Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle — origin: Amazon and Orinoco basins, South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, the Guianas). PROTECTED species: CITES Appendix II, IUCN Vulnerable..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min24 °C

Cool side25–27 °C

Warm side28–30 °C

Basking spot32–38 °C

Water temperature 26-30°C (ideal ~28°C), with an aerial basking hot spot at 32-38°C under a lamp. Does NOT tolerate cold water: chilling quickly leads to respiratory infections. A moderate night-time drop is acceptable, never below 24°C.

Enclosure (adult)

300 × 120 × 80 cm

Aquatic - large heated indoor aquarium or pond, with an emerged basking area

Minimum dimensions for an adult female; a heated indoor pond is strongly recommended. Males, much smaller, make do with a lesser volume. Provide an accessible dry basking platform and, for females, a deep loose-sand area for egg-laying.

Humidity

60–90 %

Aquatic species: ambient humidity is not a limiting factor and remains naturally high above the water.

Substrate

Bare bottom to make hygiene easierFine sand if a substrate is desiredA deep loose-sand area or box for egg-laying by females

Avoid medium-sized gravel that may be ingested (risk of impaction). A deep sand area is essential for gravid females.

UVB

Recommended

Essential. High-intensity UVB lamp (type 10-12 %, UVI ~3-4 at the basking area), renewed regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendations, paired with the hot spot. Without adequate UVB: osteodystrophy (MBD).

Water source

Always available

Warm, deep, clean and very well filtered water: a species with a high organic load requiring powerful filtration and regular water changes. Soft water, slightly acidic to neutral (pH ~6-7.5), reproducing Amazonian waters. Cold or soiled water quickly causes skin and respiratory infections.

Origin

Podocnemididae

Amazon and Orinoco basins, South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, the Guianas). PROTECTED species: CITES Appendix II, IUCN Vulnerable.

Feeding & health

Diet

Omnivorous as juveniles, shifting towards a mainly herbivorous diet in adulthood — Juveniles: insects, crustaceans, small fish and worms. Adults: aquatic plants, fallen fruit, seeds and leaves.

Greatly reduce animal protein in the adult (risk of obesity and hepatic/renal damage). Offer varied plant matter (aquatic plants, greens, occasional fruit) and supplement with calcium.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 15–40 eggs/young. Clutch of 15 to 40 eggs buried in sandbanks; incubation of about 60 to 75 days. The sex of the hatchlings depends on the incubation temperature. Late sexual maturity.

Health watch points

Shell rot / SCUD (septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease) linked to soiled water
Respiratory infections due to water that is too cold or to draughts
Osteodystrophy (MBD) from UVB or calcium deficiency or Ca/P imbalance
Hypovitaminosis A (eyelid oedema, ocular disorders)
Obesity and hepatic/renal damage from excess protein in adulthood

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle.

Albino (T-) amelanisticRec
HypomelanisticDom

Pairing calculator

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Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle × Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

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Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the yellow-spotted amazon river turtle.

Is keeping the yellow-spotted river turtle unrestricted?▾

No: this turtle is listed on CITES Appendix II and classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The vast majority of individuals on the market come from wild captures, so always insist on the documents proving a legal origin (CITES/EU) before any purchase.

How big is an adult yellow-spotted river turtle?▾

Sexual dimorphism is very pronounced: females measure 38 to 50 cm long, with a record reaching about 68 cm, whereas males stay much smaller, around 25 to 30 cm. The setup must be designed to accommodate an adult female, even if that means being oversized for a male.

What pool should be provided for this aquatic turtle?▾

For an adult female, allow at least 300 x 120 x 80 cm, ideally a heated indoor pool. An emergent, accessible basking platform is essential, as well as a deep area of loose sand for the females to lay. A male, considerably smaller, does fine with a smaller volume.

How should water quality be managed day to day?▾

This species produces a heavy organic load and requires powerful filtration combined with regular water changes. Aim for soft water, slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6 to 7.5), mirroring Amazonian waters. Soiled or overly cold water quickly causes skin and respiratory infections.

What water temperature and basking spot should be offered?▾

The water must stay between 26 and 30°C, with 28°C being ideal, plus an aerial basking spot at 32-38°C under a lamp. Strictly tropical, this turtle does not tolerate cold water, which quickly leads to respiratory infections; at night, never go below 24°C.

Is UVB essential?▾

Yes, without exception. A high-intensity UVB lamp is required (10-12 % type, UVI around 3-4 at the basking platform), replaced regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Without adequate UVB, the animal develops osteodystrophy (MBD).

What does a yellow-spotted river turtle eat?▾

The diet changes markedly with age: juveniles are omnivorous and eat insects, crustaceans, small fish and worms, whereas adults become largely herbivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, fallen fruit, seeds and leaves. Strongly reduce meat intake in adulthood to avoid obesity and liver or kidney damage, and supplement with calcium.

What substrate should be used, and is a laying area needed?▾

A bare bottom makes hygiene easier, but fine sand also works if you want a substrate. Avoid medium-sized gravel, which may be swallowed and cause an obstruction. A deep area of loose sand remains essential to let a gravid female lay.

What is its lifespan, and what commitment does that represent?▾

Its documented lifespan is 60 to 70 years, or even more: it is a slow-growing species with late sexual maturity. Adopting a yellow-spotted river turtle therefore commits its owner for several decades.

Is this turtle suitable for a beginner?▾

No, it is rated advanced difficulty. Between the large water volume, the powerful filtration, the mandatory UVB, compliance with CITES legal status and a lifespan of several decades, it requires a keeper already experienced with aquatic turtles.

How does the yellow-spotted river turtle reproduce?▾

It is an oviparous species in which the sex of the hatchlings depends on the incubation temperature. The female buries 15 to 40 eggs in sandbanks, with an incubation of about 60 to 75 days, and sexual maturity is late.

What are the most common health problems?▾

The main risks are shell rot (SCUD) linked to soiled water, respiratory infections caused by water that is too cold or by drafts, osteodystrophy from a deficiency in UVB or calcium, hypovitaminosis A and, in adults overfed with protein, obesity with liver or kidney damage.

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