The Oaxacan mud turtle, Kinosternon oaxacae was only recently described (well, 1980 anyway) by Berry and Iverson based on a small group of mud turtles from Oaxaca, Mexico. They were pretty much unknown to people outside of Mexico until a few years ago when a number of adults showed up in Florida. Fortunately, some competent keepers were able to secure some of them and now a few captive hatched neonates are circulating about.
One of the guys who is very adept at breeding turtles--including 'rare' mud turtles like oaxacae, is Paul Vander Schouw known as Chelidman on some forums. Paul is a good guy and a friend and from him I was able to obtain a small group of Oaxacan mud turtle neonates.
The adult Oaxacan mud turtles that I've seen are nice looking mud turtles with cream to yellow reticulations on their heads and necks. But like most mud turtle species, their captive hatched and raised young are MUCH more attractive.
Here are some images of the little ones I'm currently raising.
As new hatchlings their heads were sort of dark with lighter flecks of yellow. But as they have grown, their heads have become much lighter with pattern beginning to emerge.
I tried to snag some plastron shots using the method that John Cann of Australia has mastered in his fantastic books on Australian turtles. This is basically shooting up from the bottom of a bare aquarium.
It's a work in progress...
As captives these are typical mud turtles all the way. Meaning they are tough, inquisitive and highly responsive.
Unlike some other members of the mud turtle family though these haven't shown any aggression towards each other. Of course, they are still quite small but then other mud turtles will bite and snap at each other from the start of their lives.
As these grow I'll post more photos and notes...
One of the guys who is very adept at breeding turtles--including 'rare' mud turtles like oaxacae, is Paul Vander Schouw known as Chelidman on some forums. Paul is a good guy and a friend and from him I was able to obtain a small group of Oaxacan mud turtle neonates.
The adult Oaxacan mud turtles that I've seen are nice looking mud turtles with cream to yellow reticulations on their heads and necks. But like most mud turtle species, their captive hatched and raised young are MUCH more attractive.
Here are some images of the little ones I'm currently raising.
As new hatchlings their heads were sort of dark with lighter flecks of yellow. But as they have grown, their heads have become much lighter with pattern beginning to emerge.
I tried to snag some plastron shots using the method that John Cann of Australia has mastered in his fantastic books on Australian turtles. This is basically shooting up from the bottom of a bare aquarium.
It's a work in progress...
As captives these are typical mud turtles all the way. Meaning they are tough, inquisitive and highly responsive.
Unlike some other members of the mud turtle family though these haven't shown any aggression towards each other. Of course, they are still quite small but then other mud turtles will bite and snap at each other from the start of their lives.
As these grow I'll post more photos and notes...