NAME Australian snake - necked turtle - Chelodina siebenrocki photos

CLASSIFICATION ORDER: Testudines, SUBORDER: Pleurodira, SUPERFAMILY: ***, FAMILY: Chelidae, SUBFAMILY: ***, GENUS: Chelodina
DISTRIBUTIONcoastal swamps and offshore islands of New Guinea
SIZEcarapace length up to 14 inches
IDENTIFICATIONthe shell, egg like in shape, is slightly domed, keeless and the scutes are thin and smooth. The head is flat and covered with a pattern reseambling small irregular scales. The chin has a pair, or more, of barbels. The neck is long and muscular. The legs are webbed. The soft parts are grey, with the head slightly greenish or yellowish, and underside of the body whitish.
IN CAPTIVITYas this is a tropical turtle, the water should be kept warm - around 25 to 27 C - all year round, and always clean ( Chelodina seems to be prone to get skin fangus easily ). Food: all kinds of live food including mainly fish, but also small creyfish, earthworms andfrogs. It also loves the commercially available turtle foods.
BEHAVIORthe turtle doesn't bask and prefers spending its time in deep soft mud. It is not aggressive, doesn't bite and does not mind to be handled. It will recognize its keeper with time and make an interesting and cute pet turtle.
REPRODUCTION the eggs are laid in May at the end of the wet season and hatching takes place in November or December, at the beginning of the wet season. The hatchlings are about 1.4 inches ( 3.7 cm ) long and have dark brown spots on the carapace.