If the show of aggression progresses to actual bite, the bites will be more forceful than the harmless nipping of a mating ritual and may actually cause injuries. When choosing a turtle tank, wider is always better than taller. make sure you shine a flashlight in there first, cause of OTHER hibernating animals. By very careful with your fingers; African side-neck turtles may bite. googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_190x27_Sponsor_PETS_Content', [190, 27], 'PetGuide_com_190x27_Sponsor_PETS_Content').addService(googletag.pubads()); The African Sideneck Turtle is a part of a group of turtles. This article was verified and edited for accuracy by Dr. Adam Denish, VMD. To keep your turtle tank clean you can either change the water frequently, every few days or so. To make sure your furbaby stays comfy in the summer heat, get them a cooling pad- they'll love it. African Side Neck Turtles love our turtle … Another common name they are known by is West African mud turtle. Depending on your local climate, African sidenecks can be kept indoors or outside. 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 … Remember, turtles don’t jump, they like to float, dive, and bask. console.log("cf: taboola googlefc not found. - You ask, and we deliver. Your African Side Neck Turtle will need a place to swim and bask, especially among a group. You can also feed your turtle chopped collard greens, dandelions, and mixed vegetables, too. They're stressed very easily, and they might bite when provoked. 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. The dominant turtle may also continue chasing the less-dominant turtle away even after it has given up the fight. } When provided with the proper environment and diet, your African sideneck turtle will give you years of companionship. 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. If it experiences a significant and unexplainable change in weight, dehydration or illness could be the cause. For single turtles, a 40-gallon glass aquarium will suffice as well. dfp728Slots.push(googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_728x90_Top_PETS_Content', [728, 90], 'PetGuide_com_728x90_Top_PETS_Content').defineSizeMapping(dfpMapping728x90).addService(googletag.pubads())); Also, a heater will keep the temperature between 70-75°F in the water and 95-100°F in the basking area. Eastern Box Turtles . Do they bite? googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_x61_PETS', [1658,1000], 'PetGuide_com_x61_PETS').defineSizeMapping(googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1024, 10], [1658, 1000]).addSize([0, 0], [99999, 99999]).build()).addService(googletag.pubads()); Turtles that hatched in captivity will make the best pets and will be the most social. } If you’re considering any other reptiles for sale, sides sideneck turtles for sale, check out our sister site, CB reptile. We'll see you soon… dfp728Slots[i].set('adsense_border_color','ffffff'); googlefc.callbackQueue.push(function() { Adult African Aquatic Sideneck Turtles will need a 40-70 gallon aquarium. African Aquatic Sideneck Turtles need many room to swim around, you should only fill half of the tank with water so they can get out of the water in their basking spot and get ventilated. However, like all other aquatic turtles, you should consider your African Sideneck Turtle a display pet that likely will not be easy to hold. Also, the face of this turtle breed can be described as friendly and adorable in appearance, thanks to its large, round eyes and the mouth that looks like it is smiling. These are sensory organs that look a lot like a beard. dfp728Slots[i].set('adsense_text_color','000000'); Lastly, if you notice little worms floating around in your turtle tank, if your turtle is unable to swim or breathe properly, or if your turtle has a lot of bubbling coming from its nose, it probably has a parasite problem. They are very similar to the African helmeted turtle, however, and the names are frequently interchanged. googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_160X600_RightBottom_PETS_Content', [160,600], 'PetGuide_com_160X600_RightBottom_PETS_Content').defineSizeMapping(googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1024, 10], [160, 600]).addSize([642, 10], [160, 600]).addSize([0, 0], [99999, 99999]).build()).addService(googletag.pubads()); For substrate, you can either use large pebbles/gravel (too big to swallow), or you can use nothing at all. Therefore, always do your homework correctly before buying this wonder for yourself. The size of an adult African side-necked turtle may vary, considering the gender and the species of the turtle. The musk glands are very powerful weapons against predators, including humans. Category: Mainland African Water Turtles. That said, they are hardy turtles and can withstand periods of deprivation. Shop all reptile snakes, turtles & more online vsCFTagsNonEuFunctions.push(vsCFTaboolaHeaderNonEU); The African Sideneck Turtle belongs to the family Pelomedusidae, which encompasses several different species. Variety is important in an African Sideneck Turtle’s diet. 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. Thankfully there are smaller water turtles like the Mississippi map turtle that don't require such large habitats. Also known as African Mud Turtles or African Helmeted Turtles, these turtles can’t completely hide their heads in their shells. They have lightly webbed feet with long, sharp claws, or nails. One shipping charge covers up to 4 turtles for sale. Click the link to find out more. 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. you find a river, and look for holes. dfp728Slots[i].set('adsense_url_color','0983B6'); The main predators of the African Sideneck Turtle are carnivorous birds, such as eagles and falcons. There are currently no recognized subspecies of African sideneck turtle. e.async = 1; dfp728Slots[i].set('adsense_link_color','0000aa'); A mix of artificial and live plants is fine, just make sure that there are plenty, as the sideneck needs to be able to hide away when necessary, especially in a multi-turtle habitat, where it will need to hide occasionally from other turtles that are getting aggressive. The African Aquatic Side-neck Turtle is also called African helmeted turtle or African mud turtle. Instead, this turtle is known for folding its head underneath the upper edge of his shell after his head has been drawn to the side. In the wild, African sidenecks are omnivores, munching without discretion on insects, plants, and fish that are native to its habitat. These turtles will kill any fish or frogs in their enclosure. When given proper care, African sideneck turtles can easily live for a few decades. That being said, it’s a wise idea to have a reptile veterinarian on hand before you even bring your pet turtle home. When placing UVB/UVA lights, keep in mind that any plastic, plexi-glass, or glass blocking them will prevent the beneficial rays from reaching your turtle. Pet owners who keep African side-necked turtles often find that they are unfriendly and can be aggressive; they will bite at other turtles in the same aquarium and will nip at humans who put their hands too close. .addSize([320, 400], [320, 50]) But fortunately there is something that you can do which will completely eliminate this problem. Turtle- and water-safe logs and other types of wood in the aquarium are good for your turtle, but arrange them in a way that will not allow your turtle to use them to launch itself out of the tank, otherwise you may have an injured turtle on your hands. Always pair your lights with digital thermometers to ensure proper temperatures are maintained. If you keep multiple turtles, we recommend feeding them one at a time, as described above, to avoid food aggression and feeding frenzies. for (var i = 0; i < dfp728Slots.length; i++) { var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; If you’re looking for a pet that will provide you with entertainment and make an interesting display, African sidenecks are a great choice. These turtles vary from one individual to another in terms of their size. They have olive-to-brown heads with black markings on top, and two barbels (beard-like sensory organs) that protrude from the lower jaw. '//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'; There should be hiding places available, too, so focus on decorating your tank with plants and décor that can give your turtle a sense of security when he does not want to be out in the open. Turtle chopped collard greens, dandelions, and they might bite when provoked ensure proper are! Greens like spinach, romaine, and these turtles also feature feet are... 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