Your African Side Neck Turtle will need a place to swim and bask, especially among a group. var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; These are sensory organs that look a lot like a beard. Hahaha. Our Adoptable Dog of the Week is Pete, a 4 years old Miniature Schnauzer mix from Millersville, Maryland. When choosing a turtle tank, wider is always better than taller. When turtles bite their food, small particles will remain in the water. Lighting can be provided via fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs from above or via an undertank heater. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); The African Aquatic Side-neck Turtle is also called African helmeted turtle or African mud turtle. The main predators of the African Sideneck Turtle are carnivorous birds, such as eagles and falcons. That being said, it’s a wise idea to have a reptile veterinarian on hand before you even bring your pet turtle home. African side-neck turtles can be very aggressive. // mobile ads for (var i = 0; i < dfp728Slots.length; i++) { If you keep multiple turtles, we recommend feeding them one at a time, as described above, to avoid food aggression and feeding frenzies. "); From the 'net: In the wild, African sideneck turtles usually eat invertebrates such as insects and worms. googletag.cmd.push(function () { Do they bite? .addSize([320, 700], [320, 50]) We also have well started baby African side neck turtle as well as juvenile and adult sideneck turtles for sale. African sideneck turtles are hardy, active, moderately sized and naturally abundant. if (typeof googlefc == "object") { Alternatively, you could also have them in a… Aquatic turtles like the African sideneck benefit from ultraviolet lights, too, particularly from UVB rays. !function (e, f, u) { The African Sideneck Turtle can vary in color from tan and dark brown, to gray and black. These turtles have become quite popular as pets, as they are hardy, curious, and active, but pet owners should be aware that these animals can sometimes be a little aggressive too. The African Sideneck Turtle belongs to the family Pelomedusidae, which encompasses several different species. f.parentNode.insertBefore(e, f); To ensure your turtle is receiving the right amounts of nutrients, we also recommend providing a calcium block or other vitamin and mineral supplements periodically. !function (e, f, u) { Females can grow 8 inches and above, reaching even 20 inches, as opposed to the males, who restrict their height to about 9 inches at adulthood. They are also sometimes called East African Serrated Mud Turtles. They can also be aggressive with each other, but mainly this occurs when they are eating, mating, or kept in a habitat that is too small or dirty. You can also provide aquatic plants for snacking on, and these turtles like munching on the leaves of water lettuce and water hyacinth. The amount of water in the tank will depend upon your turtle’s length. googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_320x50_Bottom_PETS_Mobile', [320,50], 'PetGuide_com_320x50_Bottom_PETS_Mobile').defineSizeMapping(googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1024, 10], [99999, 99999]).addSize([642, 10], [99999, 99999]).addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build()).addService(googletag.pubads()); In the case of the African sideneck this includes driftwood, large flat rocks (some of which should be used to create an above water basking spot under the UVB basking light), cork bark slabs, and plants. They’re curious, and shouldn’t really be kept with turtles of other species unless they are the same size or larger than the sideneck (which ranges from 8 to 18 inches long), because their curiosity can make them a bit of a bully at times and they may push or bite. The African Sideneck Turtle’s face can be described as friendly and adorable in appearance. African sidenecks get their nickname due to their inability to withdraw their heads fully into their shells, instead drawing their head to the side and under the upper edge of their shell. While sidenecks don’t “climb” trees, they do have powerful claws on their feet that enable them to climb inclines. One reason for their lack of popularity is their smell. African Sideneck Turtles . To avoid frequent tank cleanings, simply remove your turtle from its tank and feed it in a separate container. Turtles that hatched in captivity will make the best pets and will be the most social. African Aquatic Sideneck Turtles can also be placed in ponds were living Koi fish are. How to clean? In the wild, African sidenecks are omnivores, munching without discretion on insects, plants, and fish that are native to its habitat. ... They’ll mostly tuck their head away, but they can also bite. vsCFTagsNonEuFunctions.push(vsCFTaboolaHeaderNonEU); The African Sideneck Turtle belongs to the family Pelomedusidae, which encompasses several different species. }); It is surpassed only by the island dweller tortoises from Aldabra and Galápagos. if you find one, reach you hand down in there and grab the first few inches of soil for it to… There are only a few things that West African mud turtles/sidenecks require to live happily: You can use a variety of things as your turtle tank, including all-glass aquariums, large Rubbermaid totes, baby pools, custom-built enclosures, etc. .build(); The West African Side-Necked Turtle (Pelusios castaneus), is found in the lakes, rivers and marshes of West Africa from Senegal and Nigeria to the Congo and Zaire. Photo credit: plecojan/Flickr; Bethabus/Flickr; stephanie tichenor/Flickr. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; They are very similar to the African helmeted turtle, however, and the names are frequently interchanged. The African sideneck is native to the West African countries of Angola, Guinea, Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Congo. Always pair your lights with digital thermometers to ensure proper temperatures are maintained. googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_1x1_Slimcut_PETS_Content', [1, 1], 'PetGuide_com_1x1_Slimcut_PETS_Content').addService(googletag.pubads()); A good temperature range for your turtle’s water is between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re looking for a pet that will provide you with entertainment and make an interesting display, African sidenecks are a great choice. e.async = 1; Category: Mainland African Water Turtles. Living in a shell. .addSize([1024, 200], [728, 90]) For example, a P. castaneus adult turtle could be up to a foot long, while the P. sinuatus will grow to 20” as an adult, and the Pelomedusa subrufa will only be around 6-8” long as an adult. function vsCFTaboolaHeaderNonEU() { var dfpMapping728x90 = googletag.sizeMapping() Just like it's cousin, the African Helmeted Turtle, the West African Side-Necked Turtle belongs to the most ancient of all living turtles, having first appeared 120 million years ago. Adult African Aquatic Sideneck Turtles will need a 40-70 gallon aquarium. Some will attempt … However, like other aquatic turtles, these animals aren't for handling. Pink Belly Sideneck Turtle Habitat e.async = 1; googletag.pubads().setTargeting("folder1", "breeds"); }); Pelusios sinuatus, the East African Serrated Side-necked Turtle. they are hibernating, so less bite and less walk. For a group of adult West African mud turtles, an area of 6 feet by 3 feet that can hold between 125 and 175 gallons of water will suffice. For substrate, you can either use large pebbles/gravel (too big to swallow), or you can use nothing at all. _taboola.push({article:'auto'}); No, african side neck turtles are not known to bite. dfp728Slots[i].set('adsense_url_color','0983B6'); When they’re young and growing, Insects and protein should make up the majority of your sideneck turtle’s diet. 4 turtles for sale ’ re young and growing, insects and worms least 1.5 times the length about., on Flickr Creative Commons ( click image to se larger view.... Range of natural habitats, such as eagles and falcons and Galápagos of vocalizations that humans can hear! Also, a heater will keep the temperature between 70-75°F in the same space choosing a turtle with... Well started baby African side Neck turtles love our turtle … adult African side-necked turtle may experience its... 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