The Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi), It lives in Mexico and the United States. It is distributed along the Rio Grande (= Rio Grande do Norte) from the Big Bend region to the Gulf of Mexico; the Pecos River from southeastern New Mexico to its confluence with the Rio Grande, with an apparent gap from just south of the New Mexico border to Independence Creek in Terrell County, Texas; and in the tributary streams of these two rivers in northeastern Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and possibly Chihuahua) and in the southwestern United States (New Mexico and Texas).

The Rio Grande cooter it is a medium to large sized aquatic turtle with pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size and other characteristics. The carapace of adults is elongated and oval., more convex in males than in females, and has its tallest point near the center and widest just behind the center. The posterior marginals are toothed and the pleurals are shallow.. Males have significantly longer and thicker tails and longer front legs than females..

The Rio Grande cooter found in a variety of freshwater habitats. It has a preference for larger and deeper pools in the streams it occupies., normally, but not always, where are aquatic plants. Substrates in their aquatic habitat vary from muddy or sandy to rocky, including algae covered limestone bedrock, and water quality ranges from clear to cloudy.

The species is found at elevations from near sea level in the lower Rio Grande to about 1100 m in southeastern New Mexico

The eating habits of Rio Grande cooter have not been well studied, but the species is apparently omnivorous and feeds opportunistically. As with other Pseudemys, adults are probably more herbivorous than young. Specimens captured in New Mexico have been observed feeding on algae that grow on submerged boulders in the Negro River., and often defecated plant matter, especially green algae.

State of conservation ⓘ
Near Threatened ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (UICN) has classified the species Pseudemys gorzugi as Near Threatened due to its limited distribution (perhaps less than 2.000 km2), the decline in the quality and quantity of their aquatic habitat and the collection of individuals from wild populations for the pet trade. These multiple threats and other, combined with low genetic diversity and low recruitment of the species, endanger the persistence of the species in many places. In this sense, the Rio Grande cooter is similar to others freshwater turtles from the southwestern United States, facing similar threats.

Predation by other animals appears to affect all life stages of the Rio Grande cooter, from eggs to adults, Although direct evidence is lacking.

Smaller individuals can be kept in aquariums or indoor tanks if they are provided with an ultraviolet light source., adults are likely to do better if kept in large open-air ponds or livestock water tanks, equipped with a water circulation and filtration system and with platforms for sunbathing.

The young eat lettuce and other green leafy vegetables., in addition to commercial food for turtles and fish, raw meat and chicken. The pups require ample sunlight or constant exposure to a normal incandescent light bulb to maintain body temperature and induce the formation of vitamin D necessary for proper calcium metabolism.

The young feed on mosquitoes (Gambusia sp.), River Crabs, lettuce, spinach and aquatic plants collected in the wild, and juveniles are fed commercial food such as dry or canned dog food, trout and catfish food or cat food.

Eggs laid in water by captive females can be incubated with excellent results., provided they recover shortly after laying. Depending on the temperature, incubation in captivity can last between 70 and 110 days. You can get a hatching success higher than 90% incubating the eggs in moist newspaper, vermiculite or clean sand.

The price of a "Rio Grande cooter" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 50 – 80 EUR.

1. Rio Grande cooter, Western River Cooter (English).
2. Pseudémyde du Rio Grande (French).
3. Rio-Grande-Schmuckschildkröte (German).
4. Cooter do Rio Grande (Portuguese).
5. "Tortuga del Río Grande", Tortuga de Oreja Amarilla, Jicotéa del Río Bravo, Terrapene del Río Grande (español).

The Florida red-bellied cooter, of scientific name Pseudemys nelsoni, is originally from the United States. This turtle is especially common in Florida and Georgia.

The Florida red-bellied cooter It is a large, heavily armored turtle with a relatively tall shell.. Head lines are less conspicuous than in other ornate turtles, but a fringe runs below the eyes, it forks and a branch on each side runs to the nose.

There are two small bumps on the edge of the upper jaw., like little teeth. The marginal scutes have a reddish stripe and black dots below.. The plastron is yellow-orange to reddish in color and gives the species its name.. The front claws of males are elongated as a mating tool.

The females of the species barely grow larger than the males and reach a length of up to 37,5 centimeters. Older animals discolor with age.

There are no known subspecies of the Florida red-bellied cooter.

The relatively small range of the Florida red-bellied cooter ranges from the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia to the Everglades. This area is quite lush, with open swamps and extensive wetlands. Habitats include slow-flowing waters, as well as marshes and wetlands.

The Florida red-bellied cooter is active all year round and is often seen basking in the sun. They are the most common turtles in the Okefenokee Swamp and in the canals of Florida..

Males reach sexual maturity at three to four years of age., and its plastron then measures between 17 and 21 cm.. Females do not reach sexual maturity until they are five to seven years old, at which time they have a body length of 26 to 27 cm.. They are of 6 to 31 eggs several times a year, The young hatch after 60 to 75 days.

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

Numerous native mammals, like raccoons, otters and skunks, they are a threat to the grounding. In water, The aligators, snapping turtles and large fish are enemies of hatchlings. But, the thick and tall shells of adults allow them to coexist with common alligators. The shells can't even be cracked for adult alligators.

In 2003, were exported from the United States 5 million ornamental turtles of the genus Pseudemys. Export statistics do not allow a more precise specification by species, but besides the Florida red-bellied cooter, only the common ornamental tortoise and the peninsular ornamental tortoise are exported. So, It can be assumed that many copies of the Florida red-bellied cooter also enters the market as pets or as food. The exporters declared that the majority of the animals came from breeding.

The Florida red-bellied cooter she is a good swimmer and needs an aquaterrarium with enough space to swim, as well as various hiding places and opportunities to rest on the furniture.

They like to sit under lianas and roots in aquariums or cling to them so that only their heads are above the water to breathe. The terrestrial part must be at least twice the length and width of the dorsal shell so that the animal can stretch out and bask there. As a key to the size of the aquaterrarium we recommend calculating with the length of the animal's carapace. The carapace is the dorsal. The size of the terrarium is calculated as follows for non-adult animals:

• Part of water: Five times the length of the animal's carapace, plus at least twice the length of the shell for the height of the water.
• Terrestrial part: At least twice the length of the animal's carapace.

Observe the growth of the animal in the coming months (fast-growing animal/slow-growing animal).

as a norm, We recommend aquarium measurements of 200 x 100 x 70 cm. (for 2 Turtles).

The aquaterrarium it should be arranged in such a way that the turtle has enough space to swim, but also enough places to rest or retire. aquarium stones, aquarium roots and lianas are suitable for it. It is important that they are placed in such a way that the turtle cannot collapse them or get trapped. Natural gravel with an average grain size of up to 5 mm.

The terrestrial part it must be built in such a way that the turtle can get to it and get out again without major problems. It must also be built in such a way that it is completely dry, so the tortoise can dry off completely and rest and bask extensively in the heat and ultraviolet light above it.

If females or a pair are kept, the land part must be built in such a way that egg laying is also possible. A digestible substrate is suitable for this, for example a mixture of clayey sand for terrariums such as Exo Terra Stone Desert and a mixture of sand with humus as JBL Terra Basis.

The Florida red-bellied cooter comes from Florida and neighboring states to the north. There they inhabit the largest and smallest lakes, as well as in some rivers.

They need a sunny spot on the land side of their aquaterrarium.. This is created by spot lighting, that provides light, heat and UV rays. The highest quality products are good enough here, because only they are equal to the natural light of the sun. Only an optimal supply of UV-B light provides your animal with enough vitamin D3 for young animals to grow optimally and adult animals to also be in top shape and display their bright colors.. We recommend the JBL L-U-W Light, which is available in different powers and in the version «Desert» o «Jungle«. This type of lighting provides light, heat and UVA/UVB rays.

For uniform lighting of your terrarium as decoration of your living space, we recommend LED lighting across the entire terrarium. Light and heating sources are basically turned on and off at a daily rate using a timer, 14h on, 10h off.

To heat the part of the water and not take away space for swimming, we recommend an external heater, as the JBL ProTemp e300 or e500. This allows the aquarium water to be heated to an optimum temperature of 25 to 27 degrees.

To filter and clean the water, high performance external filter recommended (at least 4 or 5 times the volume of water circulating per hour). series external filters Cristal Profi e of JBL are ideal for this purpose.

The Florida red-bellied cooter eat up to a 95% of herbivorous foods, that is to say, eat plant foods and a small amount of animal foods. Suitable foods include various aquarium plants, food plants for terrariums like Golliwoog®, lettuce, leaf spinach or pelleted turtle food. Gammarus, smelts, mussel meat, mixture for turtles or mosquito larvae are suitable to provide the small amount of animal protein. But, pet food should only be given once a week.

A general rule of thumb for food quantity is once or twice a day as much food as the size of the turtle's head.
Food is always sprinkled with vitamin and mineral mixes. This is the only way to avoid irreversible deficiencies, which can often cause serious illness and even death in young animals and pregnant females, for example.
It also, there should always be a cuttlefish bone in the water section so that the animals can absorb the calcium for themselves.

The Florida red-bellied cooter not considered very aggressive within the species, which means that these turtles can also be kept in pairs or in a group of a male with several females.
The Florida red-bellied cooter does not hibernate with cold, since the temperature in its original habitat is at least 16 – 17 degrees even in winter.
In spring, the Florida red-bellied cooter gets ready to mate. After mating, the female usually lays up 20 eggs in a pit up to 15 cm deep in the terrestrial part. With an incubation period of 60 to 80 days, the pups are born.

The price of a "Florida red-bellied cooter" at the exotic animal market, bred in captivity, ranges between 25 – 60 EUR, depending on its size.

1. Florida redbelly turtle (English).
2. Pseudémyde de Nelson (French).
3. Nelsons Schmuckschildkröte (German).
4. Cooter de barriga vermelha da Flórida, Tartaruga Pseudemys Nelsoni (Portuguese).
5. Tortuga Pseudemys nelsoni, Tortuga Laberinto (español).

The species had been described in 1876 by the director of the Sydney Natural History Museum, born in Brunswick, Johann Ludwig Gerard KREFFT, as Emydura subglobosa and in 1888 by BOULENGER as Emydura albertisii. For a long time the name given by BOULENGER was used. The specimens described as Emydura australis albertisii in the literature of a few years ago or still today in zoos they belong to the Emydura subglobosa. The two subspecies are distinguished subglobosa and worrelli.

The Red-bellied short-necked turtle (Emydura subglobosa) found on islands and rivers off the coast of Australia and New Guinea, like Fraser Island, the garden river, Daru, cape york, the Stradbroke Islands and the Torres Strait Islands. These turtles are also found in lowland swamps, covering large areas of the open tropical plains in western Papua New Guinea.

The Red-bellied short-necked turtle owes its name to its purple-red ventral carapace, that fades with age. Shell, of up 26,5 cm length, it's rather flat, wider behind than in front, with a keel in juveniles and without it in adults. It is brown or gray, except marginal shields, whose edge and bottom are red.

The plastron is red, pink or yellow with a reddish lateral stripe. Bright yellow stripe over eye to ear is eye-catching. The neck is relatively short. the snout is pointed. There are two yellow barbels on the chin. Juveniles are more colorful than adults, males have more contrasting colored heads than females.

In many sea turtles, freshwater and terrestrial, the sex of the embryo is influenced by the incubation temperature. But, this is not the case for Australian chelids studied to date, lacking temperature-dependent sex determination.

The preferred habitat of the Red-bellied short-necked turtle are the rivers, swamps and ponds of Papua New Guinea and Australia. In the lower reaches of the Kikori and Omati rivers they inhabit slow-moving waters, seasonal wetlands and wetlands.

Like other freshwater turtles, the Red-bellied short-necked turtle alternate periods in the water with sunny time to increase body temperature. Most of their life is spent in the water, where they look for food. If there is a shortage of water in the warmer months, move to flooded areas.

The Red-bellied short-necked turtle swims and sunbathes to control internal body temperature. During the sunbathing process, tears go down the side of the turtle's head and enter the mouth as it opens and closes, what are known as gular movements. Wheezing and foaming at the mouth have been observed, although it is more common in Emydura macquarii than in the other Emydura species. Wetting the head or limbs, removing limbs from heat exposure and changing breathing patterns are mechanisms that prevent overheating

The Red-bellied short-necked turtle snap and bite when threatened, causing painful wounds. They stick their heads in while tilting their shell towards predators to reduce damage to soft body parts.

The Red-bellied short-necked turtle has highly developed senses, necessary for communication and perception. These senses help them locate food, avoid predators and find a mate during the breeding season. Studies have shown that these freshwater turtles can communicate with each other through a wide range of vocalizations that are too soft for humans to hear.. Evidence also suggests that echolocation may evolve to find prey., in addition to being used to obtain a three-dimensional image of the turtle pond).

The Red-bellied short-necked turtle, like other freshwater turtles, has a nictitating membrane (transparent third eyelid) for underwater vision. Your sense of smell is achieved through your nose and a specialized Jacobsen's organ., that identifies chemical residues floating in the air and water.

Although turtles do not have an external ear hole, they have an eardrum that is covered with skin and can detect low-frequency vibrations underwater and on land. Red-bellied short-necked turtles have four scent glands in their shell. These glands produce a scent as a defense against predators and between competing males during the breeding season.. They communicate with potential mates through extensive courtship ceremonies that include bobbing their heads as they align their bodies..

The Red-bellied short-necked turtle it is omnivorous and feeds on filamentous algae, perifiton, sponges, aquatic macrophytes, aquatic macroinvertebrates, terrestrial insects falling into the water and carrion. These turtles also rely heavily on mollusc crushing., fish, insects, worms, aquatic plants, plant matter and seeds as part of your daily life.

During the breeding season, males communicate with females with a series of signaling postures, including a combination of simultaneous caresses, blinking eyes and swinging of the head.

In the Red-bellied short-necked turtle, females have a large area inside their shell to store eggs, while the males have a larger tail. Ovulation and nesting begin in early spring. Only female turtles come out of the water at night or first thing in the morning to lay eggs in hollow cavities built into sand or soil.. Females lay eggs in about an hour.

These turtles can produce two to four clutches a year., laying four to eleven eggs each time, with an average of 7 eggs in each clutch. The eggs hatch and hatch in the next dry season, between July and August.

The Red-bellied short-necked turtle It is listed as a species of least concern by the UICN. But, isolated populations may occur in arid regions throughout their range and have long times to sexual maturity. This combination leads some associations to think that a preventive conservation program should be applied. Increasing anthropogenic threats also pose a threat.

Human predation includes the collection of eggs and the capture of adult turtles as a local food source..

For the maintenance and care of the Red-bellied short-necked turtle, an aquaterrarium with a rim length of at least 150 cm.. This aquaterrarium must have an aquatic part and a terrestrial part for the benefit of the animals. The water part must be very large and offer swimming animals a lot of free space. Other decorations would only unnecessarily restrict the turtles' swimming space and, Therefore, are not necessary.

The Red-bellied short-necked turtle he is a peaceful and friendly creature. They can be kept as a couple or in a group without problems..

They prefer water temperatures between 22 and 28 degrees centigrade and a pH value between 6 and 8. A UV lamp must be installed for the turtles to sunbathe. It is important that turtles always stay in clean water. Animals are native to tropical and subtropical regions. They don't go into hibernation.

The duration of illumination is always given as twelve hours, because in the natural range the length of the day hardly changes over the course of the year. December is hotter than July, which is easy to explain: The red-bellied pointy-headed turtle comes from the southern hemisphere, and the seasons there shift half a year, compared to our seasons in the northern hemisphere.

But, it makes sense to care for these aquatic turtles according to our seasons, that is to say, shift temperatures half a year. In this way, heating costs are reduced in winter and also less water evaporates in winter (danger of mold!).

In summer, animals should be kept at a water temperature slightly lower than the 30 °C, while in spring and autumn temperatures of about 26-27 °C. This species does not hibernate, so it is enough to lower the temperatures to 25°C to simulate winter.

The Red-bellied short-necked turtle it is a species that feeds in a mixed way and to which the full range of foods of animal origin can be offered, but plant-based foods should also be on the menu. But, the emphasis is clearly on foods of animal origin.

These aquatic turtles also like to eat creek fleas, various mosquito larvae and insects (like crickets).

Both sexes of this turtle reach sexual maturity with a carapace length of between 14 and 16 cm.. Smaller specimens are assumed to be sexually mature with 12 cm of shell length.

In New Guinea, egg laying takes place in August and October, and is often dispersed throughout the year in captive breeding. A clutch usually consists of five to eleven eggs and is laid at a depth of five to 15 cm.. In the Red-bellied short-necked turtle, three to four clutches may occur per year.

The Emydura subglobosa belongs to the group of aquatic turtles with genetic sex fixation, that is to say, sex is not influenced by breeding temperature. At a rearing temperature of 25-30 °C, The young are born after 50 to 80 days.

Occasionally, the Red-bellied short-necked turtle are offered in pet stores. The specimens offered in the pet shop are usually European pups. But, it is more advisable to buy this beautiful tortoise from a breeder. Since this turtle is comparatively easy to breed, there are some breeders.

Its price ranges from 80 – 100 EUR.

1. Red-bellied short-necked turtle, Pink-bellied side-necked turtle, Jardine River turtle (English).
2. Tortue à ventre rouge, Emydure à ventre rouge (French).
3. Rotbauch-Spitzkopfschildkröte (German).
4. Tartaruga-de-barriga-vermelha, Tartaruga de barriga vermelha e pescoço curto (Portuguese).
5. "Tortuga de cuello corto", Tortuga de cuello corto de vientre rojo, Tortuga de cuello lateral de vientre rosado, tortuga del río Jardine, Tortuga payaso (español).

The Razor-backed musk turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) is originally from the southern United States. Its range extends through Alabama waters., Arkansas, Louisanna, Oklahoma, Texas y Florida.

the shell of the Razor-backed musk turtle it is light brown, between beige and olive brown, and has dark spots and line markings on each shield, with individual carapace scutes bordered by a narrow dark stripe. Its name refers to the strongly pronounced central keel, resembling a roof. In the youngest specimens, the keel can be especially pronounced and flatten with age.

The plastron scutes are very poorly developed (somewhat stronger in the female), and the color can vary between yellow and brown.

The soft parts of the species are gray to grey-brown with black flecks., the jaw is decorated with black stripes. There is a pair of barbels on the chin.

Shell, plastron and soft tissues of juveniles light brown with various dot and line patterns. The posterior margin of the carapace is serrated.

The males of the Razor-backed musk turtle grow to 17,5 cm length, Females reach a maximum body length of 13 cm.. This makes it the largest species in the genus. Sternotherus.

The habitat of the Razor-backed musk turtle ranges from large slow-flowing rivers to heavily vegetated swamps and floodplains, preferring soft sandy bottoms. The presence of dead wood, both above water to sunbathe and underwater to retreat, appears to be an important factor determining habitat suitability. (Lindeman 2008).

Like all species of the genus Sternotherus, the Razor-backed musk turtle it is a very aquatic species that rarely comes out of the water to sunbathe. It is very territorial and does not migrate much.. From December to February, animals go into hibernation, looking for hiding places in the substrate and on the banks. The species is active in the early hours of the morning and from afternoon to night. The Razor-backed musk turtle It is almost exclusively carnivorous and feeds on aquatic insects., clams, snails and crayfish. Molluscs increase their proportion in the diet as animals grow.

Breeding season runs mainly from spring to fall. Like this, up to two clutches of eggs may be laid per season. The sets usually contain 2 to 5 eggs. under natural conditions, The incubation period lasts between 100 and 140 days. Like this, the pups of the Razor-backed musk turtle are the latest compared to the different species of Sternotherus.

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

The Razor-backed musk turtle has been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (UICN), and their abundant populations result in their inclusion in the category of Least concern.

While populations appear to be stable, potential risks include habitat destruction, contaminated water and dead wood extraction. They are also considered the fifth most vulnerable turtle species in the commercial pet trade..

The pups of Razor-backed musk turtle are caught and sold in the commercial pet trade. These turtles are quite popular, especially in Europe, and it is estimated that around 50 000 individuals were sent to the European Union between 2008 and 2012. But, between 2002 and 2005, only about 900 individuals from the United States, suggesting that its popularity has recently increased.

Theoretically, the final size of a Razor-backed musk turtle You can reach up 17 cm., but in captivity it is usually only of 10 to 15 cm., and females are usually somewhat smaller than males. These turtles need a tank with a rim length of at least 100 cm., a conceivable size would be 100 x 50 x 50 cm.. The aquaterrarium must have an aquatic part and a terrestrial part for the benefit of the animals. The water level must be at least 15 cm and can be up to 30 cm..

Although they are classified as Aquatic Turtle, to the Razor-backed musk turtle offer them some climbing opportunities, which are usually accepted with gratitude by animals.

The illumination with an ultraviolet component it approaches nature and is recommended. Sunbathing, a spotlight should be placed on land for aquatic turtles, under which the temperature can be up to 40 degrees.

The Razor-backed musk turtle it is a rather solitary animal. The ideal is to keep them alone in the aquarium. Males are unfortunately incompatible, a socialization of females CAN work.

The Razor-backed musk turtle prefers a water temperature of between 22 and 28 degrees centigrade with a pH value between 6 and 8. During the winter months the turtle maintains the hibernation. During this time, the water temperature should be reduced to 10 – 15 Celsius degrees.

The "Razor-backed musk turtle" it's easy to feed. They can get used to frozen food, to live food and dry food. In the wild they like to eat snails and mussels which they can easily snap with their strong jaws., also insect larvae and small crustaceans and shrimps are taken with pleasure.

breeding of the Razor-backed musk turtle in the aquarium

The Razor-backed musk turtle has already been successfully bred in aquaterrariums.

This turtle owes its name musk to your musk glands, with whose help it can secrete a strong-smelling secretion to scare away predators. When kept in a aquaterrarium, the use of the glands is very rare, for example, when taken in hand. They are not used to swimming freely in the aquarium.

The price of a "Razor-backed musk turtle" at the exotic animal market, bred in captivity, ranges between 100 – 140 EUR.

1. Razor-backed musk turtle, Keeled Musk Turtle (English).
2. Cinosterne caréné (French).
3. Dach-Moschusschildkröte, Hochrückige Moschusschildkröte (German).
4. Tartaruga almiscarada de dorso de navalha (Portuguese).
5. Tortuga Carenata, Tortuga almizclera aquillada (español).

The African forest turtle (Pelusios gabonensis) It is a species of tortoise in the family Pelomedusidae.. It is endemic to Africa, where can it be found in angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda.

The maximum length of the carapace of the African forest turtle is of 23 cm., although sometimes it is reported 28,5 cm. . Males and females of this species grow to about the same size.

The habitats that the African forest turtle they are diverse: rivers, lagoons, ponds, lakes and wetlands.

The African forest turtle feed mixed, that is to say, eats both animal and plant matter. The composition of the diet is very varied, but it is observed that many specimens eat small fish, frogs and crustaceans. It also, eats a wide variety of insects, spiders, mussels, snails and annelids. Fruits and seeds of terrestrial and aquatic plants are eaten.. Diet composition does not differ between males and females.

The African forest turtle not exactly a colorful turtle. But with its hinge on the abdominal shell, that allows it to fold to protect itself from predators, as well as his almost smiling face, has some beauties to offer. Like a tropical aquatic turtle, the African forest turtle does not need a cold hibernation, but with its dry hibernation it remains a challenge when kept as a pet.

for the pups, a small aquarium is enough at first. The pups of the African forest turtle they are not very good swimmers at first. With many aquatic plants and roots you have to offer them the possibility to rest just below the surface of the water. But, after a few weeks, they become better swimmers and can cope well with higher water level. The general rule for a good water level is: three times the length of the carapace. In one African forest turtle adult would need an aquarium with a minimum length of 150 cm.. The water level can be as low as 50 cm..

The use of gravel or sand as a substrate is somewhere also a matter of personal taste, but sand is certainly closer to the natural habitat than gravel. You can create some structure with some roots or stones. These turtles like hiding places underwater, for example in the form of halved clay pots.

The land part for African forest turtle must be the egg-laying type from the start. Some specimens retire there to rest dry buried in the sand. It also, for thermoregulation a place to sunbathe should be provided, for example cork or willow wood bridge. A metal halide lamp with a UV component is ideal for lighting the sunbathing area.. It not only provides a lot of light similar to that of the sun, but also the necessary UV-B rays and thermal radiation. The distance of the lamp from the sunny spot is chosen such that a temperature of 40-45 °C.

To keep the water to a minimum of 24 °C throughout the year, a heating rod is necessary. Although the African forest turtle not very picky about water quality, A high quality external filter is still recommended for these relatively large aquatic turtles.

Although in nature a certain proportion of plant foods is eaten, the African forest turtle usually accepts almost exclusively food of animal origin in the aquarium. But, in some hatcheries they also accept lettuce and lamb's lettuce, besides the fruits (strawberries, bananas, grapes) .

as food, pellets are usually well accepted. It also, full range of live foods can be offered, dry animals and frozen foods. Regarding your vegetarian diet, must try everything that is available in aquatic plants, especially duckweed is eaten by a relatively large number of turtles of this species. the wild herbs, lettuce and carrots are also suitable. For calcium supply, always have some cuttlefish floating in the aquarium.

All Pelomedus tortoises are not internationally protected species, so wild-caught specimens remain regularly available in the reptile trade. Wild catches are often surprisingly hard, but, of course, weakened by long transport and numerous intermediate stops. If you have the chance, do not hesitate to buy european pups. The young are much more stable and less susceptible to diseases.

Its price when it is a baby, ranges between 45 – 60 EUR.

1. African forest turtle (English).
2. Péluse du Gabon (French).
3. Rückenstreifen-Pelomeduse (German).
4. Tartaruga florestal africana (Portuguese).
5. "Tortuga africana del bosque" (español).

The New Guinea snapping turtle (Elseya novaeguineae) found on islands and rivers off the coast of Australia and New Guinea, like Fraser Island, the garden river, Daru, cape york, the Stradbroke Islands and the Torres Strait Islands. These turtles are also found in lowland swamps, covering large areas of the tropical and open plains of western Papua New Guinea.

The New Guinea snapping turtle has an olive-colored head with a yellow-cream stripe that runs from the tip of the nose to the iris, passing through the eye. They have a prominent upper jaw and two yellow whiskers on their chins.; the same yellow coloration runs along the light-colored jaw line.

The upper neck region is dark gray and the lower, light grey, with red veins that run through it. This same coloration appears on the lower jaw and on the belly of the turtle., although the color may vary between bright orange, yellow or pink. The extremities, the tail, the plastron and abdominal regions are marked with red.

The New Guinea snapping turtle Young usually has brighter marks that fade as it grows., and its red color turns pink over time.

Females have a larger shell, but its tail is shorter. The shells of males oscillate between 13,3 and 17,3 cm., and those of females between 15,2 and 25,5 cm..

The New Guinea snapping turtle is a member of the family of side-necked freshwater turtles, Chelidae. They can be characterized by the way they extend and retract the neck. Place the neck and head on their side, below the top edge of the shell.

The preferred habitat of the New Guinea snapping turtle are the rivers, swamps and ponds of Papua New Guinea and Australia. In the lower reaches of the Kikori and Omati rivers they inhabit slow-moving waters, seasonal wetlands and wetlands.

Like other freshwater turtles, the New Guinea snapping turtle alternate periods in the water with sunny time to increase body temperature. Most of their life is spent in the water, where they look for food. If there is a shortage of water in the warmer months, move to flooded areas.

The New Guinea snapping turtle swims and sunbathes to control internal body temperature. During the sunbathing process, tears go down the side of the turtle's head and enter the mouth as it opens and closes, what are known as gular movements.

Wetting the head or limbs, removing limbs from heat exposure and changing breathing patterns are mechanisms that prevent overheating.

The New Guinea snapping turtle, just like other short-necked turtles, snaps and bites when threatened, causing painful wounds. They stick their heads in while tilting their shell toward predators to reduce damage to soft parts of the body..

In many sea turtles, freshwater and terrestrial, the sex of the embryo is influenced by the incubation temperature. But, this is not the case for the Australian turtles studied to date, lacking temperature-dependent sex determination.

Species Elseya novaeguineae mate all year round, with peaks in spring and autumn.

During the breeding season, males communicate with females with a series of signaling postures, including a combination of simultaneous caresses, blinking eyes and swinging of the head. The female may be motionless or swimming; when she stops the encounter and comes to the surface, the male quickly adopts a nose-to-nose position, making nose jets. Males and females continue to bob their heads in an alternating sequence while aligning their bodies.. Once this maneuver is completed, mating begins.

The New Guinea snapping turtle has odor glands in its shell that produce odors used during competition between males during the breeding season.

The gestation period lasts from 2 to 4 months.

Ovulation and nesting begin in early spring. Only female turtles come out of the water at night or first thing in the morning to lay eggs in hollow cavities built into sand or soil.. Females lay eggs in about an hour.

These turtles can produce two to four clutches a year., laying four to eleven eggs each time, with an average of 7 eggs in each clutch.

The eggs hatch and hatch in the next dry season, between July and August. There are many factors that can influence the incubation and hatching period: ambient temperatures, cloudiness, the level and flow of the river, the tides and the phase of the moon. Elevated temperatures favor early hatching and cold temperatures favor late hatching..

After digging a cavity and laying the eggs, the female of New Guinea snapping turtle immediately returns to fresh water, leaving eggs exposed.

The hatchlings make their journey to fresh water without the guidance or protection of their parents..

The New Guinea snapping turtle it is omnivorous and feeds on filamentous algae, perifiton, sponges, aquatic macrophytes, aquatic macroinvertebrates, terrestrial insects falling into the water and carrion. These turtles also rely heavily on mollusc crushing., fish, insects, worms, aquatic plants, plant matter and seeds as part of your daily life.

They depend on their wide jaws, sharp and and their front legs to tear food, and its tongue serves to direct the food towards the gaznate.

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

The New Guinea snapping turtle it is listed as a species of least concern by IUCN. But, there may be isolated populations in arid regions throughout their range and have extended times until sexual maturity. This combination leads some to think that a preventative conservation program should be applied.. Growing anthropogenic threats also pose a threat.

Predators include introduced red foxes and domestic cats. Water rats, goannas and crows prey on their nests and the offspring of many species of the genus Elseya.

Human predation includes the taking of eggs and adults as a local food source. The Emydura subglobosa has four scent glands as a defense mechanism against predators. The odor is usually only released when threatened. Although the use of musk is unknown, Recent data suggests that once the powerful smell is released, nearby predators leave the surrounding area.

The New Guinea snapping turtle can reach a maximum size of 30 cm in the aquarium. For its maintenance and care, an aquarium with an integrated terrestrial part is recommended. This container must have an edge length of at least 150 cm.. The water part should be very large and offer these swimming turtles a lot of free space. Other decorations would only unnecessarily restrict the turtles' swimming space and, Therefore, are not necessary.

These aquatic turtles are peaceful and friendly creatures.. They can be kept in pairs or in a group with several congeners without any problem.. It is also possible to keep them with other turtles of the same size and tranquility.

The New Guinea snapping turtle prefers a water temperature between 22 and 28 degrees centigrade and a pH value between 6,0 and 8,0. A UV lamp must be installed for the turtles to sunbathe. Below this temperature, animals can also enjoy temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius.

The New Guinea snapping turtle is omnivorous. They can be fed frozen and live food. Especially fish, insects and invertebrates are easily accepted.

The New Guinea snapping turtle (Emydura novaeguineae) has already been successfully bred in the aquarium. They are possible almost 4 put per year.

The price of a "New Guinea snapping turtle" at the exotic animal market, bred in captivity, ranges between 90 – 120 EUR.

1. Western New Guinea stream turtle or New Guinea snapping turtle (English).
2. Tortue de Nouvelle-Guinée (French).
3. Neuguinea-Schnappschildkröte (German).
4. Tartaruga de córrego do oeste da Nova Guiné (Portuguese).
5. Tortuga mordedora de Nueva Guinea, Tortuga del arroyo de Nueva Guinea occidental (español).

Sources:

1 – (Legler y Georges, 1993)
2 – (Adams y Georges, 1996; Georges, 1995; Georges, et to the., 2006; Legler y Georges, 1993; Webb, 1978)
3 – (Georges Guarino and Bito, 2006)
4 – (Legler y Georges, 1993; Ernst y Barbour, 1989)
5 – (Werneburg et al., 2009)

The Scorpion mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) It is native to the south-southeast of Mexico., including Cozumel Island), south to Belize, and in the Caribbean channels in Honduras, Nicaragua and on the Island of San Andres, Colombia. It also, It is distributed in the Pacific channels in southern Mexico., Central America to Panama; Atlantic drainages, and other inland or coastal regions of South America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad, Venezuela, and disjunct populations in Argentina and Paraguay.

• Scorpion mud turtle (subspecies) – Kinosternon scorpioides scorpioides (Linnaeus, 1766)
• White-throated mud turtle – Kinosternon scorpioides albogulare (Duméril and Bibron, 1870)
• Red cheeked mud turtle – Kinosternon scorpioides cruentatum (Duméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1851)

The Scorpion mud turtle is a Kinosternidae (mud turtle) medium to large in size with an oval shell (top shell) with a length of 92-270 mm. The shell may have three keels (Crests) in many individuals . The plastron (lower shell) has two hinges and little or no anal notch on posterior lobe. The first vertebral scale (shield or foil) of the carapace is wider than long, and the vertebral scales 1 to 4 have distinct posterior notches. Shell color varies from light brown to olive or black; head may be brown, gray or black with a reticulate or cream-colored spotted pattern, orange, red, pink or yellow. In most individuals the tip of the tail has a horny spine.. This description of Scorpion mud turtle should be compared with the anatomical features of other kinosteridos similar-looking North Americans described in other works.

Scorpion mud turtle

Detail view of the plastron, look at the shape and shields of the bridge	Shell view of Kinosternon scorpioides	Kinosternon scorpioides, head details	Kinosternon scorpioides, hind leg details	Kinosternon scorpioides, front leg details	Detail of supracaudal shields

Source: Vicente.niclos

Carapace length 92-270 mm

They are found in shallow water, in flooded forests, swamps and ponds from Mexico to Argentina and is said to be the quelonio with the widest distribution in the neotropics.

Its feet are webbed, but this species of turtle divides its time between water and land and prefers to walk on the bottom instead of swimming. They can be aggressive and can inflict a painful bite with their horny parrot-like beak. When the male of a species is larger than the female, usually indicates that males compete for females or have to subdue them.

Not currently classified as at risk, but the widespread consumption of adults and eggs, along with deforestation, has caused a decrease in their number in some areas.

This species is widely consumed in For, where the "casquinha de Muçuã» is one of the most famous dishes of Belem.

The Scorpion mud turtle usually kept as a pet. Of course, they are beautiful aquatic turtles, but that alone is not enough. They are easy to care for. One of the reasons is that, like tropical turtles, they do not need to hibernate. Since they feed almost exclusively on foods of animal origin, planted aquariums are also possible.

To the Scorpion mud turtle he likes to climb.

The Scorpion mud turtle can grow to a maximum body length of 20 cm in the aquarium. These aquatic turtles need an aquarium with an integrated terrestrial part for basking.. Said container must have a size of at least 80 x 40 x 40 cm.. The water part must have a sand or gravel substrate. It also, the Scorpion mud turtle needs climbing opportunities. especially the stones, roots or plants are very popular.

The Scorpion mud turtle is a solitary animal. The ideal is to keep them individually in a nice aquarium.

These reptiles adapt perfectly to the conditions of the aquarium water.. They prefer water temperatures between 20 and 28 Celsius degrees. low heat point, temperature can also be 40 degrees Celsius.

The Scorpion mud turtle accepts meat and vegetable food. In the aquarium, However, live and frozen food preferred. They also eat turtle sticks or dried animals.

The Scorpion mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) have already been successfully bred in the aquarium. They lay eggs, which they then bury in the sand. A set can contain up to 5 eggs. The young hatch after 60 to 120 days.

The price of the offspring "Scorpion mud turtle" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 80 – 120 EUR.

1. Scorpion mud turtle (English).
2. Tortue scorpion, Cinosterne de l’amazone (French).
3. Skorpions-Klappschildkröte (German).
4. Muçuã, Jurará (Portuguese).
5. "Tortuga estuche", Casquito escorpión, Morrocoy de agua, Tapaculo, Chachagua y Tortuga de pecho quebrado (español).