Care Sheet - Hilaire's Sidenecked Turtle

Scientific name
Phrynops hilarii
Cites status
Cites Appendix II
Obligation to keep records and to register paperwork!
Habitat
Southern Brazil, Uruguay, northern Argentina, and Paraguay.
In rivers with slow-flowing water and large lakes.
Diurnal.
Size
Females up to 40 cm, males up to 35 cm
Life Expectancy
30-35 years
Reproduction
Per clutch up to 25 eggs, incubation at 29C for 110-160 days
Eggs are spherical and take around 150 days to hatch at 30 C. Cooling of eggs may
be required prior to incubation. This depends on how your animals are housed. In
north central Florida I must cool fall and winter clutches, but not spring ones. Cooling
for 90 days at 21 C (from Dr. M. Ewert), then placing them at room temperature for
10-14 days until chalking, and then begin incubation.
Sexing
Males have longer thicker tails.
Temperature
Water temperature 26-28C. We recommend the use of Thermo Clean, which
combines filter and heater. Also a place for basking at 40-45C, which can be created
by the use of Spot bulb on a dimming thermostat.
Humidity
Is irrelevant, a dry place for sunbathing is important
Lighting

UV Repti Glo 5 strip light and a spotlight with a glow light reflector on a dimming
thermostat.
Substrate
A thin layer of river sand or fine grit in the water section. On the land section
substrate like Jungle bedding which should be used with Hydro Drain and Hydro
Fleece.
Cage Furniture
Should be kept in a spacious aqua-terrarium e.g. Turtle Terrarium. The water level
depends on size of animals. For a full-grown animal at least 20 cm.
Roots, stones, Turtle Island and Turtle Plants complete the equipment. Some live
plants should be added for them to nibble on (Canadian pond weed)
Terrarium Size
Minimum requirement 5x2.5 (LxW) multiplied by the carapace length. Water level
twice the carapace width. Land part about 1/3. The size of 120x60x60 cm with a water
level of 40 cm is recommended.
Food
Fish, small crabs, shrimps, earthworms, snails, dried turtle food, insects. Also aquatic
plants (waterweed and duckweed), sweet fruit. Regular Vitamins and Calcium should
be given. A piece of cuttlefish bone on the land section, this gives them Ca and keeps
the beak in good condition.
Comments
Those animals need a roomy aqua-terrarium and should not be kept with other turtles.
When doing water changes siphon off the old sand with the water (no more than 50%
of the water). Regular water changes once a week or at least fortnightly should be part
of the regular regime.
A water pH of 6.5 or slightly lower, especially for hatchlings does best.

John Gamesby