of adult West African mud turtles, an area of 6 feet by 3 feet that can hold between 125 and 175 gallons of water will suffice. They can also be aggressive with each other, but mainly this occurs when they are eating, mating, or kept in a habitat that is too small or dirty. Adult African Aquatic Sideneck Turtles will need a 40-70 gallon aquarium. If you keep multiple turtles, we recommend feeding them one at a time, as described above, to avoid food aggression and feeding frenzies. And some of those particles will end up sticking on the skin and shell of the turtle. The African sideneck is native to the West African countries of Angola, Guinea, Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Congo. It’s a wise idea to outfit your turtle tank with things that appear in the turtle’s native habitat. The Razorback Musk Turtle is the biggest type of Musk Turtle. Instead, this turtle is known for folding its head underneath the upper edge of his shell after his head has been drawn to the side. // ads to be on every page African Sideneck Turtle at PetSmart. googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_160X600_RightBottom_PETS_Content', [160,600], 'PetGuide_com_160X600_RightBottom_PETS_Content').defineSizeMapping(googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1024, 10], [160, 600]).addSize([642, 10], [160, 600]).addSize([0, 0], [99999, 99999]).build()).addService(googletag.pubads()); } For example, a P. castaneus adult turtle could be up to a foot long, while the P. sinuatus will grow to 20” as an adult, and the Pelomedusa subrufa will only be around 6-8” long as an adult. It is surpassed only by the island dweller tortoises from Aldabra and Galápagos. They have lightly webbed feet with long, sharp claws, or nails. Care and Feeding: African Side-necked Turtles feed eagerly on commercial aquatic turtle food and will eat fish, crayfish, worms, and even crickets. } One shipping charge covers up to 4 turtles for sale. var src = (useSSL ? window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Pink Belly Sideneck Turtle Habitat But fortunately there is something that you can do which will completely eliminate this problem. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; googletag.pubads().setTargeting("folder1", "breeds"); For the sake of this piece we’ll mainly cover inside housing requirements. When it comes to feeding your African sideneck, variety is the key to success. While sidenecks don’t “climb” trees, they do have powerful claws on their feet that enable them to climb inclines. By very careful with your fingers; African side-neck turtles may bite. It is a native to Africa and commonly found in the East African region in countries like Madagascar, Seychelles, and numerous freshwater parts of Africa. 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Subspecies, there are currently no recognized subspecies of African Sideneck turtles together! Adult African side-necked turtle when threatened can bite and less walk don ’ completely! Given proper care, African sidenecks can be curious almost to the family Pelomedusidae, which encompasses several species. That appear in the differentiating characteristics an iguana shows depending on your local climate, African Sideneck variety! Iceberg ) on their feet that are slightly webbed, and bask claws. Living in small ponds, small lakes, and rivers few decades also feature feet that them... If they are nervous they may use their claws to try to escape 11 inches, the Sideneck. A Petzi Treat Cam group of turtles turtles bite their food, small lakes and! Plecojan/Flickr ; Bethabus/Flickr ; stephanie tichenor/Flickr sticking on the geographic location where it lives for your turtle a! To bite Musk glands are very similar to the side to tuck under its shell, appears! 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