Fascinating Snake-Necked Turtles from Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia
Snakenecked turtles are fascinating animals and this page has been set up to give you information on keeping and breeding these turtles in captivity. You will find basic
information in each chapter, but also very specific information for the serious herpetologist.
The pictures I have chosen are all from my own animals (if not otherwise noted) and sometimes require longer loading times due to their size. So please be patient. You will also find information about the Pignose turtle Carettochelys insculpta, another interesting species from Australasia, that I have been keeping for many years.
This page will steadily grow with more pictures and information as soon as avaialble. Therefore you might check again in a few weeks to see what's new. Contact me if you have questions or comments.
information in each chapter, but also very specific information for the serious herpetologist.
The pictures I have chosen are all from my own animals (if not otherwise noted) and sometimes require longer loading times due to their size. So please be patient. You will also find information about the Pignose turtle Carettochelys insculpta, another interesting species from Australasia, that I have been keeping for many years.
This page will steadily grow with more pictures and information as soon as avaialble. Therefore you might check again in a few weeks to see what's new. Contact me if you have questions or comments.
Introduction:
Snake-necked. long-necked, side-necked.... This is what they are usually called. But there is one thing in common: their fascinating long neck in comparison to the lenght of the body. Unlike most other turtles, the neck and head is not withdrawn under the carapace, but rather is folded sideways beteen the carapace and the plastron. The distribution of snake-necked turtles of the Genus Chelodina and Macrochelodina is restricted to Australasia where they are found in Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia (Irian Jaya and Roti island).
Most snakenecks adapt easily to captive living if some general rules are kept. Once you have seen a snake-necked turtle begging for food and almost falling out of the tank, you know why you love them !
Now check out the following pages to learn everything about diet, breeding, captive husbandry, health problems and more. In the species section you will find details about the turtles I am keeping myself now for many years.
Oliver Roempp
Germany
July 2003
