Hobbies And Interests
Behavior
The African helmeted turtle is quick to tame, but won't always play well with other species. In fact, it will kill most other species given the chance. The same holds true for pairing up two helmeted turtles that are different sizes. Keep males apart as they will fight over mating rights, real or imagined. The helmeted turtle is a side neck species. This means it brings its neck in from the side rather than straight back. Keep this in mind as it will bite, especially in the beginning before it is tamed. Handling this pet turtle is not a good idea until it becomes used to you.
Habitat
The African helmeted turtle is semi-aquatic and loves spending time basking in the sun. Though it enjoys walking in shallow water, it seems to prefer mud pits and holes in the wild. When it goes through an estivation period, it goes to the center of a mud hole and burrows in. Estivation is similar to hibernation and is an extended period of inactivity. You should keep the temperature of the water in an enclosure at about 83 degrees to simulate their habitat. Also, use a heat lamp to give the turtle a basking spot. Keep this area around 90 degrees. Keeping these temperatures regulated will help the turtle to feel as though it is in its natural habitat.
Food and Diet
This pet turtle will eat most anything but is naturally a carnivore. It responds very well to live foods including night crawlers, crickets, small crabs, fish, earthworms, snails, snakes and even commercial turtle food in a pinch. It will eat quickly and heartily and some specimens will eat right from your hand, though it is not recommended. Feed your turtle once per day and always feed it outside of the enclosure. The reason for this is to keep the water in the enclosure clean and filtered. If you feed inside the enclosure, you will need to change the water every couple of days at least. Because the turtle basks during the middle part of the day and naturally feeds in the mornings and evenings, it should be fed accordingly. The African helmeted turtle will grow to about six or seven inches as an adult at the most, measuring the carapace from end to end.
Enclosure
The ideal enclosure must have a water source, a place to bask and a filtration system to keep chemicals out of the water. It should be at least a 40-gallon aquarium but larger is better. Some people use a sloping piece of driftwood to provide a basking area and some people use substrate. If you use substrate, use a mixture that is two parts peat moss and one part sand. Make it about as deep as the turtle is tall because it likes to dig into the substrate and sit for prolonged periods. The water should be shallow enough that the turtle can stand on the bottom while still having its head out of the water. Helmeted turtles are not very good swimmers and need a shallow body of water.
Reproduction
If you plan to breed them, make sure you study the species and their needs. Generally, the females will need to estivate before mating. Once they do, they will lay about 16 eggs deep in the substrate of the aquarium. Make sure you have a very deep substrate if you are mating them, because they will dig deep down to bury the eggs. Twice as deep as the largest female is the ideal depth. The eggs will hatch in about three months. Only the most experienced turtle owners should attempt to breed them.