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Breeding / Rarely bred at home
Mata mata turtle
Rarely bred at home · Hard

Breeding the mata mata turtle

Rare in captivity.

Full species page

Step by step

Pairing

Buy a pair of adults; they are rare.

Breeding tank

A large soft acidic tank with plants.

What starts it

Rare spawns; conditions not well known.

Eggs and young

12-28 eggs per clutch; incubation about 200 days (captive eggs at 28-29 °C).

Raising the fry

Hatchlings eat small fish.

Common mistakes
  • Hard water
  • Strong flow
  • Overfeeding

Male or female

Males have a concave plastron (belly shell) and a longer, thicker tail; females have a flatter plastron and a shorter tail.

Can I breed it in my tank?

  • This species is rarely bred in home tanks.
  • Hard: for experienced breeders.