Wattle-necked softshell turtle (Palea steindachneri)

Short answers

Wattle-necked softshell turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

200×80 cm aquarium.

Wattle-necked softshell turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–29 °C, basking spot 32 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Wattle-necked softshell turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 6 %).

Wattle-necked softshell turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 25–40 years.

Wattle-necked softshell turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–29 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

32 °C

Humidity

Aquatic

UVB

Essential (UVB 6 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

200×80 cm aquarium

Substrate

Water 30–50 cm deep, fine sand for burying

Feeding

Food

Fish, snails, crustaceans, pellets

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

30–45 cm

Life expectancy

25–40 years

Origin

Southern China, northern Vietnam

Protection status

CITES II; IUCN "Endangered"

Brumation

A cooler spell of 8–10 weeks

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. This species bites hard and uses that bite on its own kind too — bitten-off toes and tail tips, injured necks and damaged shell margins are the rule rather than the exception when they are kept together. With softshell turtles there is also the sensitive, leathery shell skin: even superficial scratches infect easily. For breeding, put them together only briefly and under supervision.

Notes

Striking warty ridges on the neck. Like all softshell turtles it depends on fine, clean sand – coarse gravel leads to shell injuries and infections.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) – Intermediate
• 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Wattle-necked softshell turtle (Palea steindachneri) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (200×80 cm aquarium), substrate (Water 30–50 cm deep, fine sand for burying), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.