Yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis)

Short answers

Yellow-spotted river turtle: How big does the enclosure need to be?

250×100 cm aquarium.

Yellow-spotted river turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–31 °C, basking spot 35 °C, at night 23–26 °C.

Yellow-spotted river turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0).

Yellow-spotted river turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 40–60 years.

Yellow-spotted river turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–31 °C

Night temperature

23–26 °C

Basking spot

35 °C

Humidity

Aquatic

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

250×100 cm aquarium

Substrate

Water 40–60 cm deep, sand, roots, a large basking spot

Feeding

Food

Water plants, fruit, fish, pellets – adults are mostly plant-eating

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

35–50 cm

Life expectancy

40–60 years

Origin

The Amazon and Orinoco basins

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keep singly or as a pair given plenty of space. Two males harass each other and the females; under constant courtship a female visibly loses condition. A pair only works with the ability to separate them - as soon as the male harasses the female, it must come out. With more space, one male to several females works better.

Notes

The young have brilliant yellow head spots that are lost in the females. It grows large and needs a great deal of water volume and warmth – a normal aquarium is not enough for adults.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) – Beginner to intermediate
• Argentine snake-necked turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera) – Intermediate
• Eastern long-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis) – Intermediate
• Gibba turtle (Mesoclemmys gibba) – Intermediate
• Matamata (Chelus fimbriata) – Expert
• Hilaire's toadhead turtle (Phrynops hilarii) – Intermediate
• Murray River turtle (Emydura macquarii) – Intermediate
• Northern snake-necked turtle (Chelodina rugosa) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (250×100 cm aquarium), substrate (Water 40–60 cm deep, sand, roots, a large 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.