African Sideneck Turtle (Pelomedusa spp.) Care Sheet
African Sideneck Turtles are distinctive freshwater turtles native to sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Madagascar. They belong to an ancient group of turtles known as side-necked turtles, or pleurodires.
Unlike most familiar turtles, which withdraw the head directly backwards into the shell, sideneck turtles bend the neck sideways beneath the edge of the carapace.
Animals sold in the pet trade under names such as African Sideneck Turtle, African Helmeted Turtle or African Helmeted Terrapin are frequently identified simply as Pelomedusa subrufa. However, modern research recognises multiple species within Pelomedusa, and animals in captivity may be incorrectly identified.
For this reason, this care sheet covers African Helmeted Turtles of the genus Pelomedusa generally. Where the exact species and locality are known, husbandry should be refined accordingly.
Quick Facts
Scientific name: Pelomedusa spp.
Common names: African Sideneck Turtle, African Helmeted Turtle, African Helmeted Terrapin
Family: Pelomedusidae
Origin: Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, depending on species
Adult size: Commonly approximately 15–25 cm shell length, although size varies between species
Lifespan: Commonly 20–30+ years and potentially longer
Diet: Primarily carnivorous/omnivorous
Activity: Variable; often particularly active around feeding and during lower-light periods
Lifestyle: Semi-aquatic/freshwater
Experience level: Intermediate
Temperament: Active and inquisitive but capable of defensive biting
Taxonomy
The taxonomy of Pelomedusa is more complicated than older reptile literature often suggests.
Historically, many African Helmeted Turtles were grouped under:
Pelomedusa subrufa
Modern genetic and morphological research has recognised multiple distinct species.
Consequently, animals in captivity labelled P. subrufa may actually belong to another Pelomedusa species.
Where possible, keepers should establish:
- Exact species
- Country of origin
- Locality
- Captive-bred history
- Parentage
This is particularly important for breeding programmes.
What Is a Sideneck Turtle?
Most commonly kept turtles belong to the cryptodire group and retract their neck backwards into the shell.
African Sideneck Turtles belong to the Pleurodira.
Instead of pulling the head directly backwards, they:
bend the neck sideways beneath the shell margin.
This unusual anatomy is one of the group’s most distinctive characteristics.
Natural Distribution
Members of the genus Pelomedusa occur across large areas of Africa.
Depending upon species, populations occur in:
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Eastern Africa
- Southern Africa
- Western Africa
- Central Africa
- Madagascar
Because the genus covers such a large geographical area, environmental conditions differ significantly between populations.
Natural Habitat
African Helmeted Turtles occupy a wide variety of freshwater habitats.
These can include:
- Ponds
- Seasonal pools
- Marshes
- Wetlands
- Slow-moving waterways
- Flooded grasslands
- Temporary water bodies
Some habitats may disappear almost completely during dry seasons.
These turtles are therefore adapted to environments that can undergo dramatic seasonal changes.
Appearance
African Helmeted Turtles generally possess a relatively smooth, oval shell.
Colouration can include:
- Brown
- Olive
- Grey
- Dark brown
- Nearly black
The plastron is usually lighter.
The head is relatively broad, and the turtle often appears to have a characteristic smiling expression.
Their powerful jaws should not be underestimated.
Adult Size
Adult size varies between Pelomedusa species and populations.
Many commonly encountered animals reach approximately:
15–25 cm (6–10 in) shell length
Some species or individuals may differ substantially from this range.
Correct species identification is therefore useful when predicting eventual adult size.
Lifespan
African Sideneck Turtles are long-lived reptiles.
With appropriate husbandry they may live:
20–30+ years
and potentially considerably longer.
Their lifespan makes them a significant long-term commitment.
Housing
African Sideneck Turtles require spacious aquatic accommodation incorporating both water and accessible terrestrial or basking areas.
The enclosure should provide:
- Substantial swimming area
- Appropriate water depth
- Powerful filtration
- Completely dry basking area
- Heat
- UVB
- Hides
- Submerged resting areas
- Environmental enrichment
Small turtle bowls are completely unsuitable.
Enclosure Size
The enclosure should be based upon the adult size of the individual species.
For many adult Pelomedusa, an enclosure approximately:
120 cm in length or larger
provides a useful general starting point.
Larger accommodation is strongly encouraged.
The turtle should have sufficient space to:
- Swim
- Walk underwater
- Turn comfortably
- Surface easily
- Explore
- Rest
- Leave the water completely
Water Depth
African Helmeted Turtles can swim but generally benefit from an environment containing numerous resting points and areas of varying depth.
Provide:
- Deeper swimming areas
- Shallower margins
- Submerged branches
- Rocks
- Platforms
- Easy routes to the surface
Young juveniles should initially be provided with relatively easy access to the surface.
Water Temperature
Because Pelomedusa species occur across different regions, exact temperature requirements vary.
For many commonly kept animals, a useful general water range is approximately:
24–27°C
Juveniles or particular species may benefit from somewhat different conditions.
Where locality is known, temperatures should reflect the animal’s natural environment.
Always use a reliable thermometer.
Water Heating
An aquarium heater may be required.
Any heater accessible to the turtle should be:
- Thermostatically controlled
- Securely installed
- Appropriately sized
- Protected by a heater guard
Turtles can break exposed heaters or suffer burns from inappropriate equipment.
Basking Area
A completely dry basking area should be available.
The turtle must be capable of leaving the water and drying its:
- Carapace
- Plastron
- Limbs
The basking platform should be:
- Stable
- Non-slip
- Easy to access
- Large enough for the entire turtle
- Positioned beneath heat and UVB
Individual basking frequency can vary.
Basking Temperature
A useful basking surface range is approximately:
30–33°C
Measure the actual basking surface temperature rather than estimating it.
The turtle must always be able to move away from the heat.
UVB Lighting
Appropriate UVB lighting is recommended for captive African Sideneck Turtles.
UVB supports:
- Vitamin D3 production
- Calcium metabolism
- Healthy skeletal development
- Shell health
Use a reputable reptile UVB lamp appropriate for the enclosure.
UVB should not pass through glass or plastic before reaching the turtle.
UVB Monitoring
UVB lamps lose useful output with age.
Replace lamps according to manufacturer recommendations.
Where possible, measure exposure using an appropriate UV meter.
Correct lamp distance is important.
Lighting
Provide a consistent day/night cycle.
Approximately:
10–12 hours of light daily
provides a reasonable general starting point.
Seasonal adjustments may be appropriate when the animal’s geographical origin is known.
Visible lighting should normally be switched off overnight.
Filtration
African Sideneck Turtles are messy feeders and can produce considerable waste.
Powerful filtration is therefore essential.
High-capacity external canister filters are commonly suitable.
Filtration should provide:
- Mechanical filtration
- Biological filtration
- Strong circulation
- Large filter-media capacity
Selecting filtration rated above the actual aquarium volume is often beneficial.
Water Quality
Excellent water quality is essential.
Poor water conditions can contribute to:
- Skin irritation
- Eye problems
- Shell infections
- Bacterial growth
- Unpleasant odours
Regular partial water changes remain necessary even when powerful filtration is installed.
Uneaten food should be removed promptly.
Water Testing
Aquatic turtle keepers should understand the aquarium nitrogen cycle.
Useful parameters include:
- Ammonia
- Nitrite
- Nitrate
- pH
A properly established biological filtration system should prevent dangerous accumulation of ammonia and nitrite.
Substrate
Suitable substrate options include:
- Bare-bottom enclosure
- Fine sand
- Large smooth stones too large to swallow
Fine sand can encourage natural digging and foraging behaviour.
Avoid small gravel that could potentially be ingested.
Hides
African Sideneck Turtles benefit from secure hiding places.
Suitable options include:
- Large aquatic caves
- Driftwood
- Dense planting
- Secure rock structures
- Submerged shelters
All underwater hides must be sufficiently large and open to prevent the turtle becoming trapped.
Environmental Enrichment
A varied enclosure encourages natural behaviour.
Suitable enrichment can include:
- Different water depths
- Driftwood
- Secure branches
- Large rocks
- Aquatic plants
- Hiding areas
- Submerged resting areas
- Varied feeding methods
Every structure must be stable and free from entrapment hazards.
Terrestrial Behaviour
African Helmeted Turtles can be more willing to move over land than some highly aquatic turtle species.
In nature they may travel between water bodies when environmental conditions change.
The enclosure should therefore be secure against escape.
These turtles can be surprisingly determined when attempting to climb from an enclosure.
Aestivation
One of the most interesting natural adaptations of some Pelomedusa populations is the ability to survive seasonal drought.
When temporary water bodies dry, turtles may enter a period of reduced activity known as:
aestivation
Animals may bury themselves in mud or substrate until suitable conditions return.
This natural behaviour should not be deliberately induced in ordinary captive husbandry without specialist knowledge.
Diet
African Sideneck Turtles are opportunistic feeders with strong carnivorous tendencies.
Natural foods can include:
- Aquatic insects
- Molluscs
- Snails
- Worms
- Crustaceans
- Fish
- Amphibians
- Carrion
- Other small aquatic animals
Plant material may also be consumed.
Commercial Turtle Pellets
A high-quality complete aquatic-turtle pellet can form a useful foundation of the captive diet.
Choose a reputable product formulated for aquatic turtles.
Pellets should be combined with suitable fresh and whole foods.
Invertebrates
Suitable foods may include:
- Earthworms
- Snails
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Appropriate aquatic invertebrates
Feeder animals should come from safe sources.
Avoid collecting prey from areas exposed to:
- Pesticides
- Pollution
- Parasites
- Chemical contamination
Fish
Appropriate whole freshwater fish can form part of a varied diet.
Whole fish provide nutritional components including:
- Bone
- Organs
- Connective tissue
- Micronutrients
Avoid excessive reliance upon one fish species.
Other Animal Foods
Depending upon turtle size, suitable dietary variety may include appropriately sourced:
- Molluscs
- Crustaceans
- Insects
- Worms
- Whole aquatic prey
Avoid relying on plain muscle meat.
Plant Foods
Some individuals consume vegetation more readily than others.
Suitable plant material can be offered, including:
- Dandelion greens
- Endive
- Escarole
- Appropriate aquatic plants
- Other suitable leafy greens
Diet should be adjusted according to the individual and species.
Calcium
Adequate calcium is essential for healthy shell and skeletal development.
Calcium can be provided through:
- Balanced turtle pellets
- Appropriate whole prey
- Calcium-rich foods
- Cuttlebone where suitable
- Supplementation where necessary
Appropriate UVB exposure supports normal calcium metabolism.
Foods to Avoid
Avoid routinely feeding:
- Bread
- Dairy products
- Processed human foods
- Dog food
- Cat food
- Seasoned cooked meat
- Excessive fatty meat
- Dried shrimp as the sole diet
A varied diet is considerably healthier than reliance upon one food.
Feeding Frequency
Juveniles generally require smaller meals more frequently than adults.
Healthy adults can usually receive appropriately portioned meals several times per week.
Feeding should be adjusted according to:
- Age
- Species
- Size
- Activity
- Body condition
- Health
- Water temperature
Overfeeding should be avoided.
Feeding Behaviour
African Sideneck Turtles can develop extremely enthusiastic feeding responses.
They may rapidly approach when a keeper appears.
This behaviour should not be interpreted as evidence that the turtle requires additional food.
Persistent overfeeding can result in:
- Obesity
- Excessive growth
- Poor water quality
Behaviour
African Sideneck Turtles can be active and inquisitive.
Typical behaviours include:
- Swimming
- Walking underwater
- Foraging
- Digging
- Hiding
- Exploring
- Basking
- Investigating objects
Many individuals become highly responsive to activity outside the enclosure.
Temperament
Although often described as personable turtles, Pelomedusa remain wild reptiles.
When frightened or restrained they may:
- Struggle
- Scratch
- Withdraw the neck sideways
- Bite
Their jaws can produce a painful bite.
Handling
Routine recreational handling should be minimised.
Handling should primarily occur for:
- Health checks
- Veterinary treatment
- Transportation
- Necessary enclosure maintenance
Support the turtle securely with both hands.
Keep fingers away from the head.
Never lift a turtle by its tail.
Hygiene
Aquatic turtles can carry Salmonella and other microorganisms while appearing completely healthy.
Wash hands thoroughly after:
- Handling the turtle
- Touching enclosure water
- Cleaning filtration equipment
- Handling substrate
- Preparing food
Avoid cleaning turtle equipment in areas used for human food preparation.
Children should be appropriately supervised.
Sexing
Sexual characteristics vary somewhat between species.
Adult males generally develop:
- Longer tails
- Thicker tail bases
- Cloacal openings positioned farther along the tail
Females generally possess:
- Shorter tails
- More compact tail bases
Accurate sexing of young juveniles may be difficult.
Social Housing
African Sideneck Turtles do not require companionship.
They can display significant aggression toward other turtles.
Potential problems include:
- Biting
- Territorial aggression
- Food competition
- Mating harassment
- Chronic stress
- Serious injury
Separate housing is frequently the safest option.
Multiple turtles should only be housed together when the keeper can separate them immediately if necessary.
Breeding
African Sideneck Turtles are egg-laying reptiles.
Breeding behaviour and reproductive cycles vary between species and geographical populations.
Breeding should only be considered where:
- Species identity is established
- Animals are healthy
- Appropriate nesting facilities exist
- Suitable homes exist for offspring
Nesting
Females require access to suitable terrestrial nesting substrate.
The substrate should provide:
- Adequate depth
- Appropriate moisture
- Diggable consistency
- Privacy
- Suitable temperature
Females may become restless and attempt to leave the aquatic enclosure when ready to lay.
Females Without Males
Females can potentially produce infertile eggs without a male being present.
Signs of reproductive activity may include:
- Restlessness
- Increased terrestrial behaviour
- Digging
- Attempts to escape
- Reduced appetite
Adult females should have access to appropriate nesting opportunities when necessary.
Egg Retention
Egg retention can become a serious veterinary problem.
Possible signs include:
- Persistent restlessness
- Repeated unsuccessful digging
- Straining
- Weakness
- Reduced appetite
- Abnormal posture
Suspected egg retention requires prompt veterinary assessment.
Health
Potential health concerns include:
- Shell infections
- Respiratory disease
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Metabolic bone disease
- Eye problems
- Parasites
- Trauma
- Obesity
- Egg retention
Wild-caught animals may carry substantial parasite burdens.
Warning Signs
Seek veterinary advice if the turtle develops:
- Persistent refusal to eat
- Significant unexplained weight loss
- Swollen or closed eyes
- Nasal discharge
- Open-mouth breathing
- Abnormal floating
- Difficulty diving
- Soft shell
- Shell lesions
- Foul-smelling shell areas
- Persistent lethargy
- Significant behavioural changes
Veterinary care should ideally be provided by a clinician experienced with reptiles.
Shell Health
The shell should generally remain:
- Firm
- Intact
- Free from deep pits
- Free from bleeding
- Free from foul-smelling lesions
Shell abnormalities should not automatically be treated with home remedies.
Persistent or significant lesions require veterinary investigation.
Respiratory Disease
Possible symptoms include:
- Nasal bubbles
- Wheezing
- Open-mouth breathing
- Reduced appetite
- Lethargy
- Difficulty diving
- Uneven floating
Respiratory disease can become serious and requires appropriate veterinary assessment.
Metabolic Bone Disease
Inadequate calcium, UVB or overall nutrition can result in metabolic bone disease.
Possible signs include:
- Soft shell
- Skeletal deformity
- Weakness
- Poor growth
- Abnormal shell development
Correct husbandry is essential for prevention.
Parasites
Wild-caught African turtles can carry internal and external parasites.
New animals should receive appropriate veterinary assessment.
Treatment should be based upon veterinary diagnosis rather than routine unsupervised medication.
Quarantine
New turtles should be quarantined away from established reptiles.
Quarantine allows monitoring of:
- Feeding
- Weight
- Faeces
- Parasites
- Skin
- Shell
- Respiratory health
- General behaviour
Separate equipment should be used for quarantined animals.
Captive-Bred vs Wild-Caught
Captive-bred African Sideneck Turtles should be strongly preferred where available.
Wild-caught animals may experience:
- Transport stress
- Dehydration
- Parasites
- Injuries
- Poor body condition
- Difficulty adapting to captivity
Purchasing responsibly bred animals also reduces pressure on wild populations.
Species Identification
Because numerous Pelomedusa species are now recognised, accurate identification can be difficult.
Animals should not automatically be labelled Pelomedusa subrufa simply because they resemble traditional pet-trade examples.
For breeding projects, accurate identification and locality information are particularly important.
Different species should not be deliberately crossed.
Outdoor Housing
Secure outdoor accommodation may be possible in suitably warm climates.
Outdoor enclosures must protect against:
- Escape
- Predators
- Excessive heat
- Excessive cold
- Flooding
- Water contamination
- Unauthorised access
Natural sunlight can provide excellent UVB exposure.
Shade must always be available.
Cold Weather
African Sideneck Turtles should not automatically be treated like temperate North American turtles.
Their tolerance of cool conditions varies according to species and geographical origin.
Do not deliberately brumate Pelomedusa using protocols designed for unrelated temperate turtle species.
Where locality is known, husbandry should reflect the natural climate of that population.
Conservation
Conservation status varies among the different species within Pelomedusa.
Potential pressures include:
- Wetland destruction
- Water extraction
- Pollution
- Collection
- Food use
- Wildlife trade
- Climate change
Accurate identification is important for understanding the conservation status of individual animals.
Legal Considerations
Wildlife legislation differs between countries and regions.
Restrictions may apply to:
- Collection
- Ownership
- Sale
- Breeding
- Import
- Export
- Transport
Always verify current local legislation before obtaining or transferring an African Sideneck Turtle.
Never release a captive turtle into the wild.
Responsible Ownership
Before acquiring an African Sideneck Turtle, consider:
- Exact species where possible
- Adult size
- Aquarium requirements
- Powerful filtration
- Heating
- UVB replacement
- Electricity costs
- Veterinary care
- Potential lifespan
- Long-term accommodation
A small juvenile can become a commitment lasting several decades.
Summary
African Sideneck Turtles of the genus Pelomedusa are distinctive African freshwater turtles recognised by the unusual sideways movement of the neck beneath the shell.
Successful captive husbandry requires spacious aquatic accommodation, excellent filtration and water quality, suitable water temperatures, a completely dry heated basking area, appropriate UVB exposure, environmental enrichment and a varied diet containing nutritionally appropriate aquatic prey and other foods.
Because Pelomedusa contains multiple species with different geographical origins, accurate identification should be encouraged rather than assuming every African Helmeted Turtle is Pelomedusa subrufa.
With appropriate research, responsible sourcing and long-term care, these fascinating turtles can thrive in captivity for several decades.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This care sheet provides general husbandry guidance for Pelomedusa species and does not replace species-specific research or professional veterinary advice.
Requirements may differ between individual Pelomedusa species and geographical populations.
Always establish the identity and origin of an animal where possible and comply with applicable wildlife and animal-welfare legislation.
If you are concerned about your turtle’s health, consult a veterinarian experienced with reptiles.
Information correct at the date of publication.
reptilecommunity.com | Revised: August 2026