| general
|
| description |
It is very beautifully
marked; the carapace is mottled with black and grey-green,
with pink markings at the extreme edge of each marginal
scute. The undersurface is pinkish-red with a complex
pattern of irregular black blotches. The head is rather
broad and flat, the upper surface being black with irregular
thin white lines. These turtles are very active, so a
deep aquarium will permit them to swim, an enjoyable sight.
|
| a.k.a |
South America Red-bellied
Sideneck Turtle |
| distribution |
 
Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil |
| adult
size |
max. 35 cm carapax length |
| housing |
| natural
habitats |
Semi-aquatic;
A variety of water bodies, including large rivers to small
ditches, very adaptable |
| aquarium |
Medium to large aquarium
with suitable basking branch |
| substrate |
Some smooth rocks or stout
branches as decoration which can be used as hiding places. |
| activity
period |
Daytime (diurnal);
12 - 14 hours each day with direct natural sunlight or
UV lamp (e.g. ReptiSun 5.0,
UV Heat Bulb) |
| temperature |
28 - 30 ¢XC -- basking
spot (e.g. Basking
Spot Lamp)
24 - 27 ¢XC -- cooler area (e.g. Daylight
Blue Bulb)
21 - 25 ¢XC -- at night (e.g. Nightlight
Red Bulb, Infrared
Heat Lamp, Ceramic
Heat Emitter) |
| hiding
place |
Advisable, a place for
its privacy, security and sleep by day.
Possibllites include caves (e.g. Habbe
Hut, Heat Cave), etc |
| diet |
| wild
diet |
Carnivorous (meat-eating);
a variety of carrion and live prey, sutiable to its size
|
| primary
food (75%) |
A good brand commercial
turtle food (e.g. Aquatic
Turtle Food) |
| secondary
food (23%) |
Whole prey items,prekilled
small whole fish, live earthworms, snails, up to whole
prekilled baby chicks or mice according to turtle size.
|
| occasional
food (2%) |
Small balls of ground
beef loaded with vitamin and calcium once every 2 weeks
|
| reproduction |
| reproduction |
Oviparous; a lengthy winter
diapause is normal in the egg development. |
| incubation |
over 1 year |
