How Big Can the Yellow-Throated Pond Turtle Grow? Detailed Guide to Farming Precautions

The yellow-throated pond turtle (Mauremys mutica) is the most primitive and ancient species among water turtles. It has a gentle temperament, strong adaptability, is relatively simple to farm, and is convenient to manage, but there are also many points that need attention. So, what exactly are the precautions for farming the yellow-throated pond turtle? How big can it grow?

I. Introduction to the Yellow-Throated Pond Turtle

1. What are the other names for the yellow-throated pond turtle?

The other names for the yellow-throated pond turtle are stone turtle, stone coin turtle, water turtle, yellow-board turtle, yellow turtle, fragrant turtle, etc. It is a reptile of the genus Mauremys in the family Geoemydidae. In China it is distributed in the eastern and southern parts of the mainland, Hainan, and as far west as Yunnan and other places. It is commonly found in waters of mountain basins or river valleys in semi-mountainous areas of hilly terrain, and often in nearby small thickets or grass clumps.

2. Is the yellow-throated pond turtle a nationally protected animal?

The yellow-throated pond turtle is a national second-class protected animal and has been included in the "List of Terrestrial Wild Animals under National Protection with Beneficial or Important Economic and Scientific Research Value" issued by China's State Forestry Administration on August 1, 2000.

II. Precautions for Farming the Yellow-Throated Pond Turtle

1. Environment

When farming the yellow-throated pond turtle, the environment is very important. A turtle pond should be built. If conditions do not allow building a turtle pond, a large white storage box can be prepared; there must be land, and the land must not be too sharp, must be tall enough and easy to climb, so the turtle can climb up to bask in the sun and dry its back and shell; there must be water, with a depth 2-3cm higher than the turtle's back, and some water hyacinths placed on the water surface, which can absorb the sun's heat and lower the water temperature in the pond.

2. Water Quality

When farming the yellow-throated pond turtle, water quality is very important. It is suited to weakly alkaline water. The water must be tap water that has been exposed to the sun for more than two days, and only after the chlorine in the water has been removed can the water be changed; the water should be changed every day, but not completely, draining part of the old water and adding a little new water; if the water and the area around the turtle pond are very dirty, then change all the water.

3. Food

The yellow-throated pond turtle relatively likes eating meat-based feed. Pork, beef, snail meat and fish livers, etc. can be prepared. When feeding, chop all these foods into pieces, and feed once a day or once every two days, because the turtle's metabolism is very slow and it endures hunger well. In autumn it basically does not eat, so feeding once every 4-5 days is enough, and feeding stops during winter hibernation.

4. Light

The yellow-throated pond turtle needs sunlight to regulate its own body temperature, promote metabolism, help digest food, and promote appetite, calcium absorption and natural behaviors such as mating. Every day there must be sufficient sunlight exposure. If there is direct sunlight, that is fine; if there is not, a sun lamp must be added for illumination to maintain the heat and brightness the turtle needs and promote calcium absorption.

5. Hibernation

The yellow-throated pond turtle is a hibernating animal. It hibernates when the temperature drops below 10 degrees, generally starting from the Start of Winter in the lunar calendar and ending at the Awakening of Insects the following year. Before hibernation, appropriately feed some high-protein food to supplement nutrition, so as to have enough energy to get through hibernation; stop feeding for two weeks before hibernation to let the turtle clear its intestines; then check whether the turtle is healthy. If it is an unhealthy individual, hibernation is not recommended. During hibernation, move the turtle to a dark and quiet place indoors, at a temperature of 5℃-10℃. Below 5℃ the turtle easily dies, and above 10℃ the turtle can only hibernate shallowly.

III. How Big Can the Yellow-Throated Pond Turtle Grow?

The yellow-throated pond turtle has a shell length of about 15-20cm. It is divided into southern and northern types. The southern type refers to the yellow-throated pond turtles distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan in southern China and within Vietnam, while those distributed in the northern provinces are called the northern type. Southern-type turtles are relatively small in body size. The northern type is divided into large green and small green. The large green has a relatively large body size, and reaching 2 jin is very common, while it is rare for the small green to grow to more than 2 jin.

The above are the precautions for farming the yellow-throated pond turtle and the answer to how big the yellow-throated pond turtle can grow. We hope it is useful to everyone.