African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa)

Short answers

African helmeted turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 130 × 65 cm aqua-terrarium (rule of thumb: 5 × 2.5 times carapace length; specialist bodies recommend 130–150 cm length), with the land area making up about a third of the space.

African helmeted turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime water 22–30 °C, air at the land area around 30 °C, basking spot A heat and UV spot above the dry land area, at night 19–23 °C.

African helmeted turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 6 %).

African helmeted turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 25–40 years.

African helmeted turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner to intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

water 22–30 °C, air at the land area around 30 °C

Night temperature

19–23 °C

Basking spot

A heat and UV spot above the dry land area

Humidity

Aquatic with a land section

UVB

Essential (UVB 6 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 130 × 65 cm aqua-terrarium (rule of thumb: 5 × 2.5 times carapace length; specialist bodies recommend 130–150 cm length), with the land area making up about a third of the space

Substrate

Water depth 30–40 cm; a sandy substrate is essential because these animals dig a lot; a land area with deep, moist substrate as an egg-laying site, with a heat and UV spot above it

Feeding

Food

Predominantly animal-based: earthworms, snails, mussels, fish and aquatic insects, plus some greens. Feeding takes place exclusively in the water; a cuttlebone to gnaw on covers the calcium requirement.

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

usually 15–21 cm carapace length, individual animals over 30 cm

Life expectancy

25–40 years

Origin

Sub-Saharan Africa – temporary waters

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

No winter dormancy. In the wild these animals go into aestivation during droughts, burrowing into the mud; this doesn't need to be replicated in the enclosure.

Cohabitation

Solitary or pair. Two males harass each other and the females; during prolonged courtship a female visibly loses weight. So a pair only works if you can remove the male as soon as it harasses the female — a second tank belongs in the planning. Anyone with more space keeps one male with several females, so the courtship is spread out.

Notes

A robust, adaptable species from pools that dry out periodically. In dry conditions it can bury itself and rest. Shallower water than for purely aquatic turtles.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Argentine snake-necked turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera) – Intermediate
• Eastern long-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis) – Intermediate
• Gibba turtle (Mesoclemmys gibba) – Intermediate
• Matamata (Chelus fimbriata) – Expert
• Hilaire's toadhead turtle (Phrynops hilarii) – Intermediate
• Murray River turtle (Emydura macquarii) – Intermediate
• Northern snake-necked turtle (Chelodina rugosa) – Intermediate
• Reimann's snake-necked turtle (Chelodina reimanni) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 130 × 65 cm aqua-terrarium (rule of thumb: 5 × 2.5 times carapace length; specialist bodies recommend 130–150 cm length), with the land area making up about a third of the space), substrate (Water depth 30–40 cm; a sandy substrate is essential because these animals dig a lot; a land area with deep, moist substrate as an egg-laying site, with a heat and UV spot above it), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.