Argentine snake-necked turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera)

Short answers

Argentine snake-necked turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 150×75 cm water surface for one animal, water depth 40–45 cm, plus an accessible land area with deep substrate for egg-laying.

Argentine snake-necked turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–24 °C water temperature, briefly up to 26 °C; permanently warmer is harmful, basking spot 30 °C, at night 16–20 °C.

Argentine snake-necked turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: A low dose of UVB is recommended (UVB 6%). This species is nocturnal, lives practically entirely in the water and barely basks — its body temperature simply follows the water. A lamp directly over a haul-out spot still belongs in the tank, though, but must not heat the water.

Argentine snake-necked turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30–40 years.

Argentine snake-necked turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–24 °C water temperature, briefly up to 26 °C; permanently warmer is harmful

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

30 °C

Humidity

Aquatic

UVB

A low dose of UVB is recommended (UVB 6%). This species is nocturnal, lives practically entirely in the water and barely basks — its body temperature simply follows the water. A lamp directly over a haul-out spot still belongs in the tank, though, but must not heat the water

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 150×75 cm water surface for one animal, water depth 40–45 cm, plus an accessible land area with deep substrate for egg-laying

Substrate

Water 30–45 cm deep, sand, dense planting, roots

Feeding

Food

Purely carnivorous, preferring aquatic snails; plus aquatic insects and their larvae, fish, shrimp, earthworms and amphibian larvae. Shelled snails also cover the calcium requirement

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

20–30 cm

Life expectancy

30–40 years

Origin

Northeast Argentina (Chaco, Formosa), Uruguay, eastern Paraguay and southeast Brazil; slow-flowing waters, ponds and swamps with a soft bottom and aquatic plants

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A cooler spell of 8–12 weeks

Cohabitation

Single housing or a pair. Two males harass each other and the females; under constant courtship a female visibly loses weight. A pair therefore only works if you can remove the male as soon as he harasses the female — a second tank belongs in the plan. With more space, put one male with several females, so the courtship is spread out.

Notes

To be kept cooler than the tropical side-necks – temperatures above 27 °C are tolerated poorly. A strict carnivore that hunts in a densely planted tank. It rarely basks.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) – Beginner to 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 Argentine snake-necked turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 150×75 cm water surface for one animal, water depth 40–45 cm, plus an accessible land area with deep substrate for egg-laying), substrate (Water 30–45 cm deep, sand, dense planting, roots), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.