How to Keep a Yellow-margined Box Turtle (Annan Subspecies)? Detailed Guide to Care Methods and Precautions
The number of Annan yellow-margined box turtles is relatively scarce, but they are very attractive in appearance and much loved by the public. Wild Annan yellow-margined box turtles generally grow in high-altitude mountain areas and often have to climb, so they are generally quite strong. Nowadays, more and more people see the market value of the Annan yellow-margined box turtle and begin to keep them, so how do you keep an Annan yellow-margined box turtle?
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 Annan yellow-margined box 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 Annan yellow-margined box turtles, try to avoid overly noisy places. It is recommended to choose a relatively quiet place, because Annan yellow-margined box turtles are easily startled by vibration sounds transmitted through the ground. For the site selection for keeping turtles, choose a place with good ventilation, good light, no air pollution and little noise.
3. Food
During long-term evolution, Annan yellow-margined box turtles mainly fed on insects such as earthworms, centipedes, small worms and so on. The main foods for keeping them are mealworms, earthworms, river shrimp, locusts, pupae and centipedes; beef and chicken. Steamed red radish, steamed pumpkin, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, apples, grapes, kiwifruit, peaches and other jam-like fruits.
The period from the Start of Winter each year to the Awakening of Insects the following year is the hibernation period for the Annan yellow-margined box turtle. When the temperature is 19°C, the turtle begins to stop eating; when the temperature drops to about 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 will wake up, but will not eat.