Southeast Asian Box Turtle — Care Sheet & Morphs

Q: How big does an adult Southeast Asian Box Turtle get?

An adult Southeast Asian Box Turtle typically measures 18–25 cm.

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.

How big does an adult Southeast Asian Box Turtle get?▾

An adult Southeast Asian Box Turtle typically measures 18–25 cm (adult carapace length; some females reach 28-30 cm. females are generally larger and more domed than males. the shape of the shell (flat to very domed) varies greatly by subspecies.).

What temperature and humidity does a Southeast Asian Box Turtle need?▾

A gradient of roughly 24–26 °C on the cool side to 28–30 °C on the warm side, with a basking spot of 31–34 °C. Humidity 70–90 %.

What does a Southeast Asian Box Turtle eat?▾

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

Is the Southeast Asian Box Turtle a good reptile for beginners?▾

Intermediate level. Gentle and hardy temperament. Often shy at first (especially wild-caught individuals), it becomes very tame and comes begging for food. A tropical species with no hibernation: it requires warm water and a warm environment all year round. Many specimens in the trade are stressed and parasitised wild-caught (WC) animals: favour a captive-bred animal and plan a quarantine with a veterinary check-up. Plan ahead: a lifespan of 25–40 yrs.

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