The Pink Bellied Side Neck Turtle is a stunning species of aquatic turtle that is becoming more and more popular in the pet trade.
This species is also referred to as the Red Bellied Side Neck Turtle and the Jardine River Turtle.
Pink Bellied Side Neck Turtle Taxonomy
The Pink Bellied Side Neck Turtle belongs to the Chelidae family which is one of three living families of the turtle suborder Pleurodira.
The turtles in this family are known as the ‘Austro-South American Side-Neck Turtles’ as they can be found in Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia and most of South America.
The genus that this turtle belongs to is called Emydura. This is a group of large turtles that are native to Australia.
There are currently 4 species in this genus and they are known as the Australian Short Necked Turtles.
The scientific name for the Pink Bellied Side Neck Turtle is Emydura subglobosa. There are currently two recognised sub-species.
Pink Bellied Side Neck Turtle Description
The Pink Bellied Side Necked Turtle gets its name from the distinct pinkish or reddish color of its plastrons. The plastron is the underside of the turtle’s shell.
Females can grow to around 16 inches in length but males are much smaller, usually only growing to around 6 inches in length.
These turtles have a relatively flat shell that is usually green or brown in color.
They also have two distinctive yellow spots or stripes that are situated behind each eye and run towards the back of the turtle’s head.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Pink Bellied Side Neck Turtle is native to parts of Australia but can also be found on some of the islands in South-East Asia.
In Australia, this turtle can be found in the Northern and North-Eastern part of the country where it can be found in the Northern Territory and parts of Queensland.
This turtle can also be found on the island of New Guinea as well as on some of the Indonesian islands.
They live in a part of the world that has a huge diversity of different reptile species. They share part of their geographic distribution with a wide range of other reptiles such as the Bismarck Ringed Python, Blue Tailed Monitor, Blue Tongue Skink, Boelen’s Python, Crocodile Monitor, Emerald Tree Monitor, Mangrove Monitor, Mourning Gecko, Peach Throat Monitor and the Amethystine Python. However, some of these reptiles may have different habitat niches.
Housing
As this is a large active turtle, they will need plenty of space to swim around in. Therefore, you will need a very large aquarium to house these turtles.
A male can be housed in a 75-gallon aquarium but a larger female will need an aquarium that is at least 100 gallons.
If you want to house more than one of these turtles in the aquarium, you will need to increase the size even further to ensure your turtles have enough space.
These turtles like tropical waters with dense vegetation so you will want to replicate this in captivity as best you can.
If you live in the right climate, outdoor ponds are a great option as they provide your turtle with an abundance of space.
Substrate
You can choose from a number of different substrates to line the bottom of your Pink Bellied Side Neck Turtle tank.
Play sand is a good option that is often used by keepers. However, this should be rinsed thoroughly before adding it to the tank. This is to remove any toxins or bacteria that may be in the sand.
Avoid using small stones or gravel for substrate as these can be a choking hazard for your turtle. If you are using stones, make sure they are at least as large as the turtle’s head.
These turtles rarely venture out of the water so it is a good idea to build up a layer of large stones so your turtle can bask just below the surface of the water.
Light and Heat
The ambient temperature in your Pink Bellied Side Neck Turtle tank should be around 70-80F.
You will need to provide a basking spot of around 90-95F. This can be achieved by placing a heat lamp above the tank on one side. Make sure the turtle can still benefit from the heat when they are submerged.
These turtles need access to UVB lights to prevent serious health issues such as Metabolic Bone Disease.
A UVB bulb should be placed above the basking spot and left on for 12 hours a day. The other 12 hours should be in darkness to give your turtle a proper day/night cycle.
Pink Bellied Side Neck Turtle Diet
A Pink Bellied Side Neck Turtle can be fed a varied diet consisting of things like Bloodworms, Crickets, Fish, Turtle Pellets and Vegetables.
Hatchlings should be fed every day. At this size, you should only feed them turtle pellets as they are easier to digest and contain all the nutrients they need.
Juveniles can be fed a more caried diet. At this size, you can cut feeding back to every second day. Adults can be fed 3-4 days a week.