Asian Box Turtle

Range

The Malayan Box Turtle inhabits lowland lakes, swamps and other water bodies from Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to Borneo.

Diet

In the wild they feeds on vegetation, fallen fruits and soft invertebrates such as worms and slugs. In captivity, Malayan Box turtle hatchlings take rapidly to many offered foods. Be careful not to overfeed them or growth deformities will result. Hatchling ambos are very carnivorous and will eagerly consume insects, worms, and fish but will also consume some greens. Earthworms are a particular favorite. Many of the commercially prepared turtle diets as well as Koi or Catfish foods which have a bit higher protein than some of the others seem to work well with this species.

Notes

Ambos are most accurately termed a "semi-aquatic" species. In the wild, they tend to spend most of their time in the water but are known to move about and eat on land as well. Hatchlings are almost totally aquatic, leaving the water primarily to bask. As they age, they become slightly more terrestrial but are never found far from (and seldom out of) the water. In captivity, they are generally treated as an aquatic species and adapt well to large aquarium management. The most useful form of indoor accommodation for Malayan box turtles is a very large aquarium or a small child's swimming pool. While they are completely at home in water, they are fairly poor swimmers as compared to a typical aquatic turtle species.

The Malayan Box turtle, commonly referred to as the "Ambo", is the most common hard-shelled chelonian species found in the food/medicinal markets of Southern China. It was only a few years ago that this distinction applied to the Reeve's turtle (Chinemys reevesii) but as over-collection took its toll on that species, this one took its' place.

Cuora amboinensis do NOT hibernate; in non-tropical areas provision must be made to provide them with a warm indoor habitation during periods cool or cold weather.