McCord's box turtle (Cuora mccordi)

Short answers

McCord's box turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

~100–120×60 cm (land plus shallow water) per animal.

McCord's box turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–28 °C, basking spot 30–32 °C, at night 18–20 °C.

McCord's box turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed, moderate (Ferguson zone 1–2).

McCord's box turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to 40–60 years in captivity.

McCord's box turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–28 °C

Night temperature

18–20 °C

Basking spot

30–32 °C

Humidity

70–90 %

UVB

UVB needed, moderate (Ferguson zone 1–2)

Enclosure

Minimum size

~100–120×60 cm (land plus shallow water) per animal

Substrate

A soil or leaf substrate they can dig in plus shallow water; dense planting

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: fish, earthworms, snails, crayfish or prawns, insects, fruit and vegetables

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

14–18 cm (a small species)

Life expectancy

up to 40–60 years in captivity

Origin

Guangxi (southern China), endemic – forest streams and wetlands

Protection status

CITES Appendix II (a zero quota for wild-caught animals) / EU Annex B – registration required, proof of origin. IUCN: Critically Endangered, and virtually extinct in the wild.

Brumation

A slight winter rest or drop over a few weeks (subtropical).

Cohabitation

Keep them singly; solitary, and the males are aggressive. Conservation breeding only under supervision.

Notes

Semi-aquatic and semi-terrestrial, needing dense vegetation and access to water. Practically only in zoos and conservation breeding; barely any detailed private keeping reports – some figures are derived from the genus and its origin.

Do you keep this species?

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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
• Pan's box turtle (Cuora pani) – Expert
• Southern Vietnam box turtle (Cuora picturata) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep McCord's box turtle (Cuora mccordi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (~100–120×60 cm (land plus shallow water) per animal), substrate (A soil or leaf substrate they can dig in plus shallow water; dense planting), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.