Reeves' Turtle (Chinese Pond Turtle)

An aquatic species that needs a large, well-filtered aquarium or tub: at least about 90 x 45 cm of footprint for one adult, with water volume roughly 20 gallons or more plus room for a basking platform. Reeves' turtles are not strong swimmers, so keep water depth moderate, around 1.5 to 3 times the shell length, with easy exits and gentle flow. Provide a dry basking dock the turtle can climb fully out onto, a powerful filter to keep the water clean, and hiding spots and planting. Regular water changes and filtration are essential to prevent shell and skin disease.

An omnivore whose diet shifts with age: juveniles are more carnivorous and adults take more plant matter. Feed a quality aquatic turtle pellet as the staple, supplemented with protein such as earthworms, snails, insects and occasional lean fish, plus aquatic plants and leafy greens. Offer calcium via a cuttlebone in the water. Feed juveniles daily and adults every one to two days, giving only what is eaten in a few minutes to protect water quality and prevent obesity.

Keep the water at about 22 to 26 C, using a guarded aquarium heater if the room is cool, and provide a basking spot of about 30 to 32 C over the dock with ambient air around 24 to 28 C. UVB is essential for shell and bone health: use a T5 tube (around 5 to 6 percent) over the basking area on a 12-hour timer. Reeves' turtles are more cold-tolerant than tropical species but still need a warm, well-lit basking site to dry off and thermoregulate. Clean, filtered water at a stable temperature is the foundation of their health.

Can be kept singly or in compatible groups in a large enough system, but males can be pushy and harass others, and crowding fouls the water and spreads disease, so provide ample space, multiple basking spots and strong filtration for any group. A single turtle does very well alone. They are not handling pets; frequent handling stresses them, so interact mainly at feeding time and handle only for health checks or maintenance.

Provide a varied aquatic environment with planting, submerged hides, gentle current and a good basking area so the turtle can swim, forage, rest and thermoregulate. Feeding a mix of live and prepared foods, scattering food to encourage foraging, and offering safe objects to investigate all support natural behaviour. Clean, spacious, well-structured water with a proper basking site is the best enrichment for this active aquatic turtle.