How to Keep a Big-headed Turtle? Husbandry Methods and Feeding Key Points

Doesn't the name "big-headed turtle" sound quite imposing? It is actually an amphibious crustacean. Its scientific name is the big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum), and it likes to live in mountain streams with rushing water full of gravel. Because this species of turtle has now become extremely rare in the wild, it has been listed in China's Red List of Species.

How to Keep a Big-headed Turtle

1. Food: There is a simple way to measure the feeding amount, which is to feed a lump of food about the size of the big-headed turtle's head. It generally only eats meat. For those with a carapace under 10CM, feed small fish, small shrimp, breadworms, barley worms, and lean meat such as pork, beef, and chicken. Larger big-headed turtles can be fed food such as young mice. Some keepers' big-headed turtles also eat vegetarian food such as tomatoes. The principle that basically must be followed when feeding any turtle is diversity. Two simple methods: one is to choose the most convenient food you can find where you are, generally feeder fish, small shrimp, and earthworms as the staple food, and then feed whatever other food you come across; the second is the simplest method, which is to agree with your mother that when the family eats meat dishes, just cut off a bit. Chicken and duck lungs, lean meat, fish meat, small shrimp, loach, eat whatever is available.

2. Substrate: If you have a cement pond, that is the most ideal, but generally at home people use glass tanks. Those who have kept big-headed turtles for a long time know that because the claws are not worn down, they grow very long and even curved, affecting appearance, so it is recommended to find a ceramic tile and lay it with the reverse side facing up in the glass tank to let it wear down its claws. An empty tank also works. Sand or small stones are not recommended, as they affect cleanliness. Big-headed turtles are good at climbing and also have a considerable amount of activity, so it is essential to prevent them from escaping. Note that they will also climb away along the pump's drainage pipe, etc. The container should be as tall and smooth as possible, and note that the tank should not be too tall, to prevent them from climbing out and falling to death.

3. Background paper: Big-headed turtles are still quite timid. Applying background paper is mainly to give it a reassuring and familiar environment so it is not afraid. I generally use background paper with a rock pattern to simulate its wild habitat.

4. Water hardness and acidity/alkalinity: The water quality that big-headed turtles like is slightly hard and slightly alkaline water. Tap water is generally slightly alkaline, but water that has been sun-dried becomes slightly acidic because chlorine decomposes into hypochlorous acid and other substances. Driftwood is also acidic, so if the pond is very small, it is best not to put driftwood in it. If possible, adding some coral sand to adjust the hardness and alkalinity is also good. There is also maifan stone, used to adjust the minerals in the water. I have tried it and felt that it contains relatively much metal powder (maybe the one I bought was fake), so it should not be used much.

What Big-headed Turtles Eat

1. The big-headed turtle is a typical carnivorous turtle and very much likes to eat meat, so keeping it is relatively simple in ordinary times, but there are also particular requirements for food, and nutritional balance must also be paid attention to.

2. For example, if you often feed pig head, it is very easy for it to put on fat and become very fat. In this way, the turtle is also very prone to illness. Moreover, the shell needs calcium, so nutrition must be balanced. In ordinary times, you can feed shrimp, loach, yellow eel, animal offal, fish meat, pork, and crab.

What to Pay Attention to When Keeping Big-headed Turtles Together

1. Do not have too great a difference in individual size. If a large grass turtle and a small big-headed turtle are put together, the small big-headed turtle will definitely be eaten as a snack.

2. The space should not be too crowded.

3. Ensure sufficient food. However, with big-headed turtles you still need to pay attention to the issue of mixed keeping, because first, the beauty of the big-headed turtle lies in its tail, and a long tail is easily bitten and injured by other turtles; second, big-headed turtles have high requirements for water quality, and too many turtles easily causes rapid deterioration of water quality. So for household turtle keeping, mixed keeping of small hatchlings under 7CM is not a big problem, but subadults or above are best separated.

Nutritional Needs of Big-headed Turtles During Hibernation and Breeding Season

Before and during the mating period of big-headed turtles, feed should be given that is rich in protein and easy to digest, as well as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin D, etc., to improve the fertilization rate and reproduction of big-headed turtles. After November each year, when the temperature is below 15°C, the big-headed turtle lies at the bottom of the pond in the mud and sand, neither eating nor moving, and enters a hibernation state. At this time, there is no need to feed or change the water, but attention should be paid to keeping it warm, and covering the area around the pond with straw and other materials. In ordinary times (referring to the three seasons of spring, summer, and autumn), attention should be paid to changing the water in the breeding pond. In summer, change it once every 2 days; in spring and autumn, change it once every 5 days, to keep the water clean and prevent the turtle from getting sick.

As a species on China's Red List, eating the big-headed turtle in China should be a violation of legal provisions. Therefore, everyone is advised not to consider eating it. Of course, besides China, it is also found in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia. If conditions permit, you can also go and see it.