Behavior of the African Sideneck Turtle

The African sideneck turtle earns his name from the way he draws his head into his shell. Instead of pulling it straight back, he turns it to the side and slides just far enough inside the shell to hide the head and neck. Relatively easy to care for, these turtles sometimes grow too large for turtle owners, often topping 20 inches in length. They sometimes can be aggressive, so watch out for angry behavior.

  1. Swimming

    • Avid swimmers, African sideneck turtles spend a good part of the day in water. In a home aquarium, about 8 inches of fresh water typically is sufficient. Turtle owners often enjoy the African sidenecks because they are relatively active creatures, giving quite an aquatic show while they swim. They tend to be most active during the day while you're able to watch them.

    Basking

    • African sideneck turtles don't swim nonstop. Like many turtle species, they like to take time out to rest and warm up, climbing on rocks or driftwood to sit still and bask. In the wild, they often sit on muddy banks, but in captivity, they just enjoy getting out of the water to dry off and heat up their bodies. Multiple turtles are likely to bask in groups rather than individually. If you reach into their habitat while they're basking, they likely will slide into the water as a group as well.

    Hunting

    • Relatively aggressive hunters, these turtles eat a variety of foods, including crustaceans, slugs, small frogs, insects and fish. Because they eat animals that tend to stick near the water, don't add smaller turtles, amphibians or fish to their tank as pets; your African sideneck turtles might attack or eat other species that share their habitat. Although typically docile in captivity, they might try to nip at your fingers if you get too close, so take care when feeding them.

    Hiding

    • Diving into the water is an active way for these turtles to hide from predators, but they also can draw their legs and heads into their shells when threatened. The shell closes up to form a tight shield around their bodies. It's best not to upset your African sideneck turtles too much -- they also have scent glands that spray an unappealing musk odor when they feel threatened.