Species Name: Chelodina longicollis
Price: $90 each
Available: Late Autumn, 2012
Maximum Size: Usually 20cm. Some individual specimens can grow bigger (to about 23-25cm) but this is uncommon.
Description: This turtle has a long neck. It's carapace (top part of the shell) is dark brown to black. The plastron (bottom part of the shell) is normally yellowish or cream coloured. Each plastron shield has a black edge to it.
Hatchlings have yellow to orange markings on their plastron. These fade as the turtle ages.
Temperament: A very gentle, calm and friendly turtle that has always been a popular pet. This turtle is a very inquisitive species and interacts well with people. They will learn to hand feed. Some specimens become so tame that they will climb out of their pond and run up to you when they see you.
The Eastern Snake-Necked Turtle is a very good species for children.
Food: In captivity, a diet of freshwater fish, supplemented with freshwater yabbies, freshwater prawns, freshwater snails is suitable. Avoid saltwater fish. Hatchlings will also readily consume mosquito larvae (wrigglers).
