A Baby Turtle Pond
A rectangular concrete pond is used for raising baby snapping turtles. The pool measures 6 meters in length, 3 meters in width, and is oriented north-south. The walls are between 0.4 meters and 1.0 meters high, with the top of the wall sloping inward. The corners are rounded, and the bottom has a slope of 100:10, ensuring proper drainage. The deepest part of the pool in the south reaches 40 to 50 centimeters. Drain holes are installed at the bottom for water management. The northern land area ranges from 3 to 6 square meters, featuring shallow water near the feeding station. Water is supplied using a 1.5 horsepower submersible pump that draws from a nearby pond. Shade nets and water hyacinths are installed in the pool to provide shelter and improve water quality. On average, 10 to 12 young turtles are stocked per square meter.
Daily Management
1. Summer and Autumn Care
(1) Feeding
The "four principles" guide the feeding process. During the hot summer months, turtles are fed twice daily—once between 7:00 and 7:30 AM, and again between 6:00 and 6:30 PM. As temperatures drop in autumn, feeding frequency decreases to once a day, typically around 5:30 PM. The feeding station is placed 100 to 200 centimeters offshore and just 1 to 2 centimeters above the water surface. Snapping turtles prefer consistent food types, so any changes in feed should be gradual. We use tilapia net meat, which is minced and mixed with turtle feed to form small cakes weighing about 25 grams. The amount of food is adjusted based on water conditions, weather, and turtle behavior. Typically, each turtle consumes between 3.5 to 10 grams per day, and feeding stops during strong winds or heavy rain, with food provided within 1 to 2 hours. Feeding amounts are measured every 10 days.
(2) Water Quality Control
Snapping turtles do not require extremely clean water, but fresh, plankton-rich water from rivers, lakes, or ponds is ideal. Water hyacinths are planted to offer hiding spots and shade for hatchlings. In summer and autumn, due to increased waste, water is changed every afternoon to maintain cleanliness.
(3) Disease Prevention
Prevention is key. Antibiotics, vitamins, and trace elements are regularly added to the feed. Common diseases include shell rot and red neck disease.
Shell rot typically occurs in early June in Hainan, with high incidence from late July to October. Symptoms start with turtles floating on the surface, showing irritability, slow movement, and loss of appetite. Eventually, they leave the water and dry out. White spots appear on the abdomen and shell, and severe cases may develop sores. Treatment includes feeding a compound feed supplemented with oxytetracycline (0.2g per kg body weight), halved on days 2–6, followed by another course every 10 days. Sores are cleaned and treated with gentian violet, and erythromycin ointment is applied once daily for a week in severe cases.
Red neck disease appears in spring, summer, and autumn. Symptoms include redness in the neck and head, inability to retract into the shell, sluggish behavior, and mouth bleeding. Treatment involves adding antibiotics or sulfonamides to the feed (0.2g per kg body weight) for 6 days, repeated if necessary. Affected turtles are isolated and bathed in 2 ppm erythromycin.
2. Wintering Management
After six months of growth, hatchlings begin hibernation when the water temperature drops below 15°C. In Hainan, the wintering period runs from late December to mid-February. Before winter, clean river sand (about 30 cm thick) is laid in the pond, and the water level is lowered as much as possible. Straw curtains are prepared to cover the pool during cold spells.
Before winter, turtles are intensively fed high-protein and high-fat diets to build up energy reserves. Feeding time is extended, and antibiotics are added to boost immunity. Water is changed frequently to maintain good water quality, and changes should occur on sunny days with a temperature difference no more than 2°C.
To prevent predators like rats and birds, mesh nets are used to cover the pond, ensuring protection while allowing light and air circulation.
Growth Conditions
The growth rate of young snapping turtles depends heavily on food intake and feed conversion efficiency. As water temperature rises, their feeding activity increases. Studies show that the feed coefficient is 5 at 29–32°C, 9.2 at 23–25°C, and 10 at 20–23°C. At 30–31°C, hatchlings grow quickly, gaining an average of 2.3 grams per day. However, when water temperature drops to 22–23°C, daily weight gain slows to only 0.21 grams. Proper feeding is crucial for healthy development.
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