Common Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)

Common Snake-necked Turtle Chelodina longicollis
Name	Common Snake-necked Turtle
Name Lat.	Chelodina longicollis
Family	Austro-American Sideneck Turtles
Family lat.	Chelidae
Order	Turtles
Order lat.	Testudines
Origin	SE-Australia
Habitat	Rivers, swamps
Diet	Dry food, fish, insects
Humidity	60-80 %
Behavior	Aquatic
Keeping	Pair, group
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Aquaterrarium
Life Span	25-30 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	20-28 cm
Temperature	25-28 °C
Temperature Local	35-40 °C
Housing Size	180 x 80 x 80 cm
US Units
Size	8"-11"
Temperature	77-82 °F
Temperature Local	95-104 °F
Housing Size	70" x 30" x 30"

Distribution and habitat

The diurnal smoothback snake-necked turtles are widespread in Australia, from New South Wales to Queensland and South Australia. There they live in slow flowing waters and lakes as well as swamps and lagoons with dense vegetation.

Maintenance

Recommended minimum dimensions for the aquaterrarium, according to the size and number of animals

Floor space for 1-2 animals: 5PL x 2,5PL (L x W)

Water level: 2PB

The carapace length (PL) and carapace width (PB) is measured on the largest animal. For each additional animal, increase the footprint by 10%, and for the 5th animal and larger, increase the footprint by 20%. An aquaterrarium of e.g. L 180 x W 80 x H 80 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

The water part, with soft, muddy substrate, should be structured with roots, aquatic plants and larger stones (visibility barriers and hiding places), some of which reach the water surface. In addition, they need a small, sandy land part with plants and roots, as well as a place for sunbathing. To maintain water quality, a powerful filter with low flow and frequent water changes are recommended

	Water Temp	lighting	Sunny
Summer	25-27 °C	12-14 hrs.	35-40 °C
Winter (2-3 months)	18-24 °C	10-12 hrs

Special lamps that produce the necessary heat and UV light are ideal. Daily UV irradiation is essential.

Diet

They feed mainly on animal food. The food supply consists of insect larvae, earthworms, meal beetle larvae and fish or a commercially available pelleted or freeze-dried ready-made food for aquatic turtles. Frozen food is also well accepted. In addition, they occasionally need plant food, such as lettuce, dandelion, endive, and aquatic plants (e.g., waterweed). Adult animals should be offered food twice a week. Regular addition of minerals and vitamins is important

A varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

The males have a concave ventral carapace (plastron) and a much longer tail. Mating occurs year-round, but the end of the rainy season is preferred. Egg-laying occurs twice a year. The female buries her eggs (up to 20 eggs) near water bodies. The incubation period is 120-180 days at an average of 29° C. The young hatch at the beginning of the following rainy season.

Important

They need a large aquaterrarium and should not be socialized with other aquatic turtles. Although the animals are very compatible with each other, care must be taken to ensure that low ranking animals receive adequate food. Snake-necked turtles are almost exclusively aquatic. Occasionally, egg-laying occurs underwater in mud. Embryonic development in the egg does not begin until the body of water has dried up.

Particular attention should be paid to good water quality.

The terrarium must have good ventilation without drafts and meet the species-specific needs. Measuring devices such as thermometers, hygrometers, etc. are necessary. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Contamination must be removed regularly

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: petdata; Image: petdata

Source: BMELV (1997): Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Reptilien; ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF