Cuora flavomarginata 

Chinese boxturtle

Description

Cuora flavomarginata, also called the Chinese boxturtle, is a semi-aquatic species from East-Asia. Chinese boxturles have a beautiful yellow head and a dome shaped carapace. They grow to about 19 cm in size. The carapace is dark brown to reddish brow in color with a yellow keel across the middle. Juveniles have 3 keels.  The plastron is black with yellow edges and the turtle can use it to completely close it's shell. 

 

Genders

Male Cuora flavormarginata (right) posess a longer and thicker tail compared to that of the females (left). The plastron of the males is a bit concave which facilitates mating. 

 

Temperament

Newly aquired boxturtles are shy and stressed easily. Once they become used to their new surroundings they quickly lose their shyness and become very inquisitive. Females can be housed together. Males are better kept alone or separated for most of the year because they are very insistent with their mating attempts.

 

Distribution and habitat

Cuora flavomarginata occurs in Southern-China, Taiwan and the Japanse Riukiu-isles. The species can be found in many different habitat types near water.

Husbandry

  • Size enclosure: 120 x 50 x 50 cm or bigger
  • Temperature warm side: 25 - 28 degrees celcius
  • Temperature cool side: 19 - 22 degrees celcius
  • Temperature beneath heatlamp: 35 – 40 degrees celcius.
  • Ferguson zone: 2
  • Humidity: 60 – 70%.

Cuora flavomarginata is a semi-aquatic turtle. Despite this the bulk of their day is spend on land. A big waterdish is the most pratical way to provide the animals with a watersection. A dish can be easily removed for daily cleaning.  Cuora flavomarginata should be provided with a thick layer of substrate to dig and many hiding places so they feel safe. Unfertilised gardensoil or peat can be usedfor this purpose. To a substrate a layer of dried leaves can be added to provide further enrichment and cover. Worms and pillbugs can be released in the enclosure to keep the substrate lose, reduce waste and for the animals to forage in their enclose.

A ceramic lamp connected to a thermostate can be used to maintain a suitable ambient temperature. Mount the lamp on one side to create a temperature gradient.  A heatlamp and a Uvb source should be mounted on the warm side of the enclosure. Lastly, a TL lamp is used to provide a day and night cycle.  

 

Chinese boxturtles are also very suited for being kept outside in a greenhouse. Our animals are kept outside from late spring to early autumn. Their enclosure is densly planted to provide the animals with cover and has a small pond and a greenhouse for the animals to retreat during colder days.

Husbandry of juveniles 

Newly hatched and very young Chinese boxturtles should be kept very humid to promote proper growth. The easyist way to accomplish this is to keep them in shallow water with a small land section. The watersection should be filled with lots of plants and pieces of wood to prevent drowing and to provide hiding places. Watertemperature should be in the 25 degrees range. A heatlamp should also be provided, but make sure the temperature doesn't get too high, 30 degrees celcius is enough.

 

Voeding

Cuora flavomarginata is an omivore. Wild Chinese boxturtles eat  a large variaty of  insects, worms, snails, fruit en plants.  To mimic this diet our animals are offered the following foods: : worms, snails, roaches, crickets, phoenix worms, baby mice, blue berrier, strawberries, apple, raspberries, blackberries , carrots and endive. Occasionally offered foods: waxworms, mealworms, banana en turtlepellets. Calciumpowder is added to each meal and a vitamine powder is added 4x each month.