How to Raise Chinese Striped-neck Turtle Hatchlings? Detailed Guide to Breeding Methods and Tips

AbstractBreeding pond: You can choose earthen ponds, brick-and-stone ponds or cement ponds for breeding. Water quality: Choose fresh light green water and change the water regularly to maintain water transparency. Feeding: Animal-based and plant-based bait can be fed in the early morning and must be kept fresh. Water temperature: The suitable temperature for growth is around 22°C. If the temperature is too low, artificial heating is needed. In winter, the Chinese striped-neck turtle can be placed on moist sandy soil, or in a tank with 10cm of water, to let it hibernate. Prevention of enemies: Mainly prevent mosquitoes, rats and ants.

1. Breeding pond

1. Earthen ponds, brick-and-stone ponds, cement ponds, etc. can be used for breeding. The area can be determined according to the number of Chinese striped-neck turtle hatchlings. Land needs to be built around the breeding pond with a certain slope, so that the Chinese striped-neck turtles can climb from the pond onto the land to move around. A small pile of dry sand needs to be set on the land for adult turtles to lay eggs.

2. The water depth of the breeding pond is about 60cm. Some water hyacinths can be planted in the pond to provide summer heat relief for the Chinese striped-neck turtles. Caves need to be built around the breeding pond to make it convenient for the Chinese striped-neck turtles to rest. A low wall needs to be built around the outside of the land, with a height of about 50cm. The top of the wall needs a T-shaped overhang to prevent the Chinese striped-neck turtles from escaping.

2. Water quality

Fresh light green water can be chosen for breeding, and the transparency needs to be maintained at about 25cm. Water in cement ponds deteriorates easily, so it needs to be changed in time to avoid causing disease.

3. Feeding

For the feed of Chinese striped-neck turtles, whether animal-based or plant-based is chosen, it must be kept fresh to avoid spoilage. When the temperature is not very high, feeding can be done in the early morning. During this period, the bait fed should not be too much, to prevent leftover bait from polluting the water quality.

4. Water temperature

1. Early spring each year is very critical to the survival of Chinese striped-neck turtles. At this stage, the Chinese striped-neck turtles are in a semi-hibernating state. In addition, the temperature changes between day and night are relatively large, so if the temperature is not controlled well, it is easy to cause illness in the Chinese striped-neck turtles. Generally, when the temperature is 15°C, artificial heating needs to be adopted to keep the temperature above 22°C, and then feeding is carried out. After feeding, the temperature should not be lowered.

2. When the temperature is 17°C, although the Chinese striped-neck turtles have an appetite, it is not suitable to feed them, to avoid illness caused by inability to digest normally after eating. In summer, when the water temperature is around 34°C, the Chinese striped-neck turtles eat relatively large amounts, so the feeding amount needs to be increased, which is helpful for promoting the growth and development of the Chinese striped-neck turtles. If breeding is not needed, they can also be fed 2-3 times every 7 days.

3. During ordinary breeding, the water needs to be changed before feeding, but well water should not be used, to avoid excessive water temperature differences causing adverse consequences. Autumn is a key period for raising Chinese striped-neck turtles. As the saying goes, nourish the bones in spring, nourish the fat in autumn. The amount of nutrients stored in the body of the Chinese striped-neck turtle will affect the success or failure of hibernation. Therefore, in autumn, the feeding amount should be increased, and an appropriate amount of vitamin C and multivitamins can also be added to the bait, which is helpful for improving the resistance of the Chinese striped-neck turtles.

4. During this period, a suitable temperature also needs to be maintained, keeping the temperature at around 18°C at night to avoid causing disease. If raised well in autumn, it is helpful for the hibernation of the Chinese striped-neck turtles. In winter, the Chinese striped-neck turtles can be placed on moist sandy soil, or in a tank with 10cm of water, to let them hibernate. During breeding, the water temperature should not be lower than 5°C, otherwise it will be unfavorable for the Chinese striped-neck turtles to enter hibernation, and in severe cases it can also lead to death.

5. Prevention of enemies

Chinese striped-neck turtles have relatively strong disease resistance and generally rarely get sick, but excessively high temperatures can easily cause them to fall into a coma and die. Mosquitoes, rats and ants are relatively harmful to turtle eggs and young turtles, so attention should be paid to preventing them. At the same time, attention should also be paid to preventing pesticides and sewage from flowing into the breeding pond, to prevent poisoning and death of the Chinese striped-neck turtles.