Soft-shelled turtle farming guide: management priorities differ from month to month

As the level of soft-shelled turtle farming gradually improves, soft-shelled turtle output rises rapidly, and soft-shelled turtle market prices are affected by supply and demand, which brings enormous challenges to the soft-shelled turtle farming industry. Facing an unpredictable market, in order to reduce farming risks, you must master the farming management details at each point in time. Let us together learn about the management methods for January to December.

January

January is the coldest month of the year. To ensure that hatchling soft-shelled turtles stocked in November of the previous year overwinter safely, you must ensure a suitable temperature inside the plastic greenhouse or heated house, which requires frequently checking the greenhouse and the hot water pipes for damage. Replacing the hot water in the turtle pond too often costs too much, so it is impossible to change the water frequently; therefore, pay attention to using filtration to purify the water quality. While maintaining the water temperature for turtle farming, pay attention to feeding to speed up the growth of the hatchlings.

February

Management in February is basically the same as in January. The main tasks are maintaining a suitable water temperature and watching for changes in water quality, because when feeding continues as usual during heated winter farming, water quality deteriorates very easily and sometimes becomes foul-smelling, so water must be changed at any time to improve water quality.

March

In March the weather gradually warms up, but mornings and evenings are still rather cold, so heating facilities still need frequent checking to maintain water temperature. Because the temperature rises, the turtles grow faster and excrete more, which easily worsens water quality. To save costs and change the water as little as possible, you can carry out circulating filtration and water changing or aeration to lower turtle farming costs. In March the weather gradually warms up, but mornings and evenings are still rather cold, so heating facilities still need frequent checking to maintain water temperature. Because the temperature rises, the turtles grow faster and excrete more, which easily worsens water quality. To save costs and change the water as little as possible, you can carry out circulating filtration and water changing or aeration to lower turtle farming costs.

April

In April, the hatchling soft-shelled turtles stocked the previous year, after several months of heated farming, have reached an average body weight of about 200 grams. At this time, heating should be gradually reduced or stopped, so that the pond water temperature gradually drops to a level comparable to that of normal-temperature turtle ponds (about 25°C). The most important tasks at this time are: first, stock turtles of different sizes separately, with a stocking density generally of 2.5-3 kg/sq m. The small turtles sorted out continue to be raised with heating to speed up their growth. Second, the management of brood turtles. When the natural water temperature rises above 20°C, brood turtles kept at normal temperature should be fed, with more animal-based feed, and the feeding amount should be gradually adjusted according to the water temperature and the turtles' feeding situation.

May

In May the temperature rises, and the feeding amount should gradually increase; generally, animal-based feed should account for about 20% of the turtles' total body weight. In late May the turtles enter the breeding season, so the spawning site should be cleaned and prepared in advance, and incubation equipment should be made ready.

June

In June the water temperature gradually stabilizes. Feed flexibly according to the weather: feed more on sunny days and less on cloudy and rainy days. The feeding amount increases to about 3% of body weight. Egg laying gradually increases, so inspect the spawning site every day, collect eggs promptly, and level the sand and soil of the spawning site; on cloudy and rainy days, take care that the spawning site does not accumulate water.

July

In July the water temperature rises fairly quickly, and the turtles feed and grow vigorously, making this the most important period. The feeding amount during this period is 3%-3.5% of the turtles' total body weight. Where heating equipment is used, open doors, windows and the plastic greenhouse to maintain good ventilation. This month is the peak egg-laying period for the turtles, so collect eggs every day and send them promptly to the incubation room for incubation. When the weather is dry, spray water on the sand and soil of the spawning site to maintain a certain humidity.

August

In August, measures should be taken to reduce the effects of high temperatures and keep the turtle pond water temperature below 35°C, and the feeding amount should be controlled at 3% of body weight. Of the hatchling turtles placed in April of that year, by August half have reached a size of more than 500 grams and can be caught for partial sale; be careful when catching them to reduce injuries to the turtles. Turtle farming generally ends in mid-August, and the focus of management shifts to the incubation of turtle eggs. Suitable temperature and humidity should be controlled to increase the hatching rate of turtle eggs. Another important task this month is to strengthen management of newly hatched turtles, keeping the hatchling pond water temperature at 30°C. Hatchlings must be fed a suitable starter feed———water fleas; to prevent outdoor harm, the hatchling pond usually needs to be covered with a metal protective net.

September

In September the water temperature begins to drop, and the feeding amount should be appropriately reduced, generally to 2%-3% of body weight. This month, management of hatchling turtles should be especially strengthened. In late September, when the water temperature drops below 30°C, heating measures should be appropriately taken so that the hatchlings maintain vigorous feeding and are encouraged to grow. The stocking density for hatchlings is 150 per sq m. For brood turtles after egg laying, care must be strengthened. Add high-quality animal feed, mineral additives and multivitamins to the feed so that they quickly recover their strength.

October

In October the water temperature drops fairly quickly. Hatchling turtle farming generally begins heated rearing in early October. Check and repair the heating facilities, and disinfect each rearing pond with quicklime or bleaching powder. When artificial heating brings the pond water temperature to 30°C, stock the hatchlings (for those weighing 25 grams, the stocking rate is 100 per sq m). When stocking, be careful to put turtles of different sizes into separate ponds.

November

November marks the start of the full overwintering stage. In early November the turtles can be caught; those reaching commercial size can be sold, while the small ones can continue to be raised with heating. Adult turtle ponds and brood turtle ponds should all be thoroughly cleared and disinfected, then restocked according to size. For overwintering, choose turtles that have grown well and have no injuries or diseases as brood turtles. For hatchling ponds under heated farming, attention should be paid to strengthening feeding. The usual feeding amount is 4%-5% of body weight.

December

In December the outdoor temperature continues to fall and the weather is cold, so heating facilities should be checked frequently to keep them running normally and maintain the turtle pond water temperature. Strengthen feeding management for hatchling turtles, with the feeding amount generally 4%-5% of body weight. Brood turtles are not fed during hibernation at normal temperature. Pond water should be replenished regularly.