McCord’s Box Turtle

1 Overview

McCord’s box turtle (Cuora mccordi), also the Baise box turtle, is a freshwater turtle of the genus Cuora found only in Guangxi, China – a rare, prized ornamental. It was named in 1988 from market specimens. Its known range is tiny and the wild is likely nearly impossible to find.

CONSERVATION NOTE: a China endemic, CITES Appendix II / protected; trade is restricted. Because it is so rare and pricey, people over-collect it. This profile is educational.

2 Appearance

Adults have a reddish-brown, domed shell ~130 mm with a low central keel; the yellow-plastron edge carries one large black blotch and the shell closes fully via a ligament. The yellow head has a black-edged orange post-orbital stripe; the orange neck is vivid. Toes are webbed. A beautiful, unmistakable Chinese endemic.

3 Care & Temperament

Almost nothing is published on its wild life or breeding; McCord reported 1-3 eggs (usually 1-2) and hatched ~50 juveniles. It is known only from market specimens; estimated wild numbers are small. No formal protections yet – recommended actions include listing it as a Guangxi protected species, banning capture/sale, and surveying its range.

4 Habitat & Environment

Native Baise is warm with ample rain; the turtle tolerates some cold (southern keepers can keep it outdoors; northern keepers should provide a 22 C safeguard in the cold shoulder seasons). Despite being a turtle, its weak webs mark it as a poor swimmer – keep it like a semi-aquatic box turtle (large land area + small shallow water). In heated setups water can be the main element, but keep it shallow with rocks and a gentle slope so it cannot flip and drown.

5 Diet & Feeding

Variety is key: thawed shrimp + quality pellets, occasional pinky. Avoid polluted live food. Wild diet is animal (fish, shrimp, earthworm, snail, clam) plus plants (fruit, veg, grain). In captivity feed >80% fish/shrimp/insects (mealworm, earthworm, slug, snail), <20% small mice (adults), quality pellets and many fruits/veg. Do not feed mealworms to hatchlings unless freshly moulted (hard chitin is indigestible).