Key Points and Methods of Alligator Snapping Turtle Farming Techniques Explained
The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle species in the world and a very ancient animal with high economic value. It is native to South America and was later introduced into our country, where it became an invasive species. Its body size far exceeds that of other turtle species, and it has a lot of meat throughout its body. It is characterized by fast growth and strong stress resistance, has high edible and ornamental value, and also has certain dietary therapeutic effects, so it is an extremely important farming project. In this first part of the project, let's take a look at alligator snapping turtle farming techniques.
1. Building the Turtle Pond
Choose an area with sufficient water sources, a relatively quiet environment, and convenient transportation to build the turtle farming site. The turtle pond should preferably be built as a rectangular cement-surfaced pond with rounded corners, and an escape-prevention wall should also be built around the perimeter. The area of each pond should not be too large; several dozen to several hundred sq m is sufficient. In addition to the turtle pond itself, feeding platforms, land areas, and water inlets and outlets should also be built. The feeding platform is where feeding takes place, while the main purpose of the land area is for the alligator snapping turtle to rest, and an egg-laying site should also be set up on it.
2. Breeding Methods
At the beginning of farming, you can choose to buy breeder turtles or breeding eggs and hatch and raise them yourself. Breeder turtles should be selected for strong vitality, good spirit, no diseases, and no external injuries, so that the survival rate during farming is high and they can also grow quickly. When selecting breeding eggs, you must pay extreme attention to avoid being cheated into buying unfertilized turtle eggs. When selecting, carefully observe the surface of the turtle eggs. If there is an obvious white fertilization spot, it is fertilized; if it is not obvious, or if the fertilization spot is distributed in dots, it indicates insufficient fertilization. Through this method, you can select well-fertilized breeding eggs. Place the breeding eggs in an incubation box for hatching, being careful to handle them gently and keep the temperature stable, and young turtles will hatch out before long.
3. Feed Feeding
Within half a month after hatching, young turtles are in the temporary rearing period. After hatching, young turtles will absorb all the nutrients from the yolk within two days and begin to enter the temporary rearing period. The first thing to do during temporary rearing is to start them feeding. For the starter feed, you can use egg yolk, pig liver, or bloodworms together with special feed. For temporary rearing, basins, jars, or ponds can all be used. Generally, the number kept temporarily per sq m should be within 100, and note that the water level should not exceed the young turtles' shells, so as to avoid drowning the young turtles. After the temporary rearing period is over, the feed at this time can be special feed, or it can be mixed yourself. When mixing, add photosynthetic bacteria at 5%-10% of the total weight of the ingredients and about 45% clean water to make long pellets of 2 mm to 3 mm, which makes it convenient for the young turtles to eat. If conditions permit making floating extruded pellets, the effect is even better.
4. Regulation of Water Quality and Water Temperature
When feed is sufficient, young turtles have a relatively large food intake and feeding amount, and the feed being fed is also a green feed with relatively high protein, which will pollute the water body within a short time, causing more harmful substances in the water body and affecting the growth of the alligator snapping turtle. Therefore, water quality management should be strengthened. Water quality management can be done well by spreading treatments over the whole pond or improving the bottom substrate. Once the water quality deteriorates, replace the water or add water in time. In addition, water temperature is also closely related to the growth of the alligator snapping turtle. The alligator snapping turtle is suitable for growing in water at 18-32 degrees, and grows extremely fast at a water temperature of 30-31 degrees.
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