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

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

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Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle × Yellow-spotted Amazon River 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 yellow-spotted amazon river turtle.

How big does an adult Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle get?▾

An adult Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle typically measures 25–50 cm (adult carapace length. strong sexual dimorphism: females 38-50 cm (record up to ~68 cm), males 25-30 cm. set up the enclosure for the adult size of the females.).

What temperature and humidity does a Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle need?▾

A gradient of roughly 25–27 °C on the cool side to 28–30 °C on the warm side, with a basking spot of 32–38 °C. Humidity 60–90 %.

What does a Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle eat?▾

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..

Is the Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle a good reptile for beginners?▾

Advanced level. Gentle, gregarious (basks in groups) and active, but sometimes skittish. Strictly tropical species that does not tolerate cold. CAUTION: PROTECTED species (CITES Appendix II, IUCN Vulnerable); most available individuals come from wild captures: legal proof of origin (CITES/EU) must be required without exception. Plan ahead: a lifespan of 30–70 yrs.

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