How do you keep a golden coin turtle at home? Hibernation precautions to remember

Among ornamental turtles, the golden coin turtle (Cuora trifasciata) is quite popular, having become almost a symbolic feng shui turtle species. So how do you keep a golden coin turtle at home? Do golden coin turtles hibernate? What precautions should be taken during hibernation?

1. How do you keep a golden coin turtle at home?

1. Creating the rearing environment

You can prepare a shallow-mouthed fish tank and simulate the natural wild environment. Place some stones, fine sand, aquatic plants and a little water in the tank. Note that you should not put in too much water; too much water is instead bad for the golden coin turtle's daily activity.

It is best to build a sloped platform, forming both a water area and a land area suited to the golden coin turtle's amphibious characteristics. You can put a glass cover on top of the fish tank; this is more helpful for lighting, human observation, preventing the turtle from escaping, preventing enemies and harm, and so on. In short, the benefits are many.

2. Choosing golden coin turtle hatchlings

If you want to start raising them from small golden coin turtles, then you should pay attention to the selection of hatchlings.

Try to choose golden coin turtle hatchlings that are healthy (free of disease and injury), strong in movement ability, and well-proportioned in body shape (weighing over 10 grams).

3. Ensuring healthy water quality

Usually, tap water that has been left standing for about two days is suitable, and a water depth of 15 cm is best. Plant a small amount of easy-to-grow aquatic plants in the water; this can help purify the water quality.

In addition, since the golden coin turtle is a warmth-loving animal, you should also control the water temperature. It is best to adjust the water temperature to around 25 degrees Celsius.

4. Paying attention to feeding bait

If it is a hatchling that has just broken out of its shell, you do not need to feed it for the first 3 days; its yolk sac will supply the nutrients it needs. After that, you can feed it some animal-based bait, such as cooked egg yolk, bloodworms, tubifex worms, small fish and shrimp, small earthworms, animal liver, etc. To avoid the golden coin turtle choking, these baits need to be cut into pieces before feeding.

The amount of bait fed should be based on the golden coin turtle's body weight; generally, the daily amount of bait fed should be about 10% of the turtle's weight. You can feed once in the morning and once in the evening.

2. What precautions should be taken when golden coin turtles hibernate?

1. Disinfect the rearing vessels and tools before hibernation

Before the golden coin turtle hibernates, you can disinfect the rearing vessels with disinfectants such as bleaching powder or benzalkonium bromide, to reduce the possibility of the golden coin turtle becoming ill during hibernation.

2. Check the golden coin turtle's health condition before hibernation

Although the golden coin turtle has relatively strong resistance and immunity, hibernation is still a “hurdle” for the golden coin turtle. If you do not pay attention to checking and let a weak, sick golden coin turtle hibernate on its own, accidental death may occur. Therefore, you need to carefully check its health condition before the golden coin turtle hibernates, and provide appropriate heating to help it pass through the hibernation period smoothly.

3. Shade the rearing pond appropriately and keep it quiet

During hibernation, you can use a piece of cloth to cover part of the turtle pond and place it in a less noisy place, which can help the golden coin turtle overwinter safely.