If you’ve been to Singapore Zoo and Bird Paradise one too many times and are looking for other ways to spend time with animals, there’s a new spot where you can get up close with many shelled creatures.
Well, not exactly new, but after a long hiatus, the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum has recently reopened its doors at its brand-new Khatib home. Located at 11 Chencharu Close, the museum is welcoming visitors back to meet its beloved turtles and tortoises, so here’s our complete guide to what you can see and do at the newly revamped facility.
The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum was started by father-and-daughter duo Danny Tan and Connie Tan in 2001. What began as a community project grew into a family-run animal sanctuary featuring a large collection of live turtles, tortoises, and cultural artefacts.
The museum spent nearly 2 decades at Chinese Garden, where it earned a Guinness World Records title in 2005 for the largest collection of turtles and tortoises, with 3,456 specimens, including over 1,000 live animals.
However, the museum has faced a turbulent few years, marked by repeated relocations. It closed its Chinese Garden location at the end of 2018 due to redevelopment works before moving to Khatib’s ORTO in 2019, only to be forced out again in 2025 to make way for new BTO flats.
The museum has now found a new home near its former ORTO site, with its $2 million facelift funded by Connie’s retirement savings and community fundraising efforts.
Ticket prices are listed below and can be purchased at the museum entrance, where you can also pick up food to feed the turtles and tortoises.
| Category | Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents | Standard Admission |
| Children (3-6 years old) | $7 | $12 |
| Visitors (Primary 1 & above) | $11 | $16 |
| Senior citizens (60 years old & above) | $7 | $16 |
While it may not be as big as a zoo, this cosy venue still has plenty to see and explore. The museum is divided into 2 distinct sections, with most of the turtles housed in tanks on the left and the tortoises in interaction pens on the right. A turtle pond sits between the 2 sections, with a bridge spanning across it.
It’s easy to mix them up, but while all tortoises are turtles, not all turtles are tortoises. Turtles typically have flatter, more streamlined shells and webbed feet, as they spend much of their time in water. Tortoises, on the other hand, live entirely on land and have high-domed shells and stump-like feet.
The interaction pens at the far right of the museum are where you can get up close with the tortoises, including the endangered African Spurred Tortoise, also known as the Sulcata Tortoise.
The 3rd largest tortoise species in the world, these tortoises are recognisable by their sandy-coloured domed shells and distinctive spurs on their front legs, which they use to help burrow deep underground in the Saharan deserts they call home.
We particularly enjoyed interacting with this tortoise, as it wasn’t shy about inching closer for some attention, especially when it spotted food in our hands. You can gently pat its shell and feel the subtle grooves and bumpy texture. It was also quite the hungry one, eagerly chomping through the food we offered and making quick work of our entire pile.
The most iconic resident at the museum is Xiao Hei, its resident Aldabra Giant Tortoise, who shares the pen with the African Spurred Tortoises. As the 2nd-largest tortoise species in the world, Aldabra Giant Tortoises are commonly found around mangrove forests and large central lagoons.
Shy by nature, Xiao Hei was tucked away in his hut at first, but a few generous slices of tomato from her keeper were all it took to coax his out. His most striking feature was her sheer size, weighing between 160kg and 250kg. At around 20 years old, he is still relatively young for her species, which can live for up to 180 to 250 years, making them one of the longest-living land animals on Earth.
There is also a 2nd pen housing other tortoise species, including the Yellow-footed Tortoise, as well as varieties with intriguing names such as the Radiated Tortoise and Elongated Tortoise.
Beside it, you’ll also find several species housed in tanks, including the rare Indian Star Tortoise and Hermann’s Tortoise.
Feel free to squat by the pond for a closer look at the Red-Eared Slider Turtles, which are apparently among the most commonly kept pet turtles in the world. They typically prefer calm waters with easy access to rocks and other surfaces where they can clamber out to sunbathe, so watch your step around the turtles lounging by the pond.
They were quick to swarm around us when we scattered pellets into the water, scrambling over one another to get a bite.
You’ll also spot a few rows of water-filled tanks housing various turtle species. Many of them are home to the endangered Pig-Nosed Turtle, which gets its name from its long, fleshy snout and nostrils. Predominantly carnivorous, these turtles have powerful jaws that help them crush crustaceans and other small aquatic animals.
We managed to get a close-up view of one pressing its pig-like snout against the glass and flapping its flipper-like feet excitedly when it spotted us. Keep a look out for other species in the tanks too, including the Chinese Striped-Necked Turtle and Malaysian Box Turtle.
In the enclosure at the far left is one of the museum’s rarer residents, the critically endangered Giant Asian Pond Turtle, a semi-aquatic species found in rivers and streams across Southeast Asia. Its muscular limbs and webbed toes help it navigate both water and land with ease, while its rather fitting name, Oogway, adds to its charm.
Don’t forget to snap a few pictures with the turtle sculptures scattered around the museum, including this massive blue friend we came across. Unlike the real turtles, this one was perfectly happy to stay still for the camera.
The museum is largely interactive, so you won’t just be standing around looking at the animals. Pick up your feeding treats at the ticketing counter, with 3 different “combos” priced from $2 to $6, featuring a selection of vegetables such as leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkin, and lady’s fingers. Pellets are also available for $2, though these are meant specifically for feeding the turtles in the pond.
While you’re feeding the creatures, you can also learn more about them through the informative boards displayed around the museum. Each turtle and tortoise has its own profile board with interesting facts, making it a fun and educational way for visitors to learn more about them.
Before you head off, take a moment to browse the museum’s collection of more than 3,000 turtle and tortoise-themed artefacts from around the world, displayed in glass cabinets. The collection features a mix of ceramic, wooden, stone, and metal sculptures, ranging from realistic figurines to more quirky and colourful designs.
You’ll also find ceramics and plush toys, with pieces collected from countries including Malaysia, Germany, and Australia.
While you may not be able to take a real turtle home, you can pick up some modelling clay at the activity corner and get creative by making your very own turtle.
If you want a little keepsake to take home, the museum’s souvenir shop offers plenty of turtle- and tortoise-themed trinkets to browse.
Pick up miniature tortoises such as the Mini Indian Star ($12), Mini Sulcata ($10), and Mini Xiaohei ($10), or glass figurines such as the Glass Dragon Turtle ($25) and the Gold Glass Tortoise ($13). Other accessories include keychains and bags, as well as the tortoise-adorned Ceramic Light ($70).
Located just behind HomeTeamNS Khatib, the museum is actually easier to get to than you might think. If you’re taking the bus, alight at Opp Yishun Sports Hall, which is served by several buses including 851, 853, 857, 858, 965, and 969.
From the bus stop, it’s about a 6-minute walk; simply head straight and turn left when you see HomeTeamNS, and you’ll spot signage along the way guiding you towards the museum. If you’re coming by MRT, the nearest station is Khatib MRT, though it’s a slightly longer 9-minute walk from the station.
Don’t be fooled by its modest size, as the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum has plenty to see and more than enough to make for a fun day out. Both turtles and tortoises are among the more underappreciated animals in the animal kingdom, and you might be surprised by just how pleasant it is to interact with them. It’s a refreshing change from Singapore’s bigger animal parks, and well worth the trip down.
Pro tip: Before heading down, check the live crowd levels on the museum’s website to pick the best time to visit.
For other animal-themed reads:
Photography by Shirlynn Koh.
Swing by with the kids this September holidays
The museum is home to more than 600 turtles and tortoises.
These budget destination shoots in Malaysia, Bali, Thailand, and Vietnam offer a lot for a…
Save more than a couple of bucks!
This pet centre has it all: a large mineral dog pool, a pet treats store,…
Don't miss the IRL event happening in October.