Eastern Long Neck Turtles For Sale Sydney

Looking for a native turtle to add to your setup, or wanting to get a whole setup going with a native turtle from scratch? At Birdsville, 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, we’re the only dedicated reptile store servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South West of Sydney, and we regularly have captive-bred baby Eastern Long Neck Turtles (Chelodina longicollis) for sale, thriving and settled in ahead of their new homes. If you’re looking to buy an Eastern Long Neck Turtle in Sydney, this is the place to start.

Eastern Long Neck Turtles need a properly set-up aquatic tank rather than a simple bowl or box: adults require a minimum of 120 × 50 × 50 cm with at least 30-40 cm of water depth, good filtration, UVB lighting, and a dry basking area kept around 30-35°C. They’re primarily carnivorous, eating live or frozen feeder fish, yabbies, shrimp, earthworms, and bloodworms, and handling generally isn’t an issue for them once they’re settled in. Our How to Care for Eastern Long Neck Turtles page covers all of this in full, including how to spot early signs of illness like shell rot and which foods to avoid, well worth a read before you bring one home.

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Eastern Long Neck Turtles suit keepers after a calmer, steadier pet rather than one that demands constant interaction, though many become genuinely interactive with regular interaction from a young age and settle into a confident routine around feeding time. Their striking, snake-like neck gives them a genuinely distinctive look among native turtles, and their adult size (around 26cm) is more manageable than some other native species. They’re also a good fit for apartment or unit living, since they only need a properly set-up indoor tank rather than outdoor pond space. With captive-bred stock and a health guarantee, you’re getting a legally sourced, well-started animal.

This is a genuine long-term commitment: Eastern Long Neck Turtles can live 20 to 50 years or more, well beyond the timeframe most people plan their living situation around. They also grow into a genuinely large setup: adults need a minimum tank of 120 × 50 × 50 cm (around 300 litres), so it’s not a “small pet in a small tank” situation once they’re grown. They also come with ongoing costs and upkeep: filtration, heating, UVB bulb replacement, and regular water quality maintenance all take time and money over the turtle’s life, and if the tank isn’t cleaned and filtered regularly, the water can develop a noticeable odour. If you’re after a hands-on, cuddly pet, this isn’t it: they’re a calmer, steadier pet rather than a cuddly one, and may release a strong musk odour if stressed. A Native Animal Keeper Licence is also required before purchase, which adds an administrative step some buyers aren’t expecting. If you already keep other turtles, remember any new one should be quarantined separately for at least 4-6 weeks before introducing it to your existing setup. If you travel often and don’t have someone reliable to manage feeding and water quality while you’re away, that’s also worth factoring in.

Eastern Long Neck Turtles can suit apartment or unit living well, since they don’t require outdoor space the way an outdoor pond setup would: a properly equipped indoor tank is all they need. Their calmer temperament also tends to fit smaller living spaces better than more active native species. Given the 20 to 50+ year lifespan, it’s worth thinking about how a long-term pet fits with any plans to move rentals or cities down the track. Beyond that, there’s no need for a yard, balcony, or outdoor access, just a secure, well-set-up tank indoors.

A Native Animal Keeper Licence is required to own an Eastern Long Neck Turtle in NSW and must be obtained through Service NSW prior to purchase. All turtles must be captive-bred and sourced from licensed breeders or registered pet stores; collecting one from the wild is illegal without additional specific permits. Keepers must also comply with the NSW Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Reptiles, which sets minimum standards for enclosure size, environment, and general care.

Useful links and contacts:

• Reptile and Amphibian Keeper Licence information: NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
• NSW Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Reptiles
• Licensing enquiries: (02) 9585 6406

Please note: we don’t process licence applications or paperwork on a customer’s behalf.

Keeping a native reptile without the right licence isn’t just a formality; NSW takes it seriously. In April 2026, a Sydney man was sentenced at Downing Centre Local Court after illegally importing native lizards without the proper permits, despite already holding a biodiversity conservation licence, and failing to meet his licence conditions around record-keeping and documenting where his animals came from. He was fined $5,000 for the illegal import, ordered to pay a further $3,000 in legal costs, and placed on a nine-month good behaviour bond over the licence breaches. It’s a reminder that the licensing system exists for a reason, and it’s not something worth skipping.

Our turtles are sold young, at an age where sex genuinely can’t be reliably determined yet, not DNA tested or guessed. As they mature, natural physical differences (like tail length and shell shape) make sexing possible, but that’s typically years away at the point of sale, so buyers should expect to wait rather than receive a guess at pickup. Because of this, we’re unable to offer a refund, credit, or exchange based on the sex your turtle turns out to be. If a genuine health issue is identified at the time of sale, we will replace the animal under our health guarantee.

Eastern Long Neck Turtles are almost always in stock at Birdsville, though as a seasonally-breeding species, captive-bred hatchlings tend to come through more heavily in the months following their natural autumn/early-winter hatching period, so availability can vary a little depending on the time of year. If you’re after a specific size, looking to purchase in bulk, or want to secure the next one available, get in touch; we can take a deposit to hold your turtle as new stock comes through. As a licensed species, pickup is by appointment only, though deposits and holds can be arranged any day within reason.

Already have a tank and setup ready to go? You’re welcome to simply purchase your turtle on its own. If you’re starting from scratch, all the products mentioned on this page, and more, are available in-store, tanks, filtration, heating, lighting, and everything else your turtle needs, already competitively priced individually. Buying your turtle and its full setup together with us brings even bigger savings than piecing it together separately, and our staff can help you put together a complete, correctly sized setup, so you leave with everything your turtle needs from day one.

Transport your turtle in a secure, ventilated container lined with paper towel or shredded newspaper, and keep the trip home as short as practical. Never leave your turtle unattended in a car, even briefly, as temperatures inside can climb or drop to dangerous extremes surprisingly quickly. If you don’t already have a suitable carry container, we sell secure, ventilated transport cages in-store so you’re set up for the trip home from the moment you leave.

Are Eastern Long Neck Turtles always in stock at Birdsville?

They’re almost always in stock, since we regularly have captive-bred babies coming through, though as a seasonal breeder, availability can be strongest in the months following their natural autumn/early-winter hatching period. If we’re between batches when you visit, you can put down a deposit to secure the next one available.

Can I keep just one Eastern Long Neck Turtle, or should I get two?

One is perfectly fine on its own, since they’re not a social species that needs company. If you do want to keep more than one, it’s possible in a suitably large, well-filtered tank, but individuals can be territorial, so they need to be introduced carefully and watched closely.

Do I need a licence before I can buy one?

Yes, a Native Animal Keeper Licence from Service NSW is required before purchase, and pickup is by appointment only for licensed animals. We can’t process the licence application or paperwork for you, so it’s worth sorting out ahead of time rather than on the day.

Can I choose the sex of my turtle?

No, our turtles are sold too young for sex to be reliably determined, and we don’t guess or DNA test. Because of this, we can’t offer a refund, credit, or exchange based on what sex your turtle turns out to be as it matures.

Does my turtle come with a health guarantee?

Yes, every turtle we sell comes with a health guarantee, and we’ll replace the animal if a genuine health issue is identified at the time of sale. It doesn’t cover sex-related exchanges though, so have a read of our Sexing & Refund Policy before you buy.

What do I need before I bring my turtle home?

At minimum, a secure, ventilated carry container for the trip, which we sell in-store if you don’t already have one. For the tank itself, we can put together a complete setup for you, or you’re welcome to just buy the turtle if you’re already set up.

Visit Us

Visit Us: 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015
Phone: (02) 9669 1766
Email: info@birdsville.net.au
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm