Description
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Brazilian Sideneck Turtles for Sale – Rare Aquatic Charmers with Personality
If you’re looking for a completely unique, prehistoric-looking turtle that stands out from the rest of the common aquatic crowd, let’s talk about the Brazilian Sideneck Turtle, aka Hydromedusa tectifera.
These semi-aquatic gems from South America have that wild sideneck twist — literally — with long necks that fold sideways under the shell (instead of pulling back). They look ancient, act chill, and are surprisingly hardy and low-maintenance, making them a killer option for both beginner turtle keepers and long-time reptile nerds looking to expand their aquatic setups.
At Kingsman Exotic Reptiles, our Brazilian Sideneck Turtles for sale are 100% captive bred, well-started, and shipped safely overnight with full live arrival and health guarantees.
🧬 What is a Brazilian Sideneck Turtle?
The Brazilian Sideneck, or Hydromedusa tectifera, is part of the Chelidae family — the same family as the Gibba Sideneck and Mata Mata. Native to the freshwater rivers and streams of southern Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, this turtle is a true aquatic species that thrives in calm, clean water with plenty of swim space and structure.
What makes them stand out? That crazy-long neck that folds sideways, a narrow, almost triangular-shaped head, and a deeply keeled, ridged carapace. They look like something out of a Jurassic Park river scene — and trust me, they’re just as cool in real life.
🔍 Species Snapshot
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Scientific Name: Hydromedusa tectifera
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Common Name: Brazilian Sideneck Turtle
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Adult Size: 6–10 inches (females slightly larger)
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Lifespan: 30+ years with good care
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Habitat: Fully aquatic, freshwater rivers and streams
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Temperament: Peaceful, shy at first but settles in nicely
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Best For: Beginner to intermediate turtle keepers
🐣 Age, Size & Color – What We Offer
We’ve got a limited number of:
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Hatchlings (2–3 months)
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Juveniles (5–8 months)
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Sub-adults (1–2 years)
Most of our stock features deep olive-to-brown shells with pronounced ridging along the back and a pale underside. Heads are long, narrow, and dark, with creamy yellow striping. Their necks are impressive — they can extend them over half their body length, which is wild to see during feeding or exploration.
All specimens are eating well and comfortably acclimated to captive aquatic setups.
🥗 Diet & Feeding – What to Feed a Brazilian Sideneck Turtle
These turtles are opportunistic carnivores in the wild, meaning they eat just about anything that moves in or near the water — insects, fish, worms, even small crustaceans.
In captivity, here’s what works best:
🔹 Protein (Main Staple):
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Frozen/thawed silversides or minnows
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Earthworms, red wigglers
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Dubia roaches
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Bloodworms or blackworms
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Raw shrimp (cut into small pieces)
🔸 Pellets (Supplements):
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Zoo Med or Mazuri aquatic turtle pellets
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Hikari carnivore sticks
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Rep-Cal aquatic turtle food
🔹 Occasional Veggies:
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Aquatic plants like duckweed or water lettuce
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Romaine, dandelion, collards (blanched)
💡 Feeding Tip: Offer food in a separate container or feeding tub to keep their enclosure water clean. Feed 5 days a week for juveniles, 3–4 days a week for adults.
🏝️ Habitat Setup – Make Their Tank a River Paradise
Brazilian Sidenecks are strong swimmers and love structured water columns. That means give them depth, give them room, and let them cruise. They’re also semi-nocturnal, so a good mix of open swim space and dark hiding spots will make them feel secure.
💧 Basic Tank Needs:
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Tank Size: 40 gal for juveniles, 75–100 gal for adults
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Water Depth: 8–14 inches minimum (more is better)
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Temperature: Water 75–80°F / Basking 88–92°F
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Filtration: Strong canister filter recommended
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UVB Lighting: Required indoors (Zoomed 10.0, Arcadia, etc.)
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Substrate: Bare-bottom, river rocks, or sand
🌿 Decor Must-Haves:
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Driftwood and branches for climbing and structure
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Flat basking stone or floating dock
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PVC hides or aquarium caves
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Low-light aquatic plants (optional, but they love them)
These turtles don’t bask as often as sliders or cooters, but giving them the option is still important for shell health and thermoregulation.
🧠 Behavior & Compatibility
Brazilian Sidenecks are peaceful, curious, and non-aggressive toward tank mates. They’re generally not nippy, but like any turtle, they can get testy if overcrowded or competing for food.
Behavior Breakdown:
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Activity: Mostly active in low-light conditions, dusk and dawn
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Temperament: Calm, shy at first, but settles in with time
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Handling: Not ideal — best appreciated visually
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Tank Mates: Peaceful fish or turtles of similar size (monitor)
💡 If you want a display turtle that swims gracefully, peeks out from caves, and occasionally stretches that alien-like neck to watch you… this is your turtle.
🚚 Safe Shipping with Live Arrival Guarantee
All Brazilian Sideneck Turtles for sale from Kingsman Exotic Reptiles are shipped with care, the right way:
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🚛 FedEx Priority Overnight Delivery
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📦 Insulated, temperature-controlled packaging
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✅ Live Arrival Guarantee
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🐢 7-Day Health Guarantee
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🧾 Pre-shipment health screening
You’ll also get photos of your actual turtle before it ships out, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
🏆 Why Kingsman Exotic Reptiles?
We’re not just another “add to cart” site — we’re real breeders, real keepers, and real passionate reptile heads who care about quality and reputation.
Here’s what you get:
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✅ Captive-bred, no wild-caught imports
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✅ Responsive customer service from actual reptile keepers
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✅ Educational support for all species sold
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✅ Reputation built on health, honesty, and next-level care
🛒 Add a Brazilian Sideneck Turtle to Your Collection Today
Whether you’re building out your dream aquatic turtle setup or just looking for a one-of-a-kind shelled companion, the Brazilian Sideneck Turtle delivers in spades — with stunning looks, chill behavior, and years of companionship.
👉 Hit that “Add to Cart” button now and secure your Brazilian Sideneck Turtle for sale from Kingsman Exotic Reptiles — where rare meets responsible.
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