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Ornate Wood Turtle

Central American Wood Turtle
Painted Wood Turtle Family: Geoemydidae

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Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima manni Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Russ Gurley

   Even a well acclimated Ornate Wood Turtle can be quite shy when first approached, but it will quickly peek back out looking for a snack!

   The Ornate Wood Turtle, is one of the most common wood turtles seen in the pet trade. They have been imported in large numbers in recent years. They can be quite beautiful and brightly colored, especially those from northern Costa Rica. These specimens will be covered with swirls of orange and yellow along with black ocelli (eyespots). Due to their variety of form along with beautiful colors and patterning, these and all the wood turtles are likely candidates for captive breeding programs.

   The Central American Wood Turtles are an appealing group of turtles. They are great to keep and will soon become tame. They are a manageable size for most keepers and have proven to be extremely hardy once established. Wanderers on land and somewhat shy, they should be offered plenty of shelter in the form of cork bark tubes or piles of dry leaves. They will often race under a shelter at the approach of their keeper, then will cautiously reappear to see if any food has been offered.

For more Information see:
Selecting and Caring for Your Turtle or Tortoise

• Painted Wood Turtles:
  Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima pulcherrima
  Oaxacan or Honduran Wood Turtle Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima incisa
  Ornate Wood Turtle Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima manni
  Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima rogerbarbouri
  
• Brown Wood Turtle Rhinoclemmys annulata
• Furrowed Wood Turtle Rhinoclemmys areolata
• Diadem Wood Turtle Rhinoclemmys diademata
• Black Wood Turtle Rhinoclemmys funerea
• Columbian Wood Turtle Rhinoclemmys melanosterna
• Large-nosed Wood Turtle Rhinoclemmys nasuta
• Spot-legged Wood Turtles:
  Rhinoclemmys punctularia punctularia
  Rhinoclemmys punctularia flammigera

   The Mexican Spotted Wood Turtles Rhinoclemmys rubida were classified in the Rhinoclemmys genus, but some sources now place them in the genus Chelopus.

Status
   These turtles are not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The Ornate Wood Turtle is quite variable in color. Those from southern Nicaragua can be quite bland while those from northern Costa Rica are brightly colored. Some of the beautiful specimens are covered with swirls of orange and yellow with varying degrees of black ocelli (eyespots) on the carapace and with a wash of pink or red on the plastron. The adult Ornate Wood Turtle grows to 8” (20 cm) in length while some of the other species get bigger, reaching up to 14” (35 cm) in the larger Black Wood Turtle, R. funerea.

Care and Feeding:
   Wood turtles have a wide range of feeding habits, but most species are omnivorous.
   Species such as the Ornate Wood Turtle will eat earthworms, redworms, crickets, and even mice. Once or twice a week these turtles also eagerly consume a salad consisting of chopped and shredded fruits and vegetables. They are especially fond of kale, zucchini, squash, mango, cantaloupe, banana, and apple. Dust this salad liberally on every third or fourth feeding with a high-quality calcium and multivitamin powder mixture.
   Care must be taken that these, and any turtles, are not released into a wild habitat. The reasons are many. The introduction of non-native species can lead to the introduction of diseases and can lead to hybridization of introduced and native species. In addition, many turtles raised in captivity and released into wild situations are confused, unable to cope with extreme weather changes, and many surely fall prey quite quickly to the wary predators they may encounter.

Environment:
   The Ornate Wood Turtle is semi-terrestrial. An enclosure for wood turtles closely mirrors a slightly drier version of an enclosure for marshy pond turtles, such as those of the Clemmys genera.
   A small breeding group of wood turtles, two males and four females, can be properly maintained in an 8’ x 8’ area outside or in a medium to large tub or stock tank inside. Substrate in indoor enclosures consists of a three layer system: a layer of pea gravel followed by a 10-12” layer of ½ dampened sand and ½ peat moss, followed by a thin layer of cypress mulch.
   For the more terrestrial wood turtles, such as the Ornate Wood Turtle, provide a cat litter pan, paint tray, or cement mixing tub of fresh water. Change the water every few days or when needed. Include sheets of bark and piles of hay or leaves to add secure hiding places on land. Provide UVB-emitting bulbs placed in shop light fixtures overhead and a 100-watt bulb in a clamp-type fixture over each basking spot.

Handling:
   Captive-hatched specimens, as always, are the best to keep as pets and most will become so docile that they can easily be fed by hand. These and all aquatic turtles should be considered wonderful display animals and not pets that are easily held.

Breeding:
   Some wood turtle species including the Ornate Wood Turtle R. p. manni and Black Wood Turtle R. funerea have proven easy to breed. Literature suggests that most of the other Rhinoclemmys should also be fairly easy to breed in captivity. Most wood turtles will require a period of hibernation in the mild 60° to 65° F (16° to 18°C) range to inspire courtship and mating. Successful breeders cool their adults in a monitored indoor situation for between 45 to 60 days during the cooler months. Rain, both natural and man-made, is an important trigger for courtship and breeding in these humidity-loving species.
   The Ornate Wood Turtle has proven to be quite prolific in captivity, laying 2-3 clutches of four eggs each year. The babies can be set up in a 20-gallon aquarium with damp peat moss and sand as a substrate and with a layer of damp sphagnum moss, leaf litter, and cypress mulch on top. You can offer warmth from below with a heating pad on the low setting and from above with a 60-watt incandescent bulb in a clamp-type fixture. UVB-emitting bulbs are placed in an aquarium fixture or a shop light fixture above the enclosure.
   The babies are hardy and grow quickly when offered a healthy diet featuring a variety of feeder insects such as redworms, mealworms, crickets, and waxworms, along with fruit and soaked commercial pellets offered soaked in a flat dish or tossed into the aquatic portion of the enclosure.

Ailments / Health Problems:
   Since most Ornate Wood Turtles, as well as the other Rhinoclemmys species have only been available as imported specimens, you can expect them to be harboring any number of parasites, especially roundworms. They have proven easy to “clean up” with Panacur® and Flagyl®. The resulting parasite-free turtles quickly put on weight and once acclimated well, tend to become quite sociable, even taking their favorite food (bananas) out of their keeper’s fingers.
   Rhinoclemmys often arrive to importers with some scrapes and cuts, the most severe problems being shell rot and missing scutes. These maladies and injuries seem not to affect them too much and they clean up well with a Betadine® scrub and 3-4 applications of Silvadene® cream when kept in a warm, well-planted enclosure.

Availability:
   Ornate Wood Turtles are commonly imported and there are also captive bred specimens occasionally available. Captive bred make the best pets and are less prone to harboring parasites. These turtles can be purchased from better pet stores, from breeders at the larger reptile shows across the country, and on-line.

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Latest Comments
In contrast to what was said earlier, our Ornate Wood Turtle does hibernate. I did not know this when we bought him however in his second year he began to often try and climb up on the tank walls when we were near. After watching this go on for months I decided to put him down outside the cage. He would find a secluded spot and just stay there in his shell. After a few days, not understanding the behaviour I would bring him back into his tank only to see him repeat the action of trying to get out again within a day or two. After deciding to go online to look for some answers I read about their hibernation. I then took "Munchie" out of his tank and put him down near the area we had prepared for him according to the guide I found online. Munchie hybernated the first year for six months!! If it wasn't for signs that we knew he'd come out for some water we would surely have thought that he was dead. Sure enough, when he was ready, he appeared right in front of his tank waiting for us to put him back. His second year of hibernation lasted 4 months. He never crawled up the walls again or showed any obvious signs as he did the first time. Now I follow the guide which said that leading up to the fall season hibernation he will eat greater amounts of food then slow down or stop when ready to hibernate. This year, being his third hibernation season, I took him out and placed him near his spot about a month ago however he made his way back to the tank later that day, obviously not ready for his long sleep. This time seems to be working for him. Wow! What a learning curve! I can only imagine what he'd say to me if he could talk. He'd probably say "It's about time you let me sleep! I've been trying to tell this for two years!". Steven Goldhar 2007-11-20
Most of this info is correct, except they do not hibernate; hatching is not as easy as they say. They go into diapause, a halt in development, and hatching could be 5-8 months. My oldest was 8 months. He's 10 months old now and growing fast. Never toss an egg no matter how long it's incubated unless you're 100% it's bad. They are more aquatic than was most articles say. My group is kept in two Waterland tubs and often hang out in the water. They need water deep enough to cover their shell and substrate deep enough that they can dig and hide. Fake foliage will help them hide as well. Buslady 2007-09-15
I have an ornate wood turtle named Shebella Chewpull, or Sheba. the best advice I can give is to keep your turtle friend in a central location where they will easily be noticed, as they cannot draw attention to themselves. Sheba loves superworms and yours probably will too ThE cAt 2007-02-25

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Author: Russ Gurley
Edited by Animal-World.