How much does an endangered black-necked turtle hatchling cost? A guide to keeping them

Modern people like to keep animals as companions, such as cats, dogs, fish, turtles and so on, and among them the turtle has the longest lifespan. Today we will introduce the black-necked turtle, covering how much one of its hatchlings costs and how to keep it.

I. Basic information about the black-necked turtle

1. Other names and origin of the black-necked turtle

The black-necked turtle is a reptile that lives in streams in hilly and mountainous areas, and is also called the painted turtle, black-necked painted turtle, mud turtle, three-lined turtle, watermelon turtle, Guangdong grass turtle, big-headed turtle and so on, with a distribution range that includes Vietnam and China's Guangdong, Guangxi and other places.

2. Appearance of the black-necked turtle

The black-necked turtle is fairly large in size, with the snout slightly protruding beyond the upper beak and slanting inward and downward. The bridge is wide, and the color of the carapace is brown or dark brown, completely different from the color of the plastron. The carapace has one longitudinal ridge and no lateral ridges. In addition, some black-necked turtles have a lighter color in the middle part of each scute. Also, in female black-necked turtles the head, limbs, tail and soft parts of the body are all black or blackish gray; the underside of the head is lighter in color with irregular yellow markings; while in males the head and back are chestnut brown or brown; the upper and lower beak, the sides of the neck, and the underside of the head, neck, upper forelimbs and thighs as well as the soft parts where they join the body are all bright orange-red.

3. Value of the black-necked turtle

The black-necked turtle is an animal used both as medicine and as food; both the plastron and the carapace can be used in medicine, and it is quite effective for treating dizziness, yin deficiency with internal heat, steaming bone and consumptive fever, and spermatorrhea and impotence; eating black-necked turtle meat has effects such as calming the body, clearing heat and detoxifying, and benefiting the liver and strengthening the bones; in addition, the black-necked turtle is beautiful in appearance, and it is also excellent to keep as an ornamental turtle.

Special reminder: the black-necked turtle is an endangered species in China, and it has also been included in the "List of Terrestrial Wild Animals under State Protection That Are Beneficial or of Important Economic or Scientific Research Value", so catching wild black-necked turtles is prohibited without approval. However, there are now captive-bred black-necked turtles, which everyone can buy.

II. How much does one black-necked turtle hatchling cost?

1. The prices of black-necked turtle hatchlings vary quite a lot, differing according to appearance, size and so on; generally the price of black-necked turtles in Guangxi is 3000-7000 yuan/jin, around 3500 yuan each;

2. The prices of male and female black-necked turtles are also different. For example, in 2016 in Guangxi a one-jin female black-necked turtle cost 3900 yuan/jin, 3800 yuan each; a male turtle was 4500 yuan/jin, 4000 yuan each.

Of course, the prices above are only for everyone's reference; the actual purchase price should be based on the local market.

III. What are the breeding techniques for the black-necked turtle?

1. When buying hatchlings, you must distinguish male turtles from female turtles. Generally, those with a large body but a small, short tail with a small end, and with the cloacal opening closer to the rear edge of the carapace, are female black-necked turtles; while those with a long, thick tail and reddish heads, necks and limbs are mostly male turtles.

2. The stocking ratio of female to male turtles is generally 2:1, and the stocking density is 3.5 turtles/sq m. Feeding can combine animal-based and plant-based feed, and the daily feeding amount is determined by the turtle's body weight. Also, remember to cut animal-based feed into pieces before feeding.

3. It is best to feed black-necked turtles at around nine o'clock in the morning. If the weather is hot, the feeding amount can be increased; if it is cold, it can be appropriately reduced. In addition, the breeding pond must be kept clean and hygienic, and debris and garbage in the water must be removed in time to prevent water quality from being polluted.

4. It is best to build protective netting around the breeding pond to prevent harm from snakes, insects, rats and ants and to prevent the turtles from escaping, and a shade canopy should be set up on the land where they are active for resting.

Finally, a reminder to breeders: because the black-necked turtle is not very good at swimming, the water depth should not exceed 5CM, and when feeding it is also necessary to sprinkle some calcium powder to supplement the nutrients it needs.