Picture comingBreeding the black marsh turtle
Nests on land, mainly April-June; in the wild females lay 3-4 clutches of only 1-2 large eggs each. Courting males bob their heads and bite the female's legs and shell.
Step by step
Pair.
Large aquatic tank with land.
Warm season.
1-2 eggs per clutch (captive clutches usually a single elongated egg, about 52 x 28 mm); incubation 68-84 days at 29-30 °C, up to 112 days at 25 °C; hatchlings 4.3-4.6 cm.
Hatchlings are fully independent: house them in shallow warm water with a basking spot and feed small pellets, worms and daphnia daily.
- Undersized tank and weak filtration
- No UV or basking heat (soft shells, poor growth)
- Releasing unwanted turtles into the wild
Male or female
Males have a slightly concave plastron and a thicker, longer tail; females have a flat plastron and usually keep the pale head spots, which fade in adult males. Both sexes reach about the same size.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for frogs, newts and turtles
- Day 0Eggs
Needs a special setup. Read the species guide first.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Needs a special setup. Read the species guide first.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.