Asiatic softshell turtle (Amyda cartilaginea)

Short answers

Asiatic softshell turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

250×100 cm aquarium.

Asiatic softshell turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–31 °C, basking spot No basking spot needed, at night 23–26 °C.

Asiatic softshell turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 6 %).

Asiatic softshell turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 25–40 years.

Asiatic softshell turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–31 °C

Night temperature

23–26 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot needed

Humidity

Aquatic

UVB

Essential (UVB 6 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

250×100 cm aquarium

Substrate

Water 40–60 cm deep, fine sand (10 cm) for burying

Feeding

Food

Fish, snails, crustaceans, carrion

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

50–80 cm

Life expectancy

25–40 years

Origin

South-East Asia

Protection status

CITES II; IUCN "Vulnerable"

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. This species bites hard and uses that bite on its own kind too — bitten-off toes and tail tips, injured necks and damaged shell margins are the rule rather than the exception when they are kept together. With softshell turtles there is also the sensitive, leathery shell skin: even superficial scratches infect easily. For breeding, put them together only briefly and under supervision.

Notes

It grows very large and is decidedly bitey – handle it only with care and suitable tools. The space and filtration requirement of adult animals clearly exceeds normal aquariums.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) – Intermediate
• Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) – Expert
• Smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica) – Expert
• Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) – Intermediate
• Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica) – Expert
• African softshell turtle (Trionyx triunguis) – Expert
• Spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) – Expert
• Wattle-necked softshell turtle (Palea steindachneri) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Asiatic softshell turtle (Amyda cartilaginea) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (250×100 cm aquarium), substrate (Water 40–60 cm deep, fine sand (10 cm) for burying), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.