How difficult is it to keep Big-Headed Turtle?

Advanced. This is an advanced-level species. It requires specialized equipment and advanced husbandry skills with precise environmental control.

What is the lifespan of Big-Headed Turtle?

The average lifespan of Big-Headed Turtle is Maximum recorded longevity in captivity is 27 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.

How large does Big-Headed Turtle get?

Big-Headed Turtle typically reaches Carapace up to 21.5cm, with males larger than females as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What should I feed Big-Headed Turtle?

Big-Headed Turtle feeds on: Insects, crustaceans, molluscs, fish, tadpoles and prepared pellets. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

What is the typical price for Big-Headed Turtle?

The price of Big-Headed Turtle varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Big-Headed Turtle

Advanced

Platysternon megacephalum

A nocturnal turtle of hill streams with a huge head as thick as the shell is deep and a tail as long as or longer than the carapace. Because the head is so large and the shell so flat it cannot withdraw its head. The carapace reaches 21.5 cm.

Difficulty

Advanced

Temperature

25〜32℃

Lifespan

Maximum recorded longevity in captivity is 27 years

Size

Carapace up to 21.5cm, with males larger than females

Humidity

40〜70%

Diet

Insects, crustaceans, molluscs, fish, tadpoles and prepared pellets

About

Platysternon megacephalum is the big-headed turtle, sole member of its family and genus in most treatments. The carapace is extremely flat and reaches 21.5 cm, while the head is enormous and as thick as the shell is deep; the specific name megacephalum, meaning great head, matches both the English and Japanese names. Because the head is so large and the shell so flat, the turtle cannot draw its head inside. A single large scale covers the top of the head and the horny beak is large and thick. The tail is very long, equal to or longer than the carapace, and strong enough to grip branches. It favours streams about a metre wide and 10 cm deep, is nocturnal and rests by day in rock crevices. It is carnivorous, taking insects, crustaceans, molluscs and fish. A 2025 proposal would raise the Burmese subspecies and the Guangxi populations to full species, making three in the genus.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Lifespan of the Big-Headed Turtle

The Big-Headed Turtle lives Maximum recorded longevity in captivity is 27 years.

Size of the Big-Headed Turtle

The Big-Headed Turtle grows to Carapace up to 21.5cm, with males larger than females.

Basic Info

Origin

Southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, northeastern Cambodia and Viet Nam, in hill and low-mountain streams

Lifespan

Maximum recorded longevity in captivity is 27 years

Size

Carapace up to 21.5cm, with males larger than females

Care Specifications

AggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Very hard

Sources: Wikipedia (Japanese): Big-headed turtle / Wikipedia (English): Big-headed turtle / Reptile Database / AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database

References & Sources

Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team

The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.

Primary sources

Taxonomy & Authority

Accepted name: Platysternon megacephalum Gray, 1831

Synonyms: Platysternum megacephalum Gray, 1831, Platysternon peguense Gray, 1870, Platysternon megacephalum shiui Ernst & McCord, 1987

Authority databases: Reptile Database

Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.

Regulations & Conservation Status

CITES Appendix IIUCN CR · Critically Endangered

Listed in CITES Appendix II in 2003, and listed in Appendix I at the family level (Carettochelyidae) effective June 12, 2013. It qualifies as an international rare wildlife species, and individual registration certificates are required for transfers and other transactions. It does not fall under the designated animals listed in the Animal Protection and Management Act Enforcement Order, nor is it designated as a designated invasive species.

Sources: CITES Appendices / Ministry of the Environment: list of invasive alien species / Order for Enforcement of the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals (designated dangerous animals)

Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.