How to solve the problem of limited feed sources and high costs for soft-shelled turtles?
Solving the feed source problem is a very headache for soft-shelled turtle farmers, because feed sources are limited and costs are high. So, how can soft-shelled turtles eat their fill, eat well, and still keep feed costs low?
Soft-shelled turtle
1. Rearing
You can use damp shady areas to raise earthworms or breed maggots to produce feed; you can also use rice fields and drainage ditches, clear the weeds, collect rice field eel and loach fry in spring and release them separately, regularly feed appropriate amounts of bran, wheat bran, fishmeal, etc., and by autumn, when soft-shelled turtles are in their peak feeding period, you can catch them in groups for feeding.
2. Trapping
In summer and autumn, hang 1 black-light lamp 20 cm above the water surface of the soft-shelled turtle pond; the flying insects killed each night can serve as feed for the soft-shelled turtles. You can also set up lamps to catch moths while the seedlings are growing, collect the moths caught each night, and then feed them to the soft-shelled turtles. The method is: place a lit kerosene lamp in the center of a basin filled with water, and use the moths' attraction to light to trap and kill them.
3. Catching
Use tools such as rakes and nets to catch snails and mussels (remove the shells and crush them) and small fish and shrimp from ditches, weirs and ponds, reservoirs, and rice fields to feed the soft-shelled turtles.
4. Internal organs
Collect the internal organs, discarded parts, and blood from slaughtered pigs, sheep, and chickens, wash them clean, chop them up, and feed them.
5. Formulating
30% flour, 30% wheat bran, 20% cornmeal, 15% cooked rice, 5% fishmeal, made into pellet feed and then fed to the soft-shelled turtles.
Note: First, feed in appropriate amounts. The daily feed amount should be 14%-20% of the total weight of the soft-shelled turtles, fed in 3 portions. The soft-shelled turtles should be able to finish eating within 2 hours after feeding. To prevent excess feed from rotting and polluting the water quality, change the water frequently. Second, every 15 days, mix some sulfonamide drugs into the feed to prevent swollen-neck disease and hemorrhagic disease in soft-shelled turtles.