African Sideneck Turtle Care Guide (West African Mud Turtle)

Caring for Pelusios castaneus: a subtropical side-necked turtle that folds its head sideways, needs warm water, basking, UVB and can live several decades.

Overview

The African sideneck turtle (Pelusios castaneus), also known as the West African mud turtle, is a side-necked turtle of the suborder Pleurodira. Instead of pulling its head straight back into the shell, it folds the neck sideways and tucks the head under the front edge of the carapace. It is a freshwater 'swamp terrapin' that is generally hardy but distinctly subtropical to tropical in its temperature needs.

Natural Range & Size

Pelusios castaneus is endemic to West and Central Africa across more than 20 countries, including Ghana, Senegal, Benin, Cameroon and Angola, and has been introduced to Guadeloupe. Adults typically reach about 7-12 inches (18-30 cm), with females growing larger than males, which top out near 10 inches. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.

Aquatic Setup & Filtration

A single adult is workable in roughly a 40-gallon aquarium, while groups need far more — an area around 6 by 3 feet holding 125-175 gallons. Keep the water level at least 1.5 times the turtle's shell length; a depth of about 6-8 inches suits many individuals. Use powerful filtration and keep the water clean, as these turtles are heavy feeders that quickly foul standing water.

Basking & UVB / Temperature

• Water temperature: warm, about 75-80°F (24-27°C).
• Ambient room: low 80s°F (around 27-29°C).
• Basking spot: roughly 95-100°F (35-38°C).
• UVB: provide UVB lighting about 12 hours per day and replace the bulb annually.

Although highly aquatic, sidenecks still benefit from a warm, dry basking platform under heat and UVB, which supports vitamin D3 production, calcium metabolism and healthy bone and shell.

Diet

Pelusios castaneus is carnivorous and feeds on aquatic prey, taking both fast-moving fish and slow items such as gastropod molluscs. In captivity offer a protein-heavy menu — aquatic crustaceans, insects, fish, shrimp and large snails — alongside a quality aquatic-turtle pellet, with some plant matter such as water lettuce accepted as a minor component.

Health & Longevity

With warm water, UVB and clean conditions, African sidenecks routinely live for decades, with some reports beyond 50 years in captivity. Chilling from inadequate heating is a common stressor for this subtropical species and predisposes them to respiratory and shell problems.

Common Mistakes

• Keeping the water too cool for a subtropical/tropical species.
• Omitting UVB or a proper warm basking site.
• Undersizing the enclosure, especially for groups.
• Feeding a plant-heavy diet unsuited to a primarily carnivorous turtle.