Chinese Pond Turtle

Known as the Chinese turtle (Mauremys reevesii), Reeves' turtle or Chinese three-keeled pond turtle, it is a species of semi-aquatic turtle native to China, Korea, and Japan. This species is very popular as a pet due to its small size, attractive appearance, and calm behavior. In another article, we also provide information about another Asian species, the Chinese softshell turtle.

Distribution

The Chinese turtle or Reeves' turtle is a species of semi-aquatic turtle that can be found in various parts of Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. In China, this species lives south of the Huang Ho River (the famous Yellow River) and extends as far as the city of Shanghai.

In Japan, it can be seen on the islands of Honshu and Kyushu, while in Korea, it is found in the southern part of the peninsula. In Taiwan, this species is present in most of the island's rivers and lakes, while in Hong Kong, it can be found in some urban ponds and rivers.

The population of Mauremys reevesii has declined in recent decades due to the loss of its natural habitat, pollution, and over-collection for the pet trade. For this reason, people need to take measures to protect and conserve this species in all the areas where it is found.

Characteristics

The Chinese turtle (Mauremys reevesii) is a species of semi-aquatic turtle with a very oval shell. Its back is not serrated, but it has a central notch in the supracaudal area. It has three well-developed keels, and the two costal keels are located in the front third of the shell. The shell color is uniform, usually light brown to dark brown, with the keels being darker.

The plastron of the turtle has an anal notch and is yellow in color, as is the bridge, and each scute is adorned with a large dark brown spot.

The head of the Mauremys reevesii is tapered and has a rather prominent, but not large, nose. The upper jaw has a small central notch. The head is dark brown to black, with several curved and straight yellow bands on both sides. The tympanum is surrounded by a yellow stripe, often incomplete. The neck is sometimes black or grayish-brown and is marked along its length by fine yellow lines.

The skin and limbs are completely olive or brown in color.

How big is the Chinese turtle?

This turtle rarely exceeds 24 cm. Males are much smaller than females and have a huge, very thick tail, which often does not exceed 12 cm and is completely dark black.

Habits

It is a semi-aquatic turtle that inhabits small, slow, and shallow watercourses, such as marshes, irrigation canals, and slow-moving rivers with muddy bottoms. It prefers calm waters and can sometimes be found in larger rivers. For much of the day, they like to bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature.

How long does the Chinese turtle live?

It is a species of Reeves' turtle that can live between 20 and 25 years in the wild, and up to 30 years in captivity if kept with proper care regarding diet, temperature, lighting, and space. For this, we recommend you visit the general care guide for aquatic turtles.

What does the Chinese turtle eat?

This turtle is omnivorous and feeds on a variety of foods, such as invertebrates, larvae, organic debris, algae, and aquatic plants. The Chinese turtle also has a rather ambiguous diet on certain occasions and can adapt to a wide variety of foods available in its environment.

In captivity, with this species of turtle, you can follow the general article on food for aquatic turtles, which shows which foods are recommended for aquatic turtles, from store-bought to natural foods.

Care of the Chinese turtle

The Reeves' turtle adapts well to captivity and can withstand winters in temperate climates.

If the turtle is going to be in an outdoor pond, provide a ramp so they can come out to bask in the sun. A small patch of land should be provided for nesting and for spending time among vegetation. This turtle is a good climber, so the enclosure should be properly secured if you don't want it to escape.

For young turtles, you can use an aquarium of at least 40 liters and a UVB lamp and a heater. For adult turtles, a large aquarium with at least 60 cm depth should be provided, with rocks or logs for basking, UVB lights, a filter, and submerged and floating plants.

Reproduction

Courtship and mating of this species take place in spring, when males chase females in the water and swim around them. During courtship, males try to attract females with their movements and by tapping them with their front legs. After mating occurs, the female lays 4 to 9 elongated white eggs on the water's edge. Egg-laying takes place between June and July, and there can be up to three clutches per month. Incubation of the eggs lasts about 90 days.

Conservation status

The species is endangered because many people release other invasive exotic turtle species, such as Florida turtles, excessive hunting for medicinal use in China, capture for the pet trade, and destruction of natural habitat. Fortunately, this species, the Chinese water turtle, reproduces successfully in captivity, which offers some hope for its conservation.

The IUCN has classified this species as an endangered species.

Below we show a gallery of images of the Mauremys reevesii turtle:

Other types of aquatic turtles

Accessories for aquatic turtles

You can check the following articles where we analyze in depth the different accessories for aquatic turtles that suit their needs.