🐢 Reeves Turtle Care Guide

Reeves Turtles, also known as Chinese Pond Turtles, are small-to-medium-sized semi-aquatic turtles with plenty of character.

They spend much of their time swimming and exploring but must also have access to a completely dry basking area with heat and UVB lighting.

Adults are commonly around 12–20cm shell length, although size varies between individuals and sexes.

With correct care, Reeves Turtles can live for 20 years or considerably longer, so they are a serious long-term commitment.

They may look small when young, but their adult enclosure requirements should be considered before bringing one home.

This guide covers the basics you need to keep your Reeves Turtle happy and healthy.

🏠 Housing & Aquarium

Reeves Turtles require a spacious aquatic enclosure with:

• Plenty of swimming space

• A completely dry basking platform

• Powerful filtration

• Suitable water heating where required

• Basking heat lamp

• High-quality UVB lighting

• Digital thermometers

• Safe decorations

• Suitable water depth

• Fresh, clean water

For an adult Reeves Turtle, we recommend planning for an aquarium of at least around 200 litres, with larger accommodation preferable, particularly for larger individuals.

Floor length and swimming space are extremely important.

Don't choose a tank based solely on the size of a baby turtle.

Plan for the adult animal from the beginning.

💧 Water Depth

Reeves Turtles are aquatic turtles and need enough water to swim naturally.

Young turtles can begin with an appropriate depth for their size and swimming ability.

As they grow, provide increasingly deeper water.

The enclosure should include:

• Easy access to the surface

• Resting points

• Branches or structures near the surface

• Easy access to the basking platform

Monitor young turtles carefully to make sure they're confident swimmers and can easily reach the surface.

🌡️ Water Temperature

Water temperature depends partly on the turtle's age and health.

For most commonly kept Reeves Turtles, aim for water around:

🌡️ 22–25°C

Young turtles may benefit from temperatures towards the warmer end of the range.

Use a reliable digital aquarium thermometer.

If an aquarium heater is required, it should be appropriately sized and protected so the turtle cannot damage it or burn itself.

Turtles are surprisingly strong and can easily move poorly secured aquarium equipment.

☀️ Basking Area

Every Reeves Turtle needs access to a completely dry basking area.

The turtle must be able to climb out of the water and dry its entire shell.

The basking area should be:

• Easy to access

• Large enough for the whole turtle

• Completely dry on top

• Secure and stable

• Positioned underneath the basking heat and UVB

The turtle shouldn't have to balance awkwardly or remain partially submerged while basking.

🔥 Basking Temperature

Aim for a basking surface temperature of approximately:

☀️ 30–32°C

Use a digital thermometer or infrared temperature gun to check the actual surface temperature.

The basking lamp should create a warm area without overheating the turtle or surrounding enclosure.

Make sure the turtle cannot touch a hot bulb.

☀️ UVB – Essential

Correct UVB lighting is essential for Reeves Turtles.

UVB helps the turtle produce vitamin D3 and use calcium correctly.

Without appropriate UVB, turtles can develop serious shell and bone problems.

Use a high-quality linear UVB lamp appropriate for the enclosure.

The UVB should overlap the basking area so your turtle receives UVB while warming itself.

Correct strength and positioning depend on:

• Lamp being used

• Distance from the turtle

• Mesh or covers between the lamp and animal

• Manufacturer's recommendations

Replace the lamp according to the manufacturer's recommended schedule.

A UVB lamp can continue producing visible light even after useful UVB output has declined.

⏰ Lighting Cycle

Provide approximately:

☀️ 12 hours of light
🌙 12 hours of darkness

A timer makes this easy to maintain.

Basking and visible lighting should be switched off overnight.

💦 Water Quality

Excellent water quality is one of the most important parts of keeping aquatic turtles.

Turtles:

• Eat in their water

• Defecate in their water

• Move substrate and decorations

• Produce considerably more waste than many aquarium fish

Poor water quality can contribute to:

• Skin problems

• Eye problems

• Shell problems

• Unpleasant smells

• General poor health

Clear-looking water isn't automatically clean or safe.

🔄 Tank Cycling

Ideally, the aquarium and filter should be properly established before bringing your turtle home.

The biological filter develops beneficial bacteria that process waste.

The basic nitrogen cycle is:

Ammonia → Nitrite → Nitrate

Ammonia and nitrite are harmful and should be kept at:

Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm

Nitrate is managed through regular water changes and good maintenance.

Use an appropriate aquarium water test kit rather than relying entirely on how the water looks.

🚿 Tap Water

Tap water should be treated with a suitable aquarium water conditioner/dechlorinator where required.

Chlorine and chloramine can interfere with the aquarium's biological filtration and aquatic environment.

Follow the water conditioner's instructions.

🔄 Filtration

Reeves Turtles require powerful filtration.

Because turtles produce so much waste, choose a filter rated considerably above the aquarium's actual volume.

External canister filters are often an excellent option for larger turtle aquariums.

Good filtration should provide:

• Mechanical filtration

• Biological filtration

• Appropriate water circulation

The filter doesn't remove the need for water changes.

🧽 Cleaning Your Filter

Biological filter media contains beneficial bacteria.

Don't routinely wash all biological media under untreated tap water.

When cleaning is necessary, gently rinse reusable biological media in removed aquarium water where appropriate.

Avoid replacing all established filter media at the same time unless genuinely necessary.

Doing so can damage the biological cycle.

🚿 Water Changes

Regular partial water changes are essential.

A typical established setup may require around 20–30% weekly, although the actual amount depends on:

• Turtle size

• Aquarium size

• Number of turtles

• Feeding

• Filtration

• Water test results

Heavily stocked or smaller setups may require more frequent maintenance.

Use your water test results to help guide your routine.

🪨 Substrate

Suitable options include:

• Bare-bottom tank

• Large smooth stones that cannot be swallowed

• Suitable sand where correctly maintained

Avoid small gravel that could potentially be swallowed.

Turtles are curious feeders and may investigate objects with their mouths.

Any rocks used should be too large for the turtle to ingest.

🌿 Decorations & Enrichment

Reeves Turtles benefit from an interesting environment.

You can provide:

• Large smooth rocks

• Secure branches

• Driftwood

• Safe aquatic plants

• Resting areas

• Different water depths

• Places to explore

Make sure decorations cannot:

• Collapse

• Trap the turtle underwater

• Prevent access to the surface

• Damage the shell

• Be swallowed

Turtles are strong, so secure everything properly.

🥗 Feeding Your Reeves Turtle

Reeves Turtles are omnivorous.

A varied diet is important.

A quality aquatic turtle food can form an important part of the diet alongside suitable fresh foods.

Depending on age and size, foods can include:

• Quality aquatic turtle food

• Suitable aquatic invertebrates

• Earthworms

• Appropriate insects

• Suitable leafy greens

• Aquatic plants

• Other appropriate turtle-safe foods

Young turtles generally eat a greater proportion of animal-based foods.

As they mature, plant matter should become a more important part of the diet.

🐛 Animal-Based Foods

Suitable foods can include:

• Earthworms

• Appropriate insects

• Suitable aquatic invertebrates

• Other properly sourced turtle foods

Offer variety rather than relying entirely on one food.

Avoid making dried shrimp the entire diet.

Although many turtles love them, dried shrimp alone do not provide a properly balanced long-term diet.

🥬 Vegetables & Greens

As your turtle matures, regularly offer suitable plant foods.

Options can include:

• Dandelion greens

• Suitable leafy greens

• Aquatic plants

• Other turtle-safe vegetation

Some young turtles may initially show little interest in greens.

Continue offering appropriate plant foods rather than assuming they will never eat them.

🦴 Calcium

Calcium is extremely important for healthy:

• Shell development

• Bones

• Muscles

• General growth

Correct calcium provision works alongside proper UVB lighting.

A suitable source of calcium, such as appropriately prepared cuttlefish bone, can be offered where suitable.

Follow appropriate supplementation guidance for the diet being used.

❌ Foods to Avoid

Avoid feeding:

• Dog food as a staple

• Cat food as a staple

• Processed human food

• Bread

• Dairy products

• Highly salty foods

• Sugary foods

• Mouldy food

• Wild insects exposed to pesticides

• Large quantities of fatty foods

Variety and balance are much more important than simply feeding whatever the turtle eagerly accepts.

⏰ How Often Should I Feed?

Feeding frequency depends on age, size and body condition.

🐢 Young Turtles

Young, growing Reeves Turtles can generally be offered appropriate food daily, with portion size carefully controlled.

🐢 Juveniles

As growth slows, feeding frequency and proportions can gradually change.

🐢 Adults

Adults can generally be fed around every other day or several times per week, with suitable plant foods available regularly.

Avoid overfeeding.

Turtles are often extremely enthusiastic around food and may behave as though they're starving even when they've already eaten enough!

♂️♀️ How to Tell the Sex

Sexing a Reeves Turtle can be difficult when they are young. The differences between males and females usually become much clearer as the turtle matures.

🐢 Males

Adult males generally have:

• A longer and thicker tail
• A thicker tail base
• The cloaca (vent) positioned further down the tail, away from the edge of the shell
• A slightly concave plastron (underside of the shell) in some mature males
• A tendency to remain smaller and slimmer than females

🐢 Females

Adult females generally have:

• A shorter, thinner tail
• A less bulky tail base
• The cloaca positioned much closer to the body and edge of the shell
• A flatter plastron
• A tendency to grow larger and heavier than males

🔍 The Tail Is the Best Clue

The tail is usually one of the easiest ways to tell mature male and female Reeves Turtles apart.

A mature male's tail is noticeably longer and thicker, whereas a female's tail is shorter and slimmer.

Very young Reeves Turtles can be extremely difficult to sex accurately, so don't rely on sexing small juveniles.

As the turtle matures, the differences become much easier to see.

⚠️ Please Note

Sex cannot always be guaranteed in young turtles. If purchasing a juvenile, be prepared for its sex to become apparent only as it grows and matures.

⚖️ Body Condition & Weight

Regular monitoring can help identify problems.

Watch for:

• Unexpected weight loss

• Excessive fat around the legs

• Changes in appetite

• Changes in shell condition

• Reduced activity

Don't judge how much to feed simply by how enthusiastically your turtle begs for food.

✋ Handling

Reeves Turtles should not be handled unnecessarily.

Handling can cause stress, and turtles can:

• Scratch

• Bite

• Struggle

• Fall

When handling is necessary:

• Support the entire body

• Hold securely but gently

• Keep close to a safe surface

• Keep sessions short

• Wash hands afterwards

Never pick a turtle up by its tail.

🐢 Shell Care

A healthy shell should generally be:

• Firm

• Intact

• Free from foul-smelling areas

• Free from deep pits or sores

• Free from obvious injuries

Correct:

UVB + basking + diet + calcium + clean water

all contribute to healthy shell development.

🧼 Shell Cleaning

Don't routinely scrub or apply oils, creams or household products to your turtle's shell.

A healthy turtle with appropriate basking conditions and clean water normally manages its shell naturally.

If you notice unusual shell changes, seek appropriate advice rather than covering the problem with a product.

⚠️ Shell Problems

Potential warning signs include:

• Soft shell

• Foul smell

• Deep pits

• Red or inflamed areas

• Unusual white patches

• Open wounds

• Bleeding

• Areas that appear rotten or damaged

Shell problems can have several different causes and should be assessed by a reptile/exotics-experienced vet.

👀 Eyes

Healthy eyes should generally be:

• Clear

• Open

• Free from discharge

Persistently swollen or closed eyes can be associated with husbandry, water quality, nutritional or health problems.

Don't ignore persistent eye problems.

🩺 Health

A healthy Reeves Turtle should generally:

• Be alert when active

• Swim normally

• Dive normally

• Bask regularly

• Have clear eyes

• Have an intact shell

• Feed appropriately

• Move all four limbs normally

• Maintain a healthy body condition

Learn what's normal for your individual turtle.

⚠️ Signs to Watch For

Contact a reptile/exotics-experienced vet if you notice:

• Persistent refusal to eat

• Significant weight loss

• Severe lethargy

• Swollen or closed eyes

• Nasal discharge

• Bubbles around the nose

• Wheezing

• Open-mouth breathing

• Swimming unevenly

• Difficulty diving

• Persistent floating to one side

• Soft shell

• Shell wounds or foul smell

• Weakness

• Swollen limbs

• Abnormal movement

• Prolapse

Aquatic turtles can hide illness, so seek advice promptly if you're concerned.

🐢 Can Reeves Turtles Live Together?

Keeping multiple turtles together can cause problems.

Possible issues include:

• Bullying

• Biting

• Competition for food

• Competition for basking space

• Stress

• Mating pressure

• Injuries

Individual housing is often the simplest and safest option.

If multiple turtles are housed together, considerably more space, multiple resources and very close monitoring are required.

Be prepared to separate them permanently if aggression occurs.

🦠 Hygiene & Salmonella

Like other reptiles, turtles can naturally carry Salmonella without appearing ill.

Always:

• Wash hands thoroughly after handling

• Wash hands after aquarium maintenance

• Supervise children's hygiene

• Keep turtle equipment away from kitchens

• Don't clean turtle equipment in food-preparation areas

• Disinfect contaminated surfaces appropriately

Never kiss your turtle or allow it near your face or food.

👶 Children

Reeves Turtles can be fascinating animals for children to observe, but an adult should remain responsible for their care.

Children should always be supervised around:

• Handling

• Feeding

• Water changes

• Aquarium equipment

• Electrical equipment

Hand washing afterwards is essential.

🏡 Bringing Your New Reeves Turtle Home

Before collecting your turtle, the aquarium should already be:

• Fully set up

• Filled with treated water

• Running correctly

• Appropriately cycled/established

• At the correct temperature

• Equipped with powerful filtration

• Providing a completely dry basking area

• Providing correct basking heat

• Equipped with suitable UVB

• Ready with appropriate food

Don't buy the turtle first and then start setting up the aquarium afterwards.

A properly prepared environment makes the move considerably easier and safer.

👨👩👧 Is a Reeves Turtle Right for You?

Reeves Turtles are fascinating pets, but they require considerably more equipment and maintenance than many people expect.

Before buying one, remember that they:

• Can live for 20 years or considerably longer

• Need a large aquarium as adults

• Require powerful filtration

• Need regular water testing and water changes

• Require a completely dry basking area

• Need a basking heat lamp

• Require high-quality UVB

• Need a varied diet

• Require appropriate calcium

• Produce a lot of waste

• Can carry Salmonella

• May require specialist veterinary treatment

• Need suitable care whenever you're away

The tiny turtle you take home can become a decades-long commitment.

❤️ The Most Important Things to Remember

A happy, healthy Reeves Turtle needs plenty of swimming space, excellent water quality, powerful filtration, a completely dry basking area, correct basking temperature, high-quality UVB and a varied diet.

Remember:

💧 Keep the water clean and regularly tested.
🔄 Use powerful filtration.
☀️ Provide a completely dry basking area.
🔥 Maintain the correct basking temperature.
🌞 Correct UVB is essential.
🥗 Feed a varied, age-appropriate diet.
🦴 Provide appropriate calcium.
🐢 Plan for the size and needs of the adult turtle.

Have the complete aquarium set up, established and running correctly before bringing your Reeves Turtle home.

🐢 Roxy's Pet Shop

Need help with your Reeves Turtle?

Whether you're choosing a tank, filter, heater, basking area, heat lamp, UVB, water conditioner, test kit, food or decorations, please ask us. No question is too small or silly – we'd much rather you ask.

We recommend having your complete aquarium set up and running correctly before collecting your turtle.

Roxy's Pet Shop
Bloxwich High Street, WS3 3LA
☎️ 01922 492521
🌐 roxyspetshop.co.uk

This care guide provides general husbandry information and does not replace veterinary advice. Requirements can vary depending on the individual turtle, its age, enclosure and equipment used. If you are concerned about your Reeves Turtle's health, contact a qualified reptile/exotics-experienced veterinary professional.