When Do Chinese Pond Turtles Lay Eggs? A Detailed Guide to Egg-Laying Time

The Chinese pond turtle is an omnivorous freshwater turtle, mainly distributed in mainland China, Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea and other countries and regions. So when does it lay eggs? What food does it eat?

When does the Chinese pond turtle lay eggs?

The Chinese pond turtle will only lay eggs once it reaches sexual maturity, which takes about 5 years of raising. It generally lays eggs from May to August. Each female turtle lays eggs three to four times a year, with five to seven eggs each time. After 50-80 days of natural incubation, the hatchlings emerge from their shells, can enter the water, and live on their own.

What food does the Chinese pond turtle eat?

The Chinese pond turtle is an omnivorous animal. In captive breeding, its diet mainly consists of small fish and shrimp (dried shrimp can be used), lean meat (note: do not feed fatty meat, as it easily causes indigestion), small insects, rice, vegetables, fruit, and turtle feed (feed should be given sparingly, as most contains additives). When young, they tend toward a carnivorous diet, and after reaching adulthood they tend toward a vegetarian diet.

When does the Chinese pond turtle hibernate?

When the water temperature drops below 15°C (around 0°C it is easy to freeze the turtle, and in severe cases it may even die), the Chinese pond turtle begins to hibernate. The Chinese pond turtle buries itself in moist sand and soil, or hides in rock crevices and other places to hibernate. Control its hibernation time to about three months.