Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)

Short answers

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

Aqua-terrarium from 150 × 60 cm floor area for a single juvenile or male, from 200 × 100 cm for adult females. Rule of thumb: tank length at least five times carapace length, plus a dry, heated land area.

Chinese softshell turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime water 24–28 °C, basking spot 30–35 °C (rarely uses a basking spot, burrows instead), at night 20–24 °C.

Chinese softshell turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended — set up the land area with a heat lamp and UVB.

Chinese softshell turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–25+ years.

Chinese softshell turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

water 24–28 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

30–35 °C (rarely uses a basking spot, burrows instead)

Humidity

—

UVB

Recommended — set up the land area with a heat lamp and UVB

Enclosure

Minimum size

aqua-terrarium from 150 × 60 cm floor area for a single juvenile or male, from 200 × 100 cm for adult females. Rule of thumb: tank length at least five times carapace length, plus a dry, heated land area.

Substrate

Fine sand is essential (for burying); no gravel (it injures the skin)

Feeding

Food

Carnivorous: fish, prawns, earthworms, snails, insects

Feeding interval

juveniles daily, adults 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

carapace length 15–25 cm, females exceptionally up to 33 cm; males remain noticeably smaller

Life expectancy

15–25+ years

Origin

East Asia (China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan); farmed worldwide as food

Protection status

—

Brumation

A winter rest is possible (a cool spell of ~10–15 °C for about 8 weeks)

Cohabitation

Single housing – aggressive and prone to biting among themselves. The reason is territory: males ram and bite one another, and females are harassed so persistently during prolonged courtship that they visibly lose weight. Worn shell edges and bites on the hind legs are what you end up showing the vet.

Notes

Soft sandy ground is essential; it bites hard and painfully. Delicate skin – very good water quality is needed.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• 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
• Asiatic softshell turtle (Amyda cartilaginea) – Expert
• Wattle-necked softshell turtle (Palea steindachneri) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (aqua-terrarium from 150 × 60 cm floor area for a single juvenile or male, from 200 × 100 cm for adult females. Rule of thumb: tank length at least five times carapace length, plus a dry, heated land area.), substrate (Fine sand is essential (for burying); no gravel (it injures the skin)), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.