Few turtles look as happy as the African sideneck turtle. They typically have a dark brown shell, olive to brown skin with black markings on their head, and a mouth that looks like a permanent smile. They are fairly unique in appearance and moderate in size, growing to an average of 7 to 12 inches. Like other turtles, they have a long life expectancy (25 to 50 years) and require a long commitment. They require moderate care but can be suitable for beginners with proper attention.
As the name suggests, African sideneck turtles originate from Africa. In the wild, they have one distinct advantage over other fellow turtles: their long neck. When flipped upside-down, these turtles can flip themselves back over using their neck muscles, an advantage that other turtles don’t have.
African sideneck turtles (Pelusios casteneus) are also known as the West African mud turtle. They are a 9-11” long, semi-aquatic, diurnal reptile found throughout western and central Africa. African sideneck turtles have large heads, smooth shells, semi-webbed feet, and two small, stubby barbels under the chin.
In recent years, the African helmeted turtle appears to be the more commonly offered species to the general public. African sideneck turtles generally do well in captivity, and are advertised as beginner-level reptiles due to their hardiness and personable dispositions. However, they are still fairly large turtles, and require specialized care.
The African Helmeted Turtle is a relatively small turtle with a shell length of 15-18 cm (6 to 7) as an adult. The shell is very thin, oval shaped, and brown to olive in color. The head is brown to olive colored and may be mottled with darker or lighter tones. The tops of the tail and limbs are a grayish brown, while the underside is yellowish. The male turtle is distinguished by its long, thick tail. Females tend to have a shorter tail and a broader carapace.
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The African Mud Turtle is placed in the family Pelomedusidae, along with 26 relatives; 2 subspecies have been described. In common with many species that have evolved in harsh environments, African Mud Turtles are among the hardiest of reptile pets; longevities in excess of 30 years have been recorded.
Largely aquatic, the African Mud Turtle lives in well-vegetated rivers, marshes and swamps, as well as in seasonally flooded pans (low areas that hold water for a time) within savannas. The dark brown to black carapace is broad and oval-shaped, and averages 6-8 inches in length; some individuals may approach 10 inches.
Pelomedusa subrufa is found throughout Africa, as far west as Ghana, and south all the way to the Cape of Africa. It has also been recorded in parts of Madagascar, and is undistinguishable from those in east Africa. Pelomedusa subrufa has a subspecies olivacea, found in northern Africa ranging from Ethiopia westward to Nigeria and the Cameroons. They are semi-aquatic animals, living in marshes, creeks and rain holes.
West African mud turtles are quite common in nature and first appeared some 120 million years ago making them one of the most primitive turtle species on earth today. They are exported in large numbers out of their native Africa and many enthusiasts are now having breeding success. Pelusios castaneus have remained easily obtainable and fairly inexpensive for the turtle keeper.
Highly adaptable, they occur in many fresh water habitats such as mud holes, swamps, rivers and ponds. The West African mud turtle is a medium sized species, growing to between 7 and 11 inches. The West African mud turtle is a medium sized, aquatic turtle found throughout West Africa.
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During droughts and when seasonal spaces dry up, the turtles will aestivate into the ground to wait out the wet season. Pelusios castaneus are a uniform brown color except for some captive born and raised specimens which may be very light colored, almost hypomelanistic in appearance. The carapace is a dark to light brown with no markings. The plastron is also brown with some lighter areas found usually in the middle. The skin is gray to brown with lighter areas underneath and on the soft parts.
Strong, semi-webbed feet with sharp nails aid the turtle in climbing and ripping food items apart. On the top of the head is where the only pattern is found. Light to yellow reticulations which are more or less defined are found here. This trait separates them from the East African mud turtle (Pelusios subniger) which features an unmarked head and a "figure 8" shaped plastron. Both P. castaneus and P. subniger exhibit a hinged plastron.
African Mud Turtles quickly learn to “beg” for food as soon as their owner appears, and make excellent, responsive pets. During feeding, it will seize its prey in its mouth and tear it to shreds with its forefoot claws. When eating and courting, the relatively small African Helmeted Turtle becomes quite aggressive. Where populations are dense, and competition for food becomes heightened, several turtles may attack larger prey together, and drag it underwater before tearing it apart.
The African Helmeted Turtle often basks midday in temperate climates where the sun is not too not. Inactive during cool, dry season (May to October). Does not dig burrows. Seeks protection in thickets and seeks shelter in surface litter.
Enclosure
Sideneck turtles need a spacious aquarium, ideally at least 75 gallons, with half to three quarters filled with water. The Aqueon Standard Glass Terrarium is a great option that comes in multiple sizes. The minimum size reptile enclosure for housing one adult African sideneck turtle requires 90-110 gallons of water, no deeper than 1.5x the length of the turtle itself.
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African Mud Turtles spend most of their lives in water, but are more “bottom crawlers” than swimmers. Their habitat needs parallel those of the American mud and musk turtles. The aquarium’s water should be of a depth that allows the turtle to breath while it is standing on the bottom of the tank (i.e. without having to swim to the surface). If provided with easy access to land, adults can also be kept in deeper water. Hatchlings should be kept in low water…just enough so that they can breathe without swimming.
Zoo Med’s Turtle Tub, wading pools, and koi ponds can be fashioned into excellent African Mud Turtle habitats. Outdoors, West African mud turtles can be housed in ponds and water gardens. This species does not hibernate so they should only be kept outside in the spring and summer if you reside in an area subjected to a cool season or winter.
Gradually sloped to a maximum depth of 12 inches, the pond should make up about 75% of the entire enclosure. The turtles will appreciate this vegetation as cover. The pond should feature an abundance of aquatic plants like hyacinth, water lettuce, iris and lilies. The turtles may leave the water during extended heat waves and seek refuge under these plants. The entire enclosure should be at least 10X10 feet for up to eight adult turtles.
A strong retaining wall of at least 18 inches is a must to prevent the inhabitants from climbing out. This can be constructed from pressure treated wood, cement blocking or landscaping timbers. The wall should also extend into the ground 6 inches or more in case of an escape via digging.
Indoors, this species can be housed by using a variety of methods. For up to four adults, a unit of at least 6X3.5 feet is suggested. Fairly easy to accommodate, Pelusios castaneus will do well in large all glass aquariums, stock tanks, troughs and custom built tubs. The water should be no more than 6 to 8 inches and can be filled with live or fake aquatic plants. The more decor the better so that the turtles can "escape" one another especially when an overly enthusiastic male is in hot pursuit of the females. Always watch for aggressive group members and remove them to avoid injuries.
Filtration
A quality water filter is essential for cleanliness, like the Aqueon Quietflow® Canister Filter. For filtration, you will need a canister-style filter capable of handling at least 2x the amount of water in the enclosure. For example, if you have an aquarium or pond with 110 gallons of water, you will need a filter rated for at least 220 gallons of water.
In addition to keeping the water clean, you should dechlorinate the water by either letting it sit out for 24 hours before adding it to the tank or by adding a dechlorinating solution like Zilla Water Conditioner. Filtration is optional but if you opt against it like I do, be ready to do water changes every 2 to 3 days. The water will dirty quickly and start to smell. Even when using a filter, water changes are inevitable because these turtles can make quite a mess during feeding time.
You will also need to perform routine water changes. Once every 1-2 weeks, remove and replace approximately 30% of the enclosure’s total water volume. As essential as filters are, periodically removing “old” water and replacing it with “new” water helps prevent toxic compounds from building up.
Basking Area
Turtles need to bask in order to warm up and regulate their metabolism. A dry basking surface is necessary. Commercial turtle docks and ramps work for smaller specimens, but large adults may sink anything that is not affixed to the glass with silicone adhesive. The first thing you’ll need to add to your aquarium is NOT optional: because African sideneck turtles are only semi-aquatic rather than fully-aquatic, you need to provide some “land” for the turtle to bask on.
Ideally, this should be enough space for the turtle to bask, walk around a bit, and burrow. However, if that’s not possible, you can use a simple turtle basking platform. Use a heat lamp to help sideneck turtles maintain a healthy body temperature. Ambient temperature should be around 80˚F and basking temperature around 90˚F. Use bulbs like the Zilla Incandescent Spot Bulbs or Zilla Mini Halogen Bulbs to create healthy heat.
Inside, artificial lighting is recommended. When housed outside, the turtles need nothing more than the sun for appropriate lighting and temperature. Mercury vapor bulbs of 100-150 watts have proven to be a good choice. They provide both UVA and UVB rays and give off excellent heat. Placed above the basking area, these bulbs will offer the turtles all they require to warm up and stay active in a room where the ambient temperature stays between the mid 70s and 80s. With the basking area reaching at least 95F and the appropriate ambient room temperature, it is not necessary to heat the water.
Lighting and Temperature
UVA and UVB is a necessity for a healthy turtle. Indoor turtles require UVB lighting and supplemental heat lights for 10-12 hours a day. Make sure to provide access to UVA/UVB on basking platforms using any Zilla Fluorescent UVA/UVB bulb.
Yes! African sideneck turtles require exposure to appropriate amounts of UVB in order to maintain good health and wellbeing. The UVB bulb should be half the length of the enclosure and housed in a reflective fixture like the Arcadia ProT5 or Vivarium Electronics. Place the lamp close to the heat lamps, about 13-14” above the basking platform. Since African sideneck turtles are a day-active species, it’s best practice to provide extra illumination via a strong LED or T5 HO 6500K daylight lamp. Lights should be on for 12 hours/day and turned off at night.
Different reptiles require different temperatures for best health. For African sideneck turtles, the basking area should be around 95°F, and the water should stay under 85°F, but no cooler than 70°F. Juveniles may require higher water temperatures of 80-85°F. Provide heat for your turtle with a cluster of at two halogen flood heat lamps clustered on one side of the enclosure and positioned over a sturdy basking branch or rock. Avoid ceramic heat emitters (CHEs), red bulbs, or blue bulbs, as these are not as effective.
A source of UVB radiation is essential. If a standard florescent bulb is used (the Zoo Med 10.0 UVB Bulb is ideal), be sure that the turtle can bask within 6-12 inches of it. Water temperatures of 78-82 F should be maintained. Large individuals may break typical aquarium heaters, so choose a model designed for use with turtles.
Substrate
For the sake of limiting the amount of work I have to put into cleaning any indoor aquatic turtle habitat, I choose to not use a substrate in the water section. It makes things much easier. However, larger sized pea gravel is a good choice if you would like to use something. Outdoors, the turtles will drag the substrate from the land/nesting into the water area which is fine.
Décor
Décor is about more than just creating an attractive enclosure - it’s also about boosting the enclosure’s functionality. Whatever you choose to add, make sure to create at least a couple places where your turtle can hide from view.
Diet
Sideneck turtles are omnivores, eating plant material, insects, fish, and crustaceans, and will enjoy aquatic turtle pellets like Zilla Turtle Sticks. There are a variety of options made for turtles that will get them excited and give them something to swim after, like Zilla River Shrimp or Turtle Chasers. African sideneck turtles are omnivorous, which means that they need both plant- and animal-based foods in their diet to get the nutrition that they need.
Pelusios castaneus will accept a wide variety of food items. We have success offering our turtles pinkies, whole skinned mice, commercial turtle pellets, chicken, fish, shrimp, beef heart, ground turkey meat and the occasional fruit like strawberries. They will also take cat and dog foods (sparingly) along with koi pellets. If kept outdoors, the turtles will sometimes catch some of their own food in the form of worms, insects, frogs and tadpoles. Even wild birds that land inside the enclosure are at risk of becoming a potential meal.
Pets should be offered a diet comprised largely of whole animals such as fish, earthworms, snails, pre-killed pink mice, crayfish and prawn. Wild African Mud Turtles take a huge variety of foods, including fish, tadpoles, snails, carrion, insects, frogs and small snakes. Whole freshwater fishes such as minnows and shiners are the best source of calcium for turtles, and provide other important nutrients not present in prepared foods. Offer fish at least once weekly. A steady goldfish diet has been implicated in liver problems in other species, so use these sparingly if at all. Other important food items include various turtle treat foods and freeze-dried krill or shrimp. A high quality commercial turtle chow (the various Zoo Med pellets are my favorites) can comprise up to 50% of the diet.
Table of recommended foods for African Helmeted Turtles:
| Food Type | Examples | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Turtle Pellets | Zoo Med, Zilla Turtle Sticks | Daily |
| Whole Fish | Minnows, Shiners | Weekly |
| Insects | Earthworms, Crickets | 2-3 times per week |
| Other Animal Protein | Pinkies, Shrimp, Crayfish | Occasionally |
| Fruits and Vegetables | Strawberries, Leafy Greens | Occasionally |
Breeding
In spring, during courtship, the male will follow the female and extend his head touching her hindquarters and vent. If she is non-responsive he will nip and snap at her legs and tail. The female will lay 13 to 16 eggs on average, normally during late spring and early summer. The eggs are covered with slime when laid, and placed in a flask shaped nest that is about 10 to 17 cm (approximately 4 - 7) deep.
The breeding success of Pelusios castaneus in captivity seems to be centered in the collections of zoos and institutions but private keepers are having some luck as well. Clutches can be as large as 11 to 18 eggs by a single female. The chalky eggs are laid in a sandy-soil substrate and the female digs a deep hole which she lowers herself down into a significant amount. Once the female has finished nesting, the eggs can be dug up and placed in an artificial incubator.
Gravid (egg-bearing) females usually become restless and may refuse food. They should be removed to a large container (i.e. 5x the length and width of the turtle) provisioned with 6-8 inches of slightly moist soil and sand. In the incubator, the eggs are kept on moist vermiculite in deli cups with air holes punched into them. At a temperature of 85-87F, the fertile eggs will hatch at around 53-59 days, sometimes more than 60. The little neonates can be placed in a similar indoor setting as the adults but the water should not be as deep. A depth of 2-4" is fine and the babies will use the aquatic plants as refuge and security. After about 4 to 7 days, they usually start accepting their first meals. They should not be placed outdoors until they are of a more substantial size like 3 to 4". I highly suggest that hatchlings be kept separate from the always hungry adults to avoid severe bites and to protect them from being consumed altogether.
Temperament and Handling
Over time, you will build a special connection with your turtle during feeding and caring for them in your daily interactions, but be cautious and gentle when it comes to picking them up. Unlike some other reptiles, turtles aren’t the kind of pet that you can handle regularly.
This species is capable of surviving in stagnant ponds and rather dirty water conditions. While no turtle likes to be picked and held, the West African mud turtle has a rather calm disposition. They rarely bite and usually withdraw into their shells if they are being handled. Some will attempt to free themselves so watch out for those sharp nails. This species has a voracious appetite and they quickly learn to recognize their keeper as a food source. They will swim and walk over to you in hopes of receiving a bite to eat. Aggression can occur during feeding time so always be on the look out for a problem. They are an inquisitive species and certainly do not just vanish under the mud except for during extreme weather conditions.
First Steps: Baby African Helmeted Turtle Discovers Its Surroundings
*This care sheet contains only very basic information. Although it’s a good introduction, please further your research with high-quality sources.
