Detailed Explanation of the Latest Key Points on Soft-Shelled Turtle Hatchling Farming Techniques

In recent years, hatchling soft-shelled turtles have frequently appeared on our dining tables. Compared with the previous recipes using a whole soft-shelled turtle, hatchling soft-shelled turtles are more appealing to consumers - one per person, and they taste even better. As consumer demand for hatchling soft-shelled turtles rises, more and more people are starting to farm them. Let's take a look below at how to raise hatchling soft-shelled turtles!

The Latest Farming Techniques for Hatchling Soft-Shelled Turtles

1. Construction of the soft-shelled turtle pond

Choose a place with a quiet environment, free of noise, with convenient transportation, close to a power source, and near a water source with no pollution. An east-west oriented rectangle is preferable. Soft-shelled turtles like quiet and fear sound, like sunshine and fear wind, and like cleanliness and fear dirt. For the pond construction site, a pond with a tranquil environment, shelter from wind and good sun exposure, and convenient drainage and irrigation should be chosen as the farming base. If it is a turtle farm that breeds, incubates and raises its own stock, then it is necessary to consider the coordinated construction of 5 types of ponds: new turtle ponds, hatchling turtle ponds, juvenile turtle ponds, 3-year-old turtle ponds and adult turtle ponds. If the pond bottom has no sandy soil, mix in a portion of sandy soil. Build a basking platform and a feeding platform on the pond edge and the pool edge respectively for the turtles to bask their backs and feed. Build escape-prevention walls around the perimeter; brick construction or vertically placed asbestos tiles are both acceptable, with a height of about 1 m.

2. Water temperature control

A water temperature of 20°C-30°C is the optimal temperature range for soft-shelled turtle growth. When the water temperature is above 20°C, the soft-shelled turtle begins to feed, and the amount consumed increases as the water temperature rises. When the water temperature is below the optimal temperature, the feed conversion rate decreases; when the water temperature is above the optimal temperature, the feed conversion rate also decreases due to increased activity, so the water temperature should be kept within the optimal range. Too high or too low will both cause feed waste.

3. Stocking of fry and fingerlings

Sources of turtle fry: one is factory-based breeding and batch production by specialized farmers; the other is wild turtles of various sizes on the market. No matter which kind of turtle fry, when entering the pond they must be graded and held temporarily for about 15 days, and only after adapting to the environment should they be put into the farming pond. The stocking density depends on the pond and other factors. Per mu, stock 100-150 kg of 2-3-year-old juvenile turtles, and it must not exceed 200 kg at most.

4. Feed feeding

1. Feeding method. Underwater feeding suits the feeding habits of soft-shelled turtles and can make them feed faster. Using soft pellet feed saves more feed than using block feed.

2. Control of feeding amount. Soft-shelled turtle feeding is greatly affected by changes in environmental factors. When air temperature, water temperature change or medication is used, the impact on the soft-shelled turtles should be taken into account and the feeding amount adjusted. Generally, underwater feeding should be controlled so that the feed is finished within 30 minutes.

When soft-shelled turtles overeat, they grow too fast, which can easily lead to increased or excessive physiological load, causing damage to their internal organs and inducing visceral diseases.

Feed selection. Feed cost accounts for about 40% of farming cost. The feeding method and the quality of the selected feed determine the success or failure of farming cost control. Through final benefit analysis, comparing the price of higher-quality feed and lower-quality feed with the comprehensive farming cost, we can move beyond the misunderstanding of choosing feed based only on price.

Note: In the past, the feed used in the turtle farming industry was mainly live bait (fresh fish, shrimp, etc.), but the price was expensive, and some of the quality was substandard, so turtles were prone to enteritis after eating it. The scientific method of turtle farming is to use natural bait. For example, you can collect discarded livestock and poultry offal, leftovers and trimmings from nearby restaurants and canteens; catch snails, mussels, small fish and shrimp, and various water fleas in natural waters; use natural or scattered land to farm loach and golden apple snails; use ditch banks and pond slopes to farm earthworms; attract flies to breed maggots; and cultivate insects, etc. In the bait that turtles like to eat, add a small amount of plant-based bait, such as bran, cornmeal, bean dregs and a small amount of melons and trace elements, process and stir to mix, then feed.

5. Water quality regulation

Fish are naturally fond of cleanliness and afraid of dirt. A good water environment is an important condition for the stable growth of soft-shelled turtles. How well the water quality regulation work is done determines the success or failure of farming.

1. Oxygenation. The main purpose of oxygenating the water body is to reduce the content of harmful gases and harmful organic matter in the water body, and the oxygenation facilities must be kept unobstructed. However, oxygenation should be carried out within a fixed time period so that the soft-shelled turtles form a habit and the disturbance caused by oxygenation is reduced.

2. Rational use of microbial preparations. The rational use of microbial preparations can greatly save input in water quality regulation and other aspects.

3. Sewage discharge and water replacement. Regular sewage discharge is an effective means of controlling water quality, and water replacement is the most direct way to regulate water quality. When replacing water, the amount of water to be replaced should be decided according to the water quality conditions.

4. Although soft-shelled turtles breathe with their lungs, they spend most of their time living in water, so water quality is still very important for turtle growth. For juvenile turtles, the water depth should be kept at 0.3-0.4 m, with water changed once every 3 days, each time replacing 1/3 of the water. A green water color is preferable, so that they can hide from each other and reduce the chance of injuring each other; a small amount of green plants such as water lettuce and water hyacinth can also be placed in the water to help improve water quality. For adult turtle ponds, change the water once every 4 days, each time replacing 1/4 of the water, keeping the water fresh, with sufficient dissolved oxygen and appropriate fertility.

6. Disease control

Before hatchling turtles enter the pond, disinfection work must be done well. Before entering the pond, soak the hatchling turtles in a 2‰ salt water solution for 30 minutes. Before the soft-shelled turtle weighs 50 grams, be careful to prevent the occurrence of fungal disease. At this stage, strengthening the physique of the hatchling turtles and avoiding mechanical injury are the key points of prevention work; when the soft-shelled turtle weighs 50-150 grams, be careful to prevent the occurrence of white spot disease, and routine disinfection should mainly use bromine-chlorine preparations; from 50 grams to adult turtle, be careful to prevent the occurrence of furuncle disease.

With advanced farming techniques, there is no longer any need to worry about not being able to raise hatchling soft-shelled turtles well. As long as the right farming techniques are used, farming will no longer be a problem. The only issue commonly found in the farming industry is that market prices fluctuate greatly. Everyone must have a good grasp of the market to avoid losses.