Picture comingBreeding the west african mud turtle
Egg layer: in West Africa nests in February-March and eggs hatch in June-July; a captive female laid eggs in March and September. Courtship: the male approaches from behind, touches the female's throat and swings his outstretched neck in front of her head.
Step by step
Pair.
Medium tank with land.
Seasonal cycles.
6-18 eggs per clutch; a captive clutch hatched after 76-84 days.
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 longer tails and slightly concave plastra; females have flat plastra.
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.