Southeast Asian Box Turtle — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Southeast Asian Box Turtle — origin: Southeast Asia: from north-eastern India and Bangladesh through Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. A tropical lowland species (ponds, rice paddies, marshes, slow watercourses). WARNING: classified as Endangered (IUCN) and listed on CITES Appendix II (EU Annex B) due to massive overexploitation for food and trade; acquisition must be legal and documented..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min22 °C

Cool side24–26 °C

Warm side28–30 °C

Basking spot31–34 °C

Water heated to 26-28 °C via a protected aquarium heater. Dry hot spot (spot lamp) at 31-34 °C above an emerged platform to allow basking and complete drying of the shell. A warm, humid environment with no hibernation (tropical species): never let the water stay lastingly below ~22 °C.

Enclosure (adult)

120 × 50 × 50 cm

Heated semi-aquatic aquaterrarium / paludarium (large aquatic section + dry terrestrial area for nesting and basking)

Minimum dimensions for an adult; larger is always preferable. A mostly aquatic species but a poor swimmer: moderately deep water (at least about 1.5 to 2 times the shell height), an accessible bottom and easy exits to the bank to prevent drowning. Provide a soft terrestrial area for nesting and rest. Regulatory reminder: CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B species — keeping must be justified.

Humidity

70–90 %

Very humid environment, naturally ensured by the large volume of water. The terrestrial area must stay humid but offer a drying spot under the lamp to prevent shell problems.

Substrate

Bare bottom or large gravel (aquatic section)Coconut fibreSphagnumUnfertilised potting soil (terrestrial area / nesting)

Avoid small, ingestible gravel (risk of occlusion). The aquatic section can be left as a bare bottom to ease maintenance; the terrestrial area in coconut fibre/moist potting soil allows burrowing and nesting.

UVB

Recommended

Yes, UVB is essential for this diurnal species: T5 UVB 5-6% tube (UV index ~2-3 over the basking area), replaced every 6-12 months. Combine with calcium/D3 supplementation.

Water source

Always available

Clean, lukewarm (26-28 °C) and well-filtered water; high organic load, so powerful filtration and regular water changes are essential. Moderate depth with easy exits: it is a poor swimmer that can drown in water that is too deep without a foothold.

Origin

Geoemydidae

Southeast Asia: from north-eastern India and Bangladesh through Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. A tropical lowland species (ponds, rice paddies, marshes, slow watercourses). WARNING: classified as Endangered (IUCN) and listed on CITES Appendix II (EU Annex B) due to massive overexploitation for food and trade; acquisition must be legal and documented.

Feeding & health

Diet

Omnivore — Aquatic plants, fruits, greens, insects, earthworms, whole fish, molluscs and crustaceans

An unfussy eater; tends to become more vegetarian with age. Vary the diet greatly, limit sugary fruits, supplement with calcium (cuttlebone) and offer sources of vitamin A (orange vegetables/occasional liver). Feed juveniles daily, adults every 2-3 days.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 2–5 eggs/young. Can lay several clutches per year. Requires a soft, humid terrestrial area to dig the nest. Artificial incubation at around 28-30 °C for about 70 to 90 days; temperature may influence sex. Watch for egg retention (dystocia) in females without an adequate nesting site.

Health watch points

Respiratory infections (water/air too cold or draughts)
Shell and skin rot (shell rot, bacterial/fungal infections linked to dirty water)
Hypovitaminosis A (swollen eyes, ocular discharge)
Osteodystrophy / metabolic bone disease (calcium-D3/UVB deficiency)
Internal parasites, especially in wild-caught individuals

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Southeast Asian Box Turtle.

Albino (T-) amelanisticRec
Hypomelanistic / Pastel light phaseDom

Pairing calculator

Pick each parent's genotype — clutch probabilities update live. Free, no sign-up.

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Southeast Asian Box Turtle × Southeast Asian Box Turtle

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the southeast asian box turtle.

Is acquiring a Southeast Asian box turtle regulated?▾

Yes: it is classified as Endangered by the IUCN and listed on CITES Appendix II (EU Annex B), due to massive overexploitation for food and trade. It must come from a legal, documented source, with a captive-bred animal strongly preferred.

How big does this turtle get as an adult?▾

The carapace typically measures 18 to 25 cm, with some females exceeding 28 to 30 cm. Females are generally larger and more domed than males, and shell shape varies considerably by subspecies.

What water volume and filtration should be provided?▾

This turtle is mostly aquatic but a poor swimmer: the water should be roughly 1.5 to 2 times the height of its shell deep, with an accessible bottom and easy exits to the bank to prevent drowning. Given the heavy organic load, powerful filtration and regular water changes are essential, in an aquaterrarium of at least 120 x 50 x 50 cm for an adult.

Is a land area needed in addition to the water?▾

Yes, an emerged basking area with a dry hot spot of 31 to 34 °C is essential so it can bask and fully dry its shell, along with a loose terrestrial area for resting and nesting.

What water temperature should be maintained?▾

The water should be heated to 26-28 °C with a well-protected aquarium heater, never letting it drop below 22 °C for long: this tropical species does not hibernate and needs warmth year-round.

Is UVB essential?▾

Yes, this diurnal turtle genuinely needs it: a 5-6% T5 UVB tube above the basking area, providing a UV index of around 2 to 3, replaced every 6 to 12 months, combined with calcium supplementation.

What should it be fed?▾

It is an unfussy omnivore that accepts aquatic plants, fruit, greens, insects, earthworms, whole fish, molluscs and crustaceans, becoming more vegetarian with age. Vary the menu widely, limit sugary fruit, and supplement with calcium (cuttlebone); feed juveniles daily and adults every 2 to 3 days.

How long does it live?▾

Between 25 and 40 years, sometimes longer under good captive care: it is a long-term commitment to plan for before acquiring one.

How does it behave with its keeper?▾

Often shy at first, especially if wild-caught, it usually becomes very tame and even comes to beg for food. A captive-bred animal settles in far better than a wild-caught one, which requires quarantine with a veterinary check-up.

How does it reproduce?▾

It is an oviparous species capable of laying several times a year, 2 to 5 eggs per clutch, in a loose, moist terrestrial area. Incubation lasts about 70 to 90 days at 28-30 °C, and egg retention should be watched for if no suitable nesting site is provided.

What health problems are common?▾

Shell rot linked to dirty water, respiratory infections from water or air that is too cold, and hypovitaminosis A showing as swollen eyes are among the most common issues, along with internal parasites in wild-caught individuals.

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