Yunnan box turtle (Cuora yunnanensis)

Short answers

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

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

Yunnan box turtle: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C, basking spot 28–30 °C, at night 15–18 °C.

Yunnan box turtle: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Yunnan box turtle: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: uncertain, probably 30+ years.

Yunnan box turtle: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C

Night temperature

15–18 °C

Basking spot

28–30 °C

Humidity

60–80 %

UVB

UVB needed, moderate (Ferguson zone 1–2)

Enclosure

Minimum size

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

Substrate

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

Feeding

Food

Omnivorous: invertebrates (worms, snails, insects), plants, fruit

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

~16–18 cm (400–600 g)

Life expectancy

uncertain, probably 30+ years

Origin

Yunnan (southern China), highland forests and wetlands; rediscovered in 2004

Protection status

CITES Appendix II (a zero quota for wild-caught animals) / an EU annex – registration required. IUCN: Critically Endangered; only a handful of animals worldwide, so effectively conservation breeding only.

Brumation

Yes – a cooler winter rest (the Yunnan highlands), probably ~8–12 °C over a few weeks or months (uncertain).

Cohabitation

Single housing; solitary. Conservation breeding strictly controlled. The reason is territory: males ram and bite one another, and females are harassed so persistently during prolonged courtship that they visibly lose weight. Worn shell edges and bites on the hind legs are what you end up showing the vet.

Notes

One of the rarest turtles in the world (thought extinct until 2004). A cooler highland climate than the tropical Cuora. Almost no published husbandry data – the figures are derived from its origin, climate and genus (low confidence).

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Yunnan box turtle (Cuora yunnanensis) 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 Yunnan box turtle (Cuora yunnanensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (~120×60 cm (land plus shallow water) per animal), substrate (A soil or leaf substrate they can dig in plus shallow water; planting and 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.