Indian black turtle (Melanochelys trijuga)

Short answers

Indian black turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

150×60 cm aqua-terrarium.

Indian black turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot 33 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Indian black turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 6 %).

Indian black turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30–40 years.

Indian black turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

33 °C

Humidity

Semi-aquatic, 70–85 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 6 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

150×60 cm aqua-terrarium

Substrate

A damp land section with leaf litter, a shallow water section, a basking spot

Feeding

Food

Greens, windfall fruit, snails, fish, pellets

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

25–38 cm

Life expectancy

30–40 years

Origin

India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar

Protection status

CITES II; export from India is prohibited

Brumation

A cooler dry spell of 6–8 weeks

Cohabitation

Keep as a pair or singly — males become aggressive towards females during the breeding season, chasing and biting them. A pair therefore needs a large tank with retreats for the female, or better still one male with several females to spread the pressure.

Notes

Semi-aquatic with a high proportion of land – it spends a lot of time on land, unlike the purely aquatic turtles. An omnivore, robust, but it grows markedly larger than is often assumed.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Indian black turtle (Melanochelys trijuga) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Annam leaf turtle (Mauremys annamensis) – Intermediate
• Asian leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentata) – Intermediate
• Chinese striped-neck turtle (Mauremys sinensis) – Beginner to intermediate
• Reeves' turtle (Mauremys reevesii) – Beginner
• Spiny turtle (Heosemys spinosa) – Expert
• Yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica) – Intermediate
• Japanese pond turtle (Mauremys japonica) – Intermediate
• Caspian turtle (Mauremys caspica) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Indian black turtle (Melanochelys trijuga) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (150×60 cm aqua-terrarium), substrate (A damp land section with leaf litter, a shallow water section, a basking spot), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.