Asian Giant Turtle
2 Photo Gallery
1 Overview
The Asian giant turtle (Heosemys grandis), also called the giant Asian pond turtle, is Asia’s largest hard-shelled, semi-aquatic turtle. Rarely kept as a pet, it is more often seen in temples. Omnivorous and long-lived (~80 years).
2 Appearance
Not a Chinese species; from the Thailand-Malaysia-Indonesia region. A large turtle with one obvious central keel like a keelbone; the big head and limbs retract into the shell. The head is huge with bright eyes. Mature around 3.5 kg, old individuals exceed 45 cm and 15 kg. The adult carapace reaches 44 cm, grey-brown, high-arched, serrated at the rear with a prominent central keel. The head is grey-green to brown flecked with yellow, orange or pink spots; the dull-yellow plastron has shiny dark-brown line patterns. Toes are webbed; males have a slightly concave plastron and a longer, thicker tail.
3 Care & Temperament
From Southeast Asia, they hide under damp land cover. They cannot stand cold – wet-cold causes respiratory disease and dry-cold is fatal below 5 C; move them indoors when cool. Adults need a large setup with warm clean water and a land area; add branches/driftwood and straw on land to reduce stress.
4 Habitat & Environment
They mate in water, so the container must be large with depth at least twice the shell thickness. After mating, switch to semi-free-range: water only at feeding/observation times, dry otherwise with a water dish, to protect eggs from soaking or being crushed. Fix a soft-debris corner for egg-laying and keep their range fixed so nests are found.
5 Diet & Feeding
All love banana, but it must not be the staple (causes loose stools and pickiness). Classic bases are cornmeal, mashed sweet potato and pumpkin; fish/shrimp supply animal protein; greens are sweet-potato leaves, water spinach, romaine and sow thistle.