How much does one Annam leaf turtle hatchling cost in 2019, and how do they overwinter?
The Annam leaf turtle is a relatively ancient turtle species, known as a living fossil. Its shell color is quite vivid, the pattern on its carapace forms a symmetrical design, and it has high ornamental value, but its numbers are relatively scarce. So, how much does one Annam leaf turtle hatchling cost in 2019? How do they overwinter?
1. How much does one Annam leaf turtle hatchling cost in 2019?
At present, Annam leaf turtle hatchlings are scarce on the market and relatively expensive. Hatchlings of 5-8cm cost 800-1200 yuan each, while those over 10cm generally cost around 2000 yuan each. The price of Annam leaf turtle hatchlings varies by region and variety, so it should be judged according to the actual market situation.
2. How do Annam leaf turtle hatchlings overwinter?
The period from the Start of Winter each year to the Awakening of Insects the following year is the hibernation period of the Annam leaf turtle. When the temperature is 19°C, the turtle stops eating; when the temperature drops to around 10°C, the turtle enters hibernation. During hibernation, they like to hide in caves, piles of branches, or under thicker layers of withered grass, and mostly in sunny, wind-sheltered places. When the temperature is 13°C, the turtle wakes up but does not eat.
Adult turtles and breeding turtles kept outdoors can overwinter in their original pond, in which case a layer of dry grass should be spread over the activity area; hatchlings and juvenile turtles kept outdoors are best moved into indoor overwintering ponds, or a plastic film greenhouse can be built above the turtle pond to keep them warm through the winter. During hibernation, be careful to maintain the humidity of the soil in the overwintering area.
3. Breeding techniques for Annam leaf turtle hatchlings
1. Breeding site
In terms of breeding and reproduction area, keeping one group of turtles requires at least one sq m of space, including a sand pit with an area of 0.3 to 0.7 sq m and a sand depth of 18 to 20 cm, used for the Annam leaf turtle to lay eggs and hibernate; and a water pool of about 0.2 to 0.6 sq m with a maximum water depth of 13 to 15 cm.
2. Environment
When keeping Annam leaf turtles, try to avoid overly noisy places. It is recommended to choose a relatively quiet place, because Annam leaf turtles are easily startled by vibration sounds transmitted through the ground. For the site selection of turtle keeping, choose a place with good ventilation and air circulation, good light, no air pollution, and little noise.
3. Feeding
For daily feeding, mainly use peeled fish and shrimp meat, snail and mussel meat, and lean pork; you can also feed breadworms, earthworms, snails, etc. It is best to train them to accept eel feed or rice field eel feed. To ensure the balance of nutrients in the turtle's body and bright body color, you can regularly feed some melons and fruits, or directly feed some multivitamins. The feed should be fresh and tasty; in particular, hatchling feed must be fine, tender, and soft. Fresh feed or dough-like eel feed should be placed in the food trough. Pellet-shaped rice field eel feed can be placed either in the food trough or on the water surface, but leftover bait should be removed promptly. In spring and autumn, generally feed before noon, once every 2 days. In summer when the temperature is high, feed after 5 p.m., once a day. The feeding amount should be determined according to season, weather, feed quality, turtle size, etc., generally 1%-5% of the turtle's body weight.
4. Inspection
Leftover bait in the food trough should be rinsed promptly. In spring and autumn, regularly change the water in the drinking and bathing area; in the high-temperature summer season, change it frequently. It is best to change the water before feeding, and note that the water temperature difference should not exceed 3-4°C. During heavy rain, promptly check whether the turtle pond drains properly. Inspect every day to check the turtles' activity and feeding conditions, and solve any problems promptly.