I don't think they are particully rare in their range but it is a limited range. From what I read they are protected in Papua New Guinea and Australia. The ones you have are most likely from Irian Jaya. I have always been fascinated by them but their requirements, i.e. giant tanks, put them in the realm of unrealistic to keep for myself. As far as the water requirements, you would treat them similar to a rift valley cichlid. As far as the aggression issue, I believe that will come as they grow older and larger. Of course this can be offset by the size of their enviornment.ngumpet said:yes indeed. they are fly river turtles. at first i thought they are soft shelled. but turns out to be the carapace only look like it's a soft shell. but it is not. it's hard. it's like a normal turtle's carapace but covered by thin layer of skin.
i have read the links you posted. but i don't think they are like what the sites say. the sites say that these turtles are very aggressive. but they're not. they don't fight with their brothers / sisters / friends. i follow it though, i don't keep them in the same aquarium as with my other turtles.
what makes them so rare? i'm not sure. but they are my local turtle species though.