Leaf Turtle

The Leaf Turtle has a very distinctive appearance, like a withered yellow leaf. Many people are fond of its unique shape, and it is quite popular in the market. The price of Leaf Turtles is not expensive, so they are loved by everyone.

The Leaf Turtle, which grows in the Matamata Swamp, is also known as the Matamata Turtle or Matamata, and belongs to the large aquatic turtle species. It is the oldest surviving reptile. It is a stationary turtle with a triangular flat head, a tube-shaped nose with a horn-like part, three whiskers on the chin and four filamentous whiskers. It looks like a withered leaf and is yellowish in color, visible in the lake. It is called the Leaf Turtle because its shell resembles a withered leaf.

Chinese name: 枯叶龟

Latin name: Chelusfimbriata

English name: Matamata Turtle

Alias: Matamata Turtle, Leaf Turtle, Matamata Snake-necked Turtle, Snake-necked Turtle

Binomial name: Chelusfimbriatus

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Testudines

Family: Chelidae

Genus: Chelus

Species: fimbriata

Distribution area: Amazon River, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and other regions.

Habitat: Slow-flowing small rivers, U-shaped lakes and ponds.

Conservation level: Not a protected animal.

1741, the leaf turtle was first described by French naturalist Pierre Barrère as "a large land turtle with uneven and ridge scales".

In 1783, the leaf turtle was first classified as the snake-necked turtle genus by German naturalist Johann Gottlob Schneider.

In 1992, it was officially named the leaf turtle. There are currently two clearly identified leaf turtle fossil species: C. lewisi discovered in the Miocene stratum in Venezuela and C. colombiana discovered in the Miocene stratum in Colombia. Although C. colombiana was discovered as early as the 1940s, both of these leaf turtle fossils were named by Wood in 1976.

It is recommended for enthusiasts to raise it. According to observations during normal feeding, Mita also eats a small amount at a temperature of about 20 degrees, so it can be controlled at 22-26 degrees. If the temperature is suitable, the breeding environment is large enough, and there is ample food, this turtle will grow rapidly and astonishingly.

1. Genital Inflammation

     At the beginning of the disease, there is a red shadow in the excretory opening, which is generally difficult to see at the early stage. When touching the hind legs and tail with hands, the reaction is sluggish. In severe cases, they cannot crawl, and the excretory opening is loose and has a foul smell.

  2. Liver Disease

    During the onset of the disease, the spirit is poor and the movement is sluggish. In severe cases, the head droops and the eyes sleep. The liver is severely damaged and is the number one killer, requiring prompt treatment.

  3. Respiratory Infection

    In the early stage, there is coughing, and solid white mucus is secreted from the turtle's mouth. The feces have a foul smell, and it may develop into pneumonia when the temperature is high.

  4. Lameness

    There are two types: one is not swollen; the other type is abscessed, which can lead to bone decay, paralysis, and death.

  5. Respiratory Infection Pneumonia

    Small bubbles appear when the turtle opens its mouth, breathing is obstructed, the spirit is not good, the appetite decreases rapidly, and the reaction is sluggish. In the later stage, the neck contracts when opening the mouth, and there is mucus in the nostrils.

  6. Bilateral Disease with Closed Eyes

    Usually accompanied by other diseases such as pneumonia, genital inflammation, and liver disease. The eye sockets are withered, the eyes are closed in advance, and the mortality rate is high.

  7. Edema

    Generalized edema, upper limbs and upper half of the limbs are swollen, and in severe cases, they cannot crawl.

  8. Dystocia

    At the beginning of the disease, the excretory opening often contracts, and in severe cases, bleeding can cause genital infection. In the later stage, the genitalia protrude. Prevention is better than treatment.

  9. Gastroenteritis

    Dull spirit, not eating or moving in severe cases, foul-smelling feces, and long-term mucus in the excretory opening.

  10. Eyelid Inflammation

    At the beginning, there is a gray-white circle in the middle of the eyeball, and the front limbs are often used to rub the eyes. In severe cases, the center of the eyeball sinks and the eye socket becomes dry. Failure to treat in a timely manner can lead to insomnia.

  11. Floating Disease

    Caused by long-term malnutrition, the excretory opening is infected by bacteria. In severe cases, the hind legs become weak, unable to swim in the water, weak, and float on the water surface, ultimately leading to drowning and swelling.

  12. Malformation

    Caused by breeding techniques, mainly found in hatchlings. The turtle's body is fat, with bent feet, and the hind legs become soft when crawling. The bottom shell and plastron are soft, and there is a sloping growth line in the middle of the plastron. The shell irregularly grows, and it can develop into deformities in severe cases.

  13. Soft Shell Disease

    This disease is more common in mature turtles. At the beginning, it is localized, and a small amount of pus can be squeezed out when pressing the affected area with hands. This disease is latent, and if not treated in time, it will spread locally.

  14. Necrotic Neck Disease

    Mostly caused by biting during mating, more common in female turtles. There is damage on both sides of the neck, which continues to ulcerate. It needs to be treated when severe.

  15. Flesh Wart

    The turtle's body has pre-existing injuries, and dead flesh is not eliminated. Fresh meat grows around the affected area, covering the dead flesh and forming a flesh wart, which can affect the turtle's health.

  16. Cutaneous Water Mold

    This disease is latent, and at the beginning, gray-white mold spots appear on the eyelids, nostrils, skin, and toes. In severe cases, there are red and swollen symptoms on the chin.

  17. Trauma

    There are bite marks, redness, and swelling on the turtle's feet, tail, skin, and neck. Pus accumulates in severe cases. It is caused by bacterial infection due to self-fighting and skin abrasions, leading to serious consequences because it is not detected or considered insignificant at the beginning and not treated promptly.

1. Water Quality

   The Leaf Turtle is a species that prefers weakly acidic water (pH 5.5~6.5). Actually, this is not absolute. Leaf Turtles are now mostly raised from seedlings and can generally adapt to regular household water, but chlorine must be removed. In the first month of raising a new turtle, it is recommended to add almond leaves to adjust the water to weakly acidic. There are two benefits to doing this: first, it helps prevent shell rot and allows the turtle to adapt to the water quality as soon as possible; second, creating a dim environment can make the Leaf Turtle feel safer.

   2. Environment

   Leaf Turtles are very afraid of light because they have small eyes and their hunting method is camouflage. They are usually not very active, so it is best to keep the environment dark during the seedling period. If conditions allow, adding driftwood for them to hide is ideal. Black sand is the best substrate as it helps the Leaf Turtle feel secure. If there are no landscaping conditions, you can stick black paper to the bottom of a plastic box.

Leaf Turtles have low swimming ability during the seedling stage, so the water should not be too deep when raising them. For turtles below 10cm in length, the water level should be less than or equal to the height of their shell or half of their body length. After 10cm in length, the water depth should be the same as the length of their shell. Of course, if there is landscaping, you can have climbing items that can deepen the water level. It is also important to note that during the seedling stage, Leaf Turtles should avoid prolonged direct sunlight, as this can cause shell shedding, which can be troublesome and affects the appearance later on.

   3. Food

   Leaf Turtles are carnivores, so for seedlings below 10cm in length, we can feed them small live fish and let them hunt on their own. Don't worry about incomplete nutrition because Leaf Turtles are the only species that can survive solely on fish. Loaches are also a good option, but the length of both fish and loaches should not exceed the length of their shells. For newly arrived Leaf Turtles, try to avoid disturbing them and leave after releasing live food for them to eat.

Overfeeding can easily lead to liver overload and cause the turtle's death. Feed them until they are 70% full, and clean up any leftover food in the water after half an hour to prevent water quality issues.