How to Identify a Chinese Striped-neck Turtle (Chinese Flower Turtle)? How to Keep One?

The pearl turtle, scientific name Chinese striped-neck turtle (Mauremys sinensis), also known as the Taiwan grass turtle, is widely distributed in the tropical regions of southern China, such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, China, and other places. Nowadays, the pearl turtle is kept as a pet by many people. So, how do you identify a pearl turtle? How do you keep a pearl turtle? How do you keep a pearl turtle in winter?

1. How to Identify a Pearl Turtle?

The neck and limbs of the pearl turtle are covered with fine dark green stripes, giving it a very colorful appearance. Young pearl turtles have light green shells, while adult pearl turtles have dark brown shells with faint pale red patches. The tail is small and thin, about 2cm long. The plastron (underside of the shell) is pale yellow, and because there are pearl-like ring markings on both sides of the plastron, it is called the pearl turtle. Pearl turtles generally live in shallow waters at low altitudes in tropical regions and are herbivorous animals.

2. How to Keep a Pearl Turtle?

1. Housing environment

The pearl turtle is a tropical turtle species that loves sunlight and bright conditions, so if conditions allow, it can be kept outdoors in a sunny spot. If it is kept indoors for a long time, or if the temperature is relatively low, a heating rod needs to be provided. In addition, when keeping pearl turtles, it is best to add some objects for climbing to the water.

2. Food

Young pearl turtles can be fed dried small shrimp, fish meat, or special turtle food. Adult pearl turtles like to eat vegetables, such as leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, cauliflower, and so on. Keeping green vegetables in the pool of an adult pearl turtle at all times can reduce the amount of turtle food fed, and feeding two to three times a week is enough.

3. How to Keep a Pearl Turtle in Winter?

1. Put an appropriate amount of sand in a box, spray it with water to keep the sand moist, and place the pearl turtle in the box.

2. Wet a piece of gauze and drape it over the pearl turtle.

3. Reduce the amount of water in the pool, using just enough water to cover the limbs.

4. Place the pearl turtle in a wooden box and cover it with a moist cotton cloth.

Pearl turtles generally enter hibernation in late October, with the timing varying depending on region and temperature. It should be noted that feeding should stop one week before hibernation, and the turtle should be soaked in warm water up to above the limbs. Even during hibernation, the ambient temperature for keeping pearl turtles should remain above 5 degrees, otherwise they may easily freeze to death. When changing the water, pay attention to the temperature difference before and after the change; too great a temperature difference can easily cause the pearl turtle to catch a cold. If you do not want the pearl turtle to hibernate, you can use a heating rod to raise the temperature. If the pearl turtle is still young, it is best to raise the temperature and not let it hibernate, because many people do not pay attention to the method during hibernation, which can easily cause the pearl turtle to freeze to death.

Pearl turtles are small and cute in form; if you pay attention to temperature differences and keeping methods when raising them in winter, they will not freeze to death.

The above is an introduction to the keeping methods for pearl turtles. Do you understand now? If you like them, go buy a pearl turtle and keep one!