How Do Guangzhou Turtles Overwinter? Key Points for Winter Breeding Management

The Guangzhou turtle is actually a type of the Chinese grass turtle (Mauremys reevesii), belonging to the suborder Cryptodira, family Geoemydidae, a kind of grass turtle, also known as the black-necked turtle. In 2000, it was included by the State Forestry Administration in the List of Terrestrial Wild Animals of Beneficial, or of Important Economic or Scientific Research Value under State Protection. So then how should Guangzhou grass turtles be overwintered in personal breeding?

1. How Guangzhou Turtles Overwinter

Guangzhou turtles also hibernate, and this is mainly determined by the local temperature. Generally, when the temperature is below 15°C, they enter a hibernation state. Every year from April to October is the period of frequent activity for turtles. During this period, at sunset each day, the turtle begins to swim in the water foraging, and only stops foraging and dives into the water before dawn. It often climbs ashore from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on sunny days, resting quietly by the bank to bask in the sun. June to August is the period of heavy feeding for turtles, in October their food intake gradually declines, and from November to March they are in a hibernation state.

For Guangzhou turtles, when October comes and the turtle stops eating, you can soak the turtle in slightly warm water, using warm water to stimulate defecation, clean out the intestines, and expel the feces remaining in the body completely so as to avoid prolonged retention in the intestines causing intestinal disease. At the same time, before the turtle enters hibernation, feed it more to fatten it up and store enough fat for overwintering. The hibernation method is to spread wet thick sand in a container, cover it with crumpled newspaper balls, and the turtle will burrow into the sand to sleep by itself, replenishing water once a week to keep the sand and newspaper moist. In addition, during its hibernation, do not disturb it easily, otherwise it will cause the turtle's constitution to decline, which is unfavorable for its growth and reproduction in the coming year.

2. Precautions for Raising Turtles

1. Young turtles, adult turtles and breeding turtles should be kept in separate ponds to avoid large turtles swallowing small turtles, and also to facilitate determining the feed amount and breeding management, and to facilitate observation and mastery of the turtles' growth conditions.

2. Turtles are gentle and timid in nature, so the surroundings of the breeding pond should be kept quiet to avoid affecting the turtles' normal activities.

3. Change the water in the breeding pond frequently, keep the pond water clean, and do a good job of sanitation in the breeding pond to prevent turtles from getting diseases.

4. Turtles need regular exposure to sunlight, but prolonged exposure to strong sun can also cause turtle death.

That is all for raising turtles. Friends who want to raise turtles must weigh their own financial capacity; truly wanting to raise a turtle well requires significant spending on equipment, feed and medicine.