Indochinese box turtle (Cuora galbinifrons)

Short answers

Indochinese box turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

~120×60 cm forest-floor enclosure (terrestrial, a shallow water spot).

Indochinese box turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–26 °C (cool, below 28 °C, not below 21 °C), basking spot Warm place ~28–30 °C, no hot spot, at night 18–20 °C.

Indochinese box turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended, low (shade-loving, Ferguson zone 1).

Indochinese box turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30+ years.

Indochinese box turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–26 °C (cool, below 28 °C, not below 21 °C)

Night temperature

18–20 °C

Basking spot

Warm place ~28–30 °C, no hot spot

Humidity

80–90 % (mist daily)

UVB

UVB recommended, low (shade-loving, Ferguson zone 1)

Enclosure

Minimum size

~120×60 cm forest-floor enclosure (terrestrial, a shallow water spot)

Substrate

A deep layer of leaf litter plus humus soil, densely planted; hides

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: earthworms, snails, insects, fungi, fruit, greens

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

~18–19 cm

Life expectancy

30+ years

Origin

Northern and central Vietnam, southern China (Hainan, Guangxi), Laos – montane forest

Protection status

CITES Appendix I / EU Annex A – the strictest protection, with an EU certificate and proof of origin mandatory. IUCN: Critically Endangered.

Brumation

A cooler rest period in winter (down to ~4–10 °C for a few weeks) to stimulate breeding.

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is recommended; shy and prone to stress, and the males harass the females.

Notes

A terrestrial cool-forest species, very demanding in care and prone to stress (often respiratory infections). It needs cool, humid, quiet conditions with leaves and hides, NO strong basking, and no wet aquarium keeping. A common beginner's mistake: too warm or too dry.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Indochinese box turtle (Cuora galbinifrons) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) – Intermediate
• Bourret's box turtle (Cuora bourreti) – Expert
• Yellow-margined box turtle (Cuora flavomarginata) – Intermediate
• Chinese three-striped box turtle (Cuora trifasciata) – Expert
• Yellow-headed box turtle (Cuora aurocapitata) – Expert
• Hainan box turtle (Cuora hainanensis) – Expert
• McCord's box turtle (Cuora mccordi) – Expert
• Pan's box turtle (Cuora pani) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Indochinese box turtle (Cuora galbinifrons) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (~120×60 cm forest-floor enclosure (terrestrial, a shallow water spot)), substrate (A deep layer of leaf litter plus humus soil, densely planted; hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.