As its name suggests, the Chinese Box Turtle is a species of Box Turtle that is native to China, Taiwan and Japan. They are a semi-aquatic species that are endangered due to overcollection for food in China and exportation for the pet trade.
Some of their other common names include the Yellow-Margined Box Turtle and the Golden Headed Turtle. Its scientific name is Cuora flavomarginata.
Chinese Box Turtle Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Chinese Box Turtle belongs to the Geoemydidae family of turtles. This family of turtle used to be known as Bataguridae, and is the largest and most diverse family of turtles.
There are about 70 different species of turtles that belong to this family. The family is extremely diverse and includes species of Eurasian Pond Turtles, River Turtles and Wood Turtles.
This family of turtle have a very large geographical distribution and can primarily be found in Europe, Asia and North Africa. The species in the genus Rhinoclemmys are the only turtles in the family that can be found in Central and South America.
Some of the defining features of the Geoemydidae family of turtles include;
- They usually have webbed toes.
- Their Pelvic Girdles articulate with their Plastrons flexibility.
- They draw back their necks vertically.
- Their Carapace has 24 marginal scutes.
Genus
The Chinese Box Turtle belongs to the genus Cuora. At the time of writing, there are 12 different species within the Cuora genus including the Desert Box Turtle and the Eastern Box Turtle.
However, the Keeled Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii) is sometimes classified in the monotypic genus Pyxidea as Pyxidea mouhotii. A monotypic genus is simply a genus that consists of a single species.
The Geoemydidae family is not to be confused with the Emydidae Family of Box Turtles in the United States that contains species such as the Three Toed Box Turtle.
Species
The scientific name for this species is Cuora flavomarginata. There are two recognised subspecies of Chinese Box Turtle, the nominate subspecies, Cuora flavomarginata flavomarginata and Cuora flavomarginata evelynae.
Chinese Box Turtle Description
The Chinese Box Turtle has a dark brown carapace and plastron with a cream or yellow stripe running down their carapace. The sides of the turtle and around the edges of the plastron are lightly colored, usually cream or yellow.
These turtles have a highly domed shell and five claws on their front feet while their back feet contain four claws. The limbs of the turtle are dark brown in color while their head is a yellowish brown.
There isn’t much difference between males and females of this species. However, males tend to have a larger, broader tail that is almost triangular in shape. They are also generally smaller than females.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Chinese Box Turtle has a Wide distribution and can be found in a large part of China, Taiwan and Japan. In China, it can be found in provinces such as Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.
In Taiwan, they share much of their geographical range with the Taiwan Beauty Snake.
In Japan, it is primarily found on the Ryukyu Islands, Ishigaki, and Iriomote. The sub-species, Cuora flavomarginata evelynae can be found on the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.
Chinese Box Turtle as Pets
A Chinese Box Turtle can make a great pet and is popular in the pet trade. However, it is very important that you obtain you turtle from a reputable breeder to ensure that you are not purchasing a wild caught animal.
The specimens on mainland China are critically endangered due to habitat loss and over harvesting while the turtles in Taiwan are also endangered, although their populations are healthier than in China.
These turtles are taken from the wild in large numbers and sold in China as food. Large numbers are also exported to the United States and other countries to be sold in the pet trade.
This is why it is extremely important to only purchase one of these turtles from a trusted breeder. The trafficking of animals for the pet trade is only a lucrative market for the traffickers if they have people on the other side willing to pay for them.
Feeding a Chinese Box Turtle
The Chinese Box Turtle is omnivorous meaning that it eats a diet that consists of both plants and meat.
The plant portion of a Chinese Box Turtle diet can be made up of things like lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, dandelion greens, collard greens, mustard greens and parsley.
Dark, leafy greens are particularly high in Calcium, Vitamin A and vitamin C, which are very important for the health of your turtle. Avoid feeding iceberg lettuce as this food source has very little nutritional value.
The Protein portion of their diet can be made up of things such as fresh feeder fish, earthworms, slugs, mealworms, and waxworms.
It is important that these turtles get all the nutrients they need so Multivitamin and Calcium supplements should be added to their food.
Chinese Box Turtle Enclosure
The Chinese Box Turtle species are semi-aquatic and will need access to both water and land. If you live in an area with an adequate climate, these turtles will thrive in an outdoor enclosure with access to a small pond.
If kept in an indoor enclosure, you should aim for an enclosure with at least 4 foot x 2 foot of floor space. Try to minimise the risk of your turtle ingesting substrate by ensuring their feeding bowl is secure and free of substrate.
They will need hides in the enclosure to allow them to feel secure. If you are going for a naturalistic setup, hollow sections of Cork Bark can be used for this. You can also use live plants in your enclosure but make sure they are edible as your turtle may eat them.
Light and Heat
A Chinese Box Turtle will do well when kept at an ambient temperature of 75F degrees. This can drop to around 70F at night. The also need access to a basking spot of around 85-90F to allow for thermal regulation.
An overhead heat source can be used for this. It can come in the form of a basking bulb (heat lamp) or a ceramic heat emitter. The ceramic heat emitters can be left on at night as they don’t produce any light.
Whatever heat source you choose, it will have to be connected to a high-quality thermostat. This will ensure that the temperature at the basking spot remains relatively constant and prevents overheating.
You also need to control the temperature of your Chinese Box Turtles water source. You should aim to keep the water at a temperature of around 75-80F. This can be controlled using an aquarium heater.
You will also need to provide your Box Turtle with a source of UVB. Turtles in captivity don’t receive the necessary UVB that they need to synthesize vitamin D3 and calcium.
As they usually get this from natural sunlight, we need to replicate it in captivity using a UVB Bulb. The Zoo Med or Exo Terra 5.0 bulbs are good options for turtles.
Chinese Box Turtle Health Issues
As with any animal, an Chinese Box Turtle is susceptible to a range of illnesses. We have listed some of the more common illnesses that affect these turtles below.
Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency is a common problem in turtles and is primarily linked to poor diet. Also known as hypovitaminosis A, this health issue can be easily avoided by feeding your turtle a balanced, varied diet.
This health issue is primarily caused because owners don’t understand the nutritional requirements for their pet as opposed to neglect. It is important to understand your animals needs and know the signs of a poor diet.
An all-meat diet is a leading factor for this deficiency. Another large contributor is feeding your turtle iceberg lettuce. While there is nothing wrong with iceberg lettuce, it offers very little nutritional value as it is mostly water.
A vitamin A deficiency can cause changes to the outer layer of the turtle’s skin. It can also affect the mouth, eyes, kidneys, and upper respiratory tract.
A turtle with a Vitamin A deficiency will often have a lack of appetite and become lethargic. You may also see swelling around the eyelids and ears. This deficiency can also lead to other conditions such as respiratory infections and kidney failure.
Respiratory Infection
There are a number of reasons a turtle may develop a Respiratory Infection but the most common reasons are down to poor hygiene in their enclosure and a result of Vitamin A deficiency.
With a mild infection, you may notice a bit of wheezing which will develop into mucus. You may notice the turtle ‘blowing bubbles’ out its mouth and nose. You will need to take them to a vet for treatment.
Parasites
Gastrointestinal parasites are common in pet turtles and can be caused by bad hygiene or contaminated food, among other ways. A common form of Gastrointestinal parasites in turtles is roundworm.
A mild infestation can be difficult to diagnose without a faecal exam but a severe infestation can be more easily recognised. Common symptoms may include diarrhoea and weight loss. A visit to your vet may be required.
Shell Rot
Shell Infections or Shell Rot is quite common in turtles. These can be caused by bacteria, fungi or parasites and are typically a secondary reaction to things like trauma, burns or bites.
The severity of shell infections is often dictated by how deep into the shell the infection penetrates. The outer layer of the shell is very important as it protects the bone and organs underneath.
You need to visit a vet if your turtle develops a shell infection. They will be able to advise the best course of treatment. Early treatment is important to prevent the problem getting any worse.
Abscesses
A Chinese Box Turtle is also prone to developing Abscesses. These can appear anywhere on the skin or the turtle’s body but commonly form on the ears. An Abscess is essentially a pus-filled swelling within the tissue of a turtle.
They are hard and dry and can have developed for a number of reasons but one of the more common causes is due to a Vitamin A deficiency.