The Reeves Turtle is a species of turtle that is native to parts of East Asia. They are also known as the Chinese Pond Turtle and the Three Keeled Pond Turtle.
Reeves 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 Reeves 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 genus that the Reeves Turtle belongs to is called Mauremys. There are 9 species in this genus including the Caspian Turtle, the Japanese Pond Turtle and the Mediterranean Pond Turtle.
The scientific name for the Reeves Turtle is Mauremys reevesii and there are no recognised sub-species.
Reeves Turtle Description
The overall size of a Reeves Turtle can vary depending on genetics on locale but they typically grow to around 6 inches in length.
They can be as small as around 4 inches and rarely exceed 9 inches. It is the smallest species in the Mauremys genus.
The carapace or upper shell of the turtle is usually dark brown, olive green or black in color. The shell has very little patterning but has three ridges running through it.
The Plastron or lower shell is usually cream or tan in color. There are sometime dark brown or black blotches present.
One way to potentially identifying gender is by examining the lower shell. Females have a flat or convex shell while a male has a concave shell.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Reeves Turtle is native to China and Korea. In China, it can be found in the Eastern parts of the country.
Its range extends from the Northern parts of the country around Beijing to the Yunnan province in the South.
They can also be found through North and South Korea and there are also large populations of these turtles on the islands of Taiwan and Japan.
It is believed that the turtles were introduced to Taiwan and Japan in the 1800s. Its not believed that they compete with native wildlife for food but hybridization with other turtles is a problem.
The Reeves Turtle typically lives in Marshes, Streams, Canals and Ponds. They are semi-aquatic and will often leave the water to bask in the sun.
Reeves Turtle as Pets
The Reeves Turtle can make a great pet as they grow to a manageable size. While they will need a decent size enclosure, it will be more manageable than larger species.
They are also relatively easy to care for making them a decent option for beginners. However, you will still need to ensure their care requirements are met.
Reeves Turtle Housing
Depending on the size of your Reeves Turtle, you will need a tank that is 2 or 3 feet long. We recommend 3-foot tanks but you may get away with smaller if your turtle is on the smaller side.
The tank should have a width of at least 12″. You will also want a water depth of 12″ to ensure there is enough volume of water to swim in.
However, don’t go excessively deep with the water if you are using a large tank. These turtles aren’t extremely strong swimmers and prefer shallow bodies of water.
When choosing an enclosure, it is important to remember that you will need an even deeper tank as these turtles will require an area of land also to come out and bask in.
Most people use floating perches to achieve this but you can make a natural ‘shoreline’ with stones and sand if you wish.
The benefit of floating perches is that it sits on top of the water and doesn’t take up any of the turtle’s room for swimming.
Turtles in general produce a lot of waste so you will need a strong filtration system and regular cleaning to ensure the water quality remains healthy.
Substrate
The Reeves Turtle will do well with a variety of different substrates. However large stones or sand are the preferred option by most keepers.
The key is to use a substrate that is small enough and safe to pass through your turtle if they ingest it.
The other option is to choose a substrate that is simply too large for your turtle to ingest in the first place, such as large stones.
Light and Heat
The ambient air temperature in your Reeves Turtle tank should be around 75-80F.
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 where there is a floating perch.
The water itself should be kept between 70-80F. This can be achieved by using an aquarium heater in the tank.
It is debated whether these turtles need access to UVB lights if they are getting enough calcium in their diet. However, there is no harm to provide it in order to play it safe.
A UVB bulb can 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.
Reeves Turtle Diet
The Reeves Turtle is omnivorous, meaning it will eat both plant and animal matter as part of its diet.
A high-quality turtle food is often is often used as the main food source for these turtles. Quality is key here. Look for food that is high in protein, low in fat and has a calcium to phosphorus ratio of at least 2:1.
This can be supplemented with insects such as Crickets, Mealworms and Fish Worms.
The vegetable portion of their diet can be supplemented with things live dark leafy greens, water lettuce and duckweed.