CareSheets for Some Exotic Species of Turtles
Turtles from Asia, Africa and South America have found their way to North America and Europe in increasing numbers in recent years. The purpose of this webpage is to provide accurate care sheets for new owners. Since captive breeding can reduce the practice of taking animals from the wild, it is strongly encouraged. If you have a foreign species of turtle not covered here, and would like to help out with this project, contact me. Together, we can put up a new care sheet on that species. I am especially eager to work on species that have little or no coverage on the internet
African Sidenecked Turtle - Pelusios subniger
Asian Box
Turtles (If you're not sure which kind, check here first)
Asian Four-Eyed Turtles - genus Sacalia
Asian Leaf Turtles -Geoemyda spengleri ,Cyclemys dentata and others
Australian Snake-necked Turtle - Chelodina longicollis
Chinese Striped-Necked Turtle: Ocadia sinensis
Japanese Pond Turtle - Mauremys japonica
Malaysian Black Mud Turtle - Siebenrockiella crassicollis
Murray River Turtle: Emydura macquarrii
Spiny Turtle - Heosemys spinosa
Red-bellied Short-necked Turtle - Emydura subglobosa
South American Flat-headed Turtle (Twistnecks) - Platemys platycephala
(More to come)
A special note about Asian turtles: Many Asian species are in jeopardy because of loss of habitat and very heavy use as food and in medicines, e.g. aphrodisiacs. Learn more about this and find out what you can do here: Turtles in Crisis: The Asian Food Markets, by James E. Barzyk.
You can find additional information on the Asian turtle crisis and other chelonia conservation concerns at the TortoiseAid International website.
The New York Turtle and Tortoise Society has assembled an extensive collection of articles and information on the topic at their website: The Asian Turtle Crisis
