Numbers kept: 2,1

One of my all time favorites; a very alert & "trusting" turtle. Its personality easily makes up for the somewhat sombre brown colors; the first male I owned back in 1988, though, was quite strikingly colored - brown with the carapace top between the outer keels creamy white, it also had ruby-red eyes like some male American box turtles.

After trying to find a mate for 2 years I finally gave it to a lady who owned a female she would not sell to me. Shortly thereafter large quantities of this turtle showed up in German pet shops - that's when I purchased 1,1 (adult). Probably due to moving three times in two years they never reproduced.

This turtle is fond of shallow water; if put in deep water it floats on the surface and is not capable of submerging. It may remain in the water dish for a long time, sometimes more than a day. It also likes to bury quite a bit and may remain underground for days. I housed my first male in a terrarium with the following dimensions (D/W/H):  60 x 300 x 80 cm. An abundance of logs and potted plants made for a highly structured habitat - it was only then that  I noticed this turtle's superb climbing ability. Pyxidea is neither fond of excessive heat (> 28°) nor too much light - these factors as well as too dry a habitat will cause it to remain buried or hidden.

Contrary to most literature it is NOT exclusively/highly herbivorous - it is the most capable predator of the primarily land dwelling turtles I have encountered so far. Anybody who has ever watched this turtle chasing down frogs, small mice and large insects will certainly agree. My animals were also extremely fond of snails and slugs. Live fish placed in their water dish were eagerly killed and consumed. The only plant matter ever eaten by my turtles were bananas. They also loved raw meat & dog chow.

Pyxidea sometimes displays the peculiar habit of raising its relatively long neck straight up in a way that reminds of a submarine's periscope being extended. This is usually shown upon first notice of a possible prey. It is one of the very few turtles capable of grasping the concept of "invisible walls, i.e glass panes".  I have never seen a Pyxidea (after a day or two for settling in) trying to walk through glass walls.

Updated 17.November 1997