Breeding Pelomedusa subrufa, African helmeted turtle

Nesting
P.s. subrufa nest once per year. A nest is dug to a depth of
approximately 15 cm and the eggs deposited. Eggs are
white/grayish and covered with a clear slime. They measure
28-31 mm x 15-18 mm and approximately 4-6 grams. Fertile
eggs develop a white spot or area on top and hatching occurs
in 65-68 days.

Incubation
Eggs are incubated at 95% humidity at 26° C - 28°C in a
1:2 peat sand mixture. Better hatching success rates have
been at the higher temperatures. The mixture is moistened
to where it will form a ball when squeezed without excess
water dripping out.

Key breeding points

Pelomedusa can be maintained in groups
of 1.2 (male: female) and care should be
taken not to permanently house
significantly larger males with females
to avoid accidental drowning or
injury. Males will fight over a
territory and females.Females begin
nesting at a SCL of 12 cm (approx.
5 inches) with a clutch size of 7-11 eggs.

Sexing
Males and females are easily distinguished from one another
based on plastron shape and tail.
Male P. subrufa have concave plastrons and long broad
based tails that extend well beyond the anal notch and
carapace. Additionally the cloaca for males is much further
away from the posterior edge of the plastron and/or
carapacial rim than in females.
Female P. subrufa have flat plastrons and fairly short tails
that do not extend much beyond the anal notch and
carapace. The image at the right illustrates the difference
between males and females well; even young adults are
easily sexed. It is my impression that males attain a larger
size than females and do so a much faster rate than the
females. The head of an adult male is broader & more
massive than a female's.
Copulation occurs in the water with the male grasping the
females carapace with his feet and shaking his head laterally
(see the video below).

Water Depth:
A water depth of 2.0 - 2.5 cm (1 inch) is recommended for newly emerged hatchlings. The addition of sphagnum moss will
provide cover and resting areas. An easily accessible basking site should be provided.
Water depth can be increased as the hatchling growth such that it can easily extend its head above the surface while
standing on the bottom of the tank. By the age of one year water depth can be kept at 7 - 10 cm (3 - 4 inches) if shallow
water rest areas are provided.

The video is of Pelomedusa s. subrufa mating, press play to view it. I appologize for the poor
resolution but I did not wish to disrupt them by adjusting the light and positioning myself better.
Copulation occurs late at night for both subrufa & olivacea.
You might note too is the low water temperature, I've been experimenting with a slight cool down of
the water to room temperature while maintaining the basking temperature. Most of the individuals
will move out of the water and estivate during this cool down. This mating took place during a
unseasonably warm day 55 °F / 12 °C (average is 36 °F / 2 °C).

Feeding:
Newly emerged hatchlings readily take frozen brine shrimp and blood worms usually within a few days of being moved to an
aquatic setup. Single sticks of Reptomin broken into 1 mm pieces (per hatchling) can be offered once hatchlings are feeding
regularly.
Daily feedings are recommended with alternating offerings of Reptomin and frozen foods. Gradually increase Reptomin offerings
as hatchlings grow; by the time they reach one year in age an individual turtle should be consuming around 10 sticks in a
feeding on alternate days to avoid becoming overweight.

Enclosure:
Hatchlings are best maintained in plastic storage/shoe containers within a ten gallon aquarium. The rationale for this is
that the water surrounding the plastic container can be maintained at depth to accommodate a submersible heater and
therefore maintain appropriate water temperatures without subjecting hatchlings to direct contact with the heater. Daily
water changes are necessary as the water depth within the plastic container is to shallow for the filters to run properly.
Hatchlings may not be observed basking until nearly a year old however a UVB light and basking areas should be provided at
one end of the enclosure as well as sufficient hiding areas and visual barriers; sphagnum moss works very well and is easily
cleaned and/or replaced.

Hatchlings
P.s. subrufa are quite
small upon hatching,
weighing 3.5-4.0 grams
and a uniform black color
with green eyes and a
cream chin. As hatchlings age most develop white spots along the
ventral rim of the anterior end of the carapace. By the age of six
to nine months hatchlings' coloration begins to resemble that of
the adults.

Incubator and shoe box lids are opened every other day to take
temperature & humidity readings. A digital temp/humidity guage
is used as they prove to be more reliable and faster. An aquarium
thermometer is left buried to monitor substrate temperatures.