African sideneck turtle subspecies are not officially recognised. But because they resemble the African helmeted turtle so much, people commonly confuse the two. They are also referred to as West African mud turtles.

Due to their inability to fully retract their heads into their shells, African sidenecks instead draw their heads to the side and beneath the upper edge of their shells, earning them the nickname.

Size of an African Sideneck Turtle
African sidenecks are on the larger side of the range and can grow to be between 7 and 12 inches long as adults. Females tend to grow larger than males do. Male sidenecks can grow up to 10 inches in length at their largest.

Lifespan of an African Sideneck Turtle
African sideneck turtles can easily live for a few decades if given the right care. According to some reports, some species can survive in captivity for more than 50 years.

appearance of an African sideneck turtle
African sidenecks are typically dark in colour, and the area under their bellies, known as the plastrons, is a broad, ill-defined shade of yellow. They have two barbels (sensory organs that stick out from the lower jaw like beards), which are olive to brown in colour and have black markings on top. They have long, sharp claws or nails on lightly webbed feet. The two barbel nubs on the chin of this young African sideneck turtle are visible in the image below.

Helmeted turtle, sideneck turtle, and african mud turtle

Laurent Lebois contributed this picture to Flickr Creative Commons (click image to se larger view)

The African sideneck has a face that can be described as cute, with a mouth that is fixed into a smiling shape and big round eyes, in contrast to many turtle species that have more serious reptilian features. It seems to be playing coy when it pulls its head to the side and tucks it under its shell.

Although there aren’t any recognised subspecies, the African sideneck can exist in three different forms. The turtle has three different shell colours: the “regular form,” which is as previously described; the “rainforest form,” in which the turtle exhibits an entirely dark brown or black shell; and the “savannah form,” which has a lighter, buttery caramel hue with a fully developed yellow plastron.

Care Level for African Sideneck Turtle
West African mud turtles/sideneck turtles are best left to intermediate and experienced turtle keepers due to their environmental requirements, modest size, and long longevity. They are resilient turtles, nevertheless, and can endure starvation.

Diet of an African Sideneck Turtle
What to Feed Your African Sideneck and When
African sidenecks are omnivores in the wild and will eat anything, including local fish, vegetation, and insects. The secret to feeding your African sideneck well is diversity. No matter how much your turtle like a certain cuisine, you should always provide it a variety of foods to avoid it becoming fixated on one particular type. Don’t overfeed your turtles in addition to providing variety. Every second or third day, feed adult sidenecks as much as they can consume in a few seconds.

Insects and protein should make up the majority of your sideneck turtle’s food while it is still young and developing. They often lose the majority of their carnivorous impulses as they age.

You can give your sideneck earthworms, snails, clams, fish, aquatic insects, cooked chicken, beef hearts, crustaceans, and perhaps a few small amphibians as sources of meat proteins. Stick to nutrient-rich greens like spinach, romaine, and red-leaf lettuce for the foliage (never iceberg). Additionally, you can give your turtle chopped collard greens, weeds, and various veggies.

As aquatic turtles, sidenecks eat in their tanks, which can result in messy meals. Simply remove your turtle from its tank and feed it in a different container to avoid regular tank cleanings. To prevent food antagonism and feeding frenzies, we advise feeding many turtles one at a time as mentioned above.

Supplements
We also advise giving your turtle a calcium block or other vitamin and mineral supplements from time to time to ensure that it is getting the proper quantities of minerals.

Health of African Sideneck Turtle
Similar to other cold-blooded animals, it’s critical to meet their needs for lighting, heating, and nutrition. Other than that, African sideneck turtles are very tough animals. So, before you even bring your pet turtle home, it’s a good idea to have a reptile vet on standby. Contact your reptile veterinarian as soon as you can if you believe your West African mud turtle may be ill.

Your turtle may develop the following common ailments throughout the course of its lifetime:

Dehydration
Malnutrition
Parasites (internal and external) (internal and external)
Dehydration
Regularly weigh your turtle to keep an eye on its weight. Dehydration or an illness may be to blame for a big and unexplained weight change.

Calcium and vitamin D3 deficiency
Swollen eyes, limbs, and open skin sores are signs of vitamin D3 and/or calcium deficiency in African sideneck turtles.

Parasites
Finally, your turtle may have a parasite issue if you see little worms swimming around in its tank, if it is unable to swim or breathe properly, or if a lot of bubbles are emerging from its snout.

Behavior of African Sideneck Turtles
African sideneck turtles are hardy, energetic, of average size, and are found in large numbers in the wild. They are fantastic pets and generally little maintenance, although they may be curious nearly to the point of aggression. They can also be hostile toward one another, but this usually happens when they are eating, mating, or kept in an unclean or cramped habitat. Although they are not known for being violent toward people, if they feel anxious they might try to flee by using their claws.

African sidenecks are a terrific choice if you’re seeking for a pet that will entertain you and produce a unique presentation.

Supplies for the Environment Habitat or Aquarium Setup of the African Sideneck Turtle
African sidenecks can be kept either inside or outside, depending on the weather where you live. Only keep African sideneck turtles outside when the weather is warm because they do not hibernate seasonally like some other species.

We’ll focus primarily on indoor housing standards in this article. West African mud turtles/sidenecks just need a few things to live happily:

A tank

a dry area

Lighting

Heating

Food
As a turtle tank, you can use a variety of items, such as all-glass aquariums, sizable Rubbermaid totes, baby pools, specially made enclosures, etc.

A space measuring 6 feet by 3 feet and holding between 125 and 175 gallons of water will be adequate for a group of adult West African mud turtles. A 40-gallon glass aquarium will work just well for lone turtles.

Always choose a turtle tank that is broader rather than higher. Turtles prefer to float, dive, and bask; they don’t jump. The recommended depth of your water is between 6 and 8 inches; it should be at least 1.5 times the length of your turtle.

The one decorating item you must have is a location where your turtle can emerge from the water to dry off, preferably in the glow of a basking lamp.

You have two options for substrate: large pebbles or gravel (too big to swallow), or nothing at all. Any substrate will gather food and digestion waste, which increases the time required for cleanup.

You can either change the water regularly, such as every few days, to maintain your turtle tank clean. You may get a tank filter from your neighbourhood pet store to keep the water reasonably clean in between cleanings; just make sure it is strong enough and has a flow rate of 350 gallons per hour.

Branching and Cover
It makes sense to fill your turtle tank with items that can be found in the turtle’s natural environment. This includes driftwood, huge flat rocks (some of which should be utilised to form an above-water basking place beneath the UVB basking lamp), cork bark slabs, and vegetation in the case of the African sideneck.

Sidenecks don’t actually “climb” trees, but they can climb inclines because to their strong claws on their feet. You should provide your turtle with aquarium-safe logs and other forms of wood, but make sure you position them so that it can’t use them as a ramp to escape the tank. Otherwise, you risk having an injured turtle on your hands.

The sideneck has to be able to hide away when necessary, especially in a multi-turtle habitat where it will need to occasionally hide from other turtles that are acting aggressively. A mixture of artificial and live plants is acceptable, but make sure there are sufficient of both.

Light and Heat
An undertank heater or overhead fluorescent and incandescent lamps can be used to give lighting. To guarantee that proper temperatures are maintained, always use digital thermometers in conjunction with your lights. The water in your turtle’s tank should be between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The ambient room temperature should remain in the low 80s while the basking area should be maintained at a temperature of 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Not only do lights provide warmth. African sideneck turtles and other aquatic turtles also benefit from ultraviolet radiation, especially UVB rays. The vitamin D3 that these rays give turtles can keep them healthy. Remember that any plastic, plexiglass, or glass that blocks UVB/UVA lamps will stop the beneficial rays from reaching your turtle. Also, even though the bulb is still emitting light, UVB lights gradually lose their UVB intensity. Make a note on your calendar to swap out the UVB bulbs every nine months.

Your African sideneck turtle will spend a lot of time with you if you give it the right habitat and diet.

Habitat and history of the African Sideneck Turtle
The West African nations of Angola, Guinea, Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Congo are home to the African sideneck. During the rainy season, they reside in rivers, lakes, and ponds. During the dry season, they bury themselves deeply in the mud (a process known as estivating). When it gets too warm, they have also been known to hibernate underground in burrows before surfacing when the weather is ideal once more.