Big-headed Turtle

1 Overview

The big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) is a strange Asian turtle whose enormous, triangular, hook-beaked head cannot be pulled into the shell. Wild populations have been depleted by traditional-medicine demand, so captive breeding now supplies the market.

CONSERVATION NOTE: it is protected across its range (CITES Appendix II / protected in China). Keep only captive-bred individuals and check local law.

2 Appearance

The head is large and triangular, covered with a hard keratin shield, with a strongly hooked eagle-like upper jaw, large eyes and no external eardrum. The brown carapace is elongate-oval, flat-centred, with smooth (non-dentate) edges. The olive plastron is small and flat, joined to the carapace by ligament. Grey limbs carry tile-like scales and sharp claws with half-webbed feet – good on land and in water.

3 Care & Temperament

They are very wild and aggressive compared with other turtles and adapt poorly to captivity at first. New arrivals should not go straight into tap water – keep them dry, mist the body and surroundings, and offer live prey (tadpoles, small frogs, earthworms). Once feeding, move to shallow (10-15 cm) aged pond/stream water; deepen to ~30 cm after they settle. Long-term refusers need injected vitamin B/C.

4 Habitat & Environment

They prefer clean, clear water but feeding fouls it quickly, so change water often (after meals in warm months, midday in autumn, not in winter). Pond, tank or reservoir systems all work; a shaded, quiet, sunny, well-drained site with a 1-1.5 m escape wall and a nesting area suits farm setups.

5 Diet & Feeding

Feed according to season: peak appetite and growth are July-September (feed abundantly); in cool spring/autumn feed at midday; in autumn build fat reserves before brumation.