Species Detail
Yellow-headed Temple Turtle
Turtles & Tortoises

Yellow-headed Temple Turtle

Heosemys annandalii

Habitat

Large rivers and lakes

Range

Southeast Asia

Adult Size

16-20 in (40-50 cm)

Diet

Plants and fruit

Find on MorphMarket
Conservation status:Endangered

About this species

A massive turtle that often inhabits temple ponds. It has a distinctive yellow head coloration.

Enrichment & behavioral stimulation

Yellow-headed Temple Turtle is aquatic — enrichment centers on water quality, basking, and foraging variety.

  • Provide varied water depth with deep areas for swimming and shallow shelves for resting.
  • Add a sturdy dry basking platform under heat and UV.
  • Introduce gentle water movement or aeration for sensory variety.
  • Scatter food in the water to encourage swimming and searching.
  • Include underwater cover and hiding spots to reduce stress.
  • Provide a dry haul-out area for basking and resting.

Housing & Social Behavior

Variable

Requires massive enclosure space; aggressive interactions are common if group size exceeds available resources.

Housing guidance is general and based on species-typical behavior; always verify against current husbandry references and observe individual temperament.