Spiny turtle (Heosemys spinosa)

Short answers

Spiny turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

150×70 cm with a shallow water section.

Spiny turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–29 °C, basking spot 30 °C, at night 20–23 °C.

Spiny turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 5.0–6 %).

Spiny turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 30–40 years.

Spiny turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–29 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

30 °C

Humidity

80–90 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 5.0–6 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

150×70 cm with a shallow water section

Substrate

Damp forest floor with a thick layer of leaf litter, a shallow water spot

Feeding

Food

Windfall fruit, fungi, greens, a few snails

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

20–25 cm

Life expectancy

30–40 years

Origin

South-East Asia – rainforest

Protection status

CITES II; IUCN "Endangered"

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Single housing is the least stressful. As a pair only if the male can be removed as soon as he harasses the female - a second enclosure is part of the planning. With more space, keep one male with several females so the courtship is spread out. Never keep two males together: they harass each other and the females.

Notes

The young have a sharply serrated shell edge that wears down with age. A rainforest dweller needing permanently high humidity – not a water basin but a damp forest-floor terrarium.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Giant Asian pond turtle (Heosemys grandis) – Expert
• 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
• Yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica) – Intermediate
• Indian black turtle (Melanochelys trijuga) – Intermediate
• Japanese pond turtle (Mauremys japonica) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Spiny turtle (Heosemys spinosa) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (150×70 cm with a shallow water section), substrate (Damp forest floor with a thick layer of leaf litter, a shallow water 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.