How Many Soft-Shelled Turtles Can Be Raised Per Mu of Land?

In our country, the soft-shelled turtle has always symbolized longevity. It not only has high edible value and ornamental value, but also has high medicinal value. It can be said that the soft-shelled turtle is a treasure from head to tail. Judging from the current market conditions for soft-shelled turtles in our country, the soft-shelled turtle market is in short supply, and as people's living standards continue to rise, the demand for it will only grow larger.

How Many Soft-Shelled Turtles to Raise Per Mu

The characteristics of the “18221” breeding model are: adult soft-shelled turtles are raised in ponds for two years, and the size at harvest is more than 1000 grams. It requires the release of high-quality turtle seed, control of the stocking quantity of turtle seed, and implementation of ecological breeding. Stocking quantity: at the beginning of the year, stock 100~120 turtles per mu from those transferred to ponds the previous year, with a size of 500~600 grams each; in early May, stock 120~150 turtle seed per mu, with a size of 100~250 grams each, stocked all at once.

The Breeding Cost of Soft-Shelled Turtles  

1. Feed cost: Feed accounts for the largest proportion of the breeding cost of soft-shelled turtles. According to current feed and breeding technology levels, the feed conversion ratio is generally 1.5~1.7. With feed calculated at an average of 11 yuan, the feed cost per jin of commercial soft-shelled turtle produced is 8.3~9.4. Because fishmeal resources have become increasingly scarce in recent years, especially since the fishmeal used in soft-shelled turtle feed is mainly high-quality white fishmeal, the price of feed used for soft-shelled turtles has remained high, and this is the first problem faced in breeding soft-shelled turtles;  

2. Seed cost: Seed cost accounts for a relatively high proportion of the breeding cost of soft-shelled turtles. Calculated at 2007 purchase prices, Taiwan seed averages about 2.5 yuan each, and Hunan seed averages about 3.5 yuan each. Calculated at an 80% market rate and an average of one jin per turtle, the average seed cost for Taiwan seed is about 3.13 yuan/jin, and the average seed cost for Hunan seed is about 4.38 yuan/jin;  

3. Medicine cost: Medicines include internal-use parts and external-use parts. The internal-use parts mainly include health foods such as multivitamins and glucose that are added extra at ordinary times, and oral antibiotics, etc.; the external-use parts include water quality regulators, biological agents, external pond-clearing and disinfecting medicines, etc. Generally, the cost per jin of commercial soft-shelled turtle produced is about 0.8~1.0 yuan;  

4. Pond rent: Generally, the pond rent cost is 1 yuan/jin;  

5. Pond depreciation: Calculated at 0.5 yuan per jin  

6. Labor and water/electricity: Generally, the labor and water/electricity cost is 1 yuan/jin;  

Total cost: Taiwan turtle 14.73~16.03; Chinese soft-shelled turtle 15.98~17.28 

The Living Habits of Soft-Shelled Turtles  

The soft-shelled turtle is an amphibious animal. It moves slowly and is timid by nature, and likes to inhabit waters with a quiet environment. The soft-shelled turtle is a poikilothermic animal. When the water temperature drops below 10℃, the soft-shelled turtle begins to hibernate. It is not until April of the following year, when the water temperature exceeds 15℃, that the soft-shelled turtle resumes normal activity. Soft-shelled turtles grow slowly in the natural environment, growing only about 100 grams per year. Each year from May to October is its peak growth season, and the most suitable growth temperature is 25-30℃  

The soft-shelled turtle is an omnivorous animal, and its ability to endure hunger is especially strong. It will not starve to death even if it does not eat for several years.

The Breeding Technology of Soft-Shelled Turtles  

1. Rearing of hatchling soft-shelled turtles: Newly hatched hatchlings have weak bodies and weak stomachs and intestines. For the first 2~3 days, they cannot feed, nor can they be placed directly into ponds. They must first be temporarily kept in wooden basins or plastic basins. After 2 days, a small amount of cooked egg yolk, water fleas, earthworms, etc. can be fed. After several days, minced fish and shrimp, river snails, mussel meat, etc. can be fed. Gradually mix in chopped pumpkin, sweet potato, rice, and other plant-based feed. The ratio of animal-based to plant-based bait is 2:1. During the rearing of hatchling soft-shelled turtles, change the water once every 3~5 days to keep the water quality clean. In hot weather, new water should be continuously added to control the water temperature between 25~30℃. After 8-10 days of rearing, hatchling soft-shelled turtles can be transferred to outdoor juvenile soft-shelled turtle ponds for rearing.  

2. Rearing of juvenile soft-shelled turtles: A 40 cm high wall should be built around the juvenile soft-shelled turtle pond to prevent the juveniles from escaping. One side of the pond must have a slope connected to land, which makes it convenient for the juveniles to come ashore and move about. 20 juvenile soft-shelled turtles can be stocked per square meter of water surface. Juvenile soft-shelled turtle feed should be mainly animal-based, and should be minced or ground as much as possible. Feed three times a day, in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. The feeding amount is 8%~10% of the body weight of the juvenile soft-shelled turtles in the pond. Use wooden boards or cement bridges in the pond to make feeding platforms. Closely monitor changes in water quality, frequently add new water, and ensure good breeding water.  

3. Rearing of adult soft-shelled turtles: After juvenile soft-shelled turtles have been reared for three years, they enter adult soft-shelled turtle breeding. The stocking density is 3-5 per square meter. The key points of rearing management are as follows.  

① Feed feeding: The feed for adult soft-shelled turtles should achieve a reasonable mix of animal-based and plant-based feed. Animal-based feed includes the internal organs of various livestock and poultry, small fish and shrimp, snail and mussel meat, yellow mealworms, snails, earthworms, locusts, silkworm pupae, etc. Plant-based feed includes vegetable leaves, bean cakes, melons, corn, sorghum, etc. The feeding amount should be determined according to changes in season and water temperature. In summer, when temperatures are high, more protein-rich bait should be fed. After autumn, when the water temperature is low, more fat-rich bait should be fed. In order to prevent soft-shelled turtles from getting sick, appropriate oxytetracycline and other antibiotics or sulfonamide drugs also need to be added to the bait usually fed. The dosage is calculated as 0.2 grams of medicine per kilogram of feed per day. From the second to the sixth day, the dosage should be reduced by half. Six days constitute one treatment course. Feed must be placed on feeding platforms. Feeding platforms can be made from wooden basins or asbestos tiles, with an area of about 1 square meter. Set up one feeding platform for every 50-100 square meters of water surface.  

② Water quality regulation: The water level of adult soft-shelled turtle ponds should be controlled between 1.0~1.2 m, and the water transparency should be 30-50 cm. Green-brown water color is best. If the water is clear and lean, an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer can be applied. To improve water quality, change the water once every 10 days, with the water exchange amount being 1/3 of the whole pond. In high-temperature seasons, splash quicklime water once every 10~15 days, with a dosage of 10~20 kg per mu.  

③ Disease prevention: Hatchling soft-shelled turtles, juvenile soft-shelled turtles, and adult soft-shelled turtles must be soaked and disinfected before being stocked in ponds with 20 ppm potassium permanganate or 1 ppm Wanxiaoling, with a soaking time of 8~10 minutes. In May, use 0.7 ppm copper sulfate, 0.2 ppm ferric sulfate, and 0.2~0.3 ppm crystallized trichlorfon, mix with water and splash over the whole pond. In June, use 0.3 ppm crystallized trichlorfon dissolved in water and splash over the whole pond. In July, use 0.25 ppm strong chlorine powder dissolved in water and splash over the whole pond. In August, use 0.5 ppm Wanxiaoling dissolved in water and splash over the whole pond. One week before stocking, soft-shelled turtle ponds should be cleared and disinfected with 120~150 kg of quicklime per mu. 

For investors, if they want to invest in an industry, they must first fully understand the market conditions of that industry as well as its development prospects. For breeders, if they want to breed a species, they must first understand its living habits and its breeding technology. Only by doing these things will the chance of success be greater.