The East African black mud turtle (Pelusios subniger), also known as the Pan terrapin, is a turtle species found in eastern and southeastern Africa.
Physical Characteristics
The East African black mud turtle has a smooth, rounded upper shell called a carapace. This shell can be about 5 to 8 inches long. The carapace is typically dark brown, gray, or black, often with yellow or dark markings on the margins. They are rather dull in color like most of their genus.
The bottom shell, called the plastron, has a hinge, meaning it can move. Both P. castaneus and P. subniger exhibit a hinged plastron. The underside of the turtle can be brown, grey, black, or yellow. The upper jaw has a blunt, smooth shape. The head of an adult is generally uniform in color.
Like all side-necked turtles, this turtle pulls its head into its shell sideways. It does not pull its head straight back.
Distribution and Habitat
The species occurs in much of eastern and southeastern tropical and subtropical Africa, with a southern limit in Zimbabwe, and including Madagascar and the Seychelles (P. s. parietalis in the latter location). These turtles live in many parts of eastern and southeastern Africa. You can find them as far south as Zimbabwe. They also live on islands like Madagascar and the Seychelles.
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Some populations of these turtles have also been found in new places, including Mauritius Island, Guadeloupe, Glorieuses Îsles, and Diego Garcia. 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 East African black mud turtle inhabits marshes, lakes and streams.
Diet and Behavior
The East African black mud turtle is an omnivorous animal. This means it eats both plants and animals. Wild African Mud Turtles take a huge variety of foods, including fish, tadpoles, snails, carrion, insects, frogs and small snakes. The East African black mud turtle is omnivorous and takes fish, invertebrates, and plants.
Although the East African black mud turtle can be seen basking throughout the day, they are more active at night and are considered to be nocturnal. They have been observed to burrow into the mud to regulate their body temperature.
African Mud Turtles spend most of their lives in water, but are more “bottom crawlers” than swimmers.
Reproduction
Females lay nests with 3-12 eggs. They lay their eggs in the spring and bury them in the mud. Eggs take about two months to hatch.
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Longevity
These turtles can live a long time. It is known to reach an age of over fifty years in captivity and forty-seven years in the wild. They have been known to live over 50 years when cared for by humans. 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.
Conservation Status
The main type of East African black mud turtle (P. s. subniger) is currently listed as "least concern" by the IUCN. This means there are enough of them, and they are not in immediate danger. However, the Seychelles subspecies (P. s. parietalis) is listed as endangered.
Keeping as Pets
The East African black mud turtle can be a good pet. They are strong, medium-sized turtles. The East African black mud turtle does well in captivity. It is a hearty, mid-sized turtle that does well in a twenty-gallon tank. They must be given room to swim and ideally a place to bask under a warm light as well.
African Mud Turtles quickly learn to “beg” for food as soon as their owner appears, and make excellent, responsive pets. You can socialize pet aquatic turtles with frequent interaction, and African side-necks are no exception. They are fast to learn their keepers. Because they have a strong instinct to find food.
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Habitat Needs
- 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.
- 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.
Water Quality
Unless the enclosure can be emptied and cleaned several times weekly, a powerful submersible turtle filter or canister filter will be necessary. Turtles are messy feeders and very hard on water quality. Even with filtration, partial water changes are essential. 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 to it. A recommended pH of 6.5 (a fairly neutral pH) should be maintained and can be easily checked with water test strips from the pet store.
They can experience skin problems if the Ph of the water is not maintained between 6.0 and 6.5.
Temperature and Lighting
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. As tropical species, a temperature of 78-82 degrees F should be maintained. 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.
Diet
Pets should be offered a diet comprised largely of whole animals such as fish, earthworms, snails, pre-killed pink mice, crayfish and prawn. 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. Gravid (egg-bearing) females usually become restless and may refuse food.
Social Behavior
These turtles are easy to handle and are not aggressive towards humans but are highly aggressive towards other turtles, thus cannot be housed with other breeds of turtles and should be introduced slowly to conspecifics. Because they have a strong instinct to find food. Their long strong neck gives them a distinct advantage over arguments with fellow turtles. If they find themselves turned over on their shells, these turtles can right themselves using their neck muscles.
They will attack and kill birds, mice, insects and nearly anything else they can get a hold of so if you house them outdoors screening over their habitat is a good consideration.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Carapace Length | 5-8 inches |
| Color | Dark brown, gray, or black with possible yellow or dark markings |
| Habitat | Marshes, lakes, and streams in eastern and southeastern Africa |
| Diet | Omnivorous: fish, invertebrates, and plants |
| Activity | Nocturnal but can be seen basking during the day |
| Lifespan | Over 50 years in captivity |
