Detailed Explanation of the Key Points of Artificial Soft-Shelled Turtle Farming Technology
The soft-shelled turtle is also called the Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). Commonly known as soft-shelled turtle or wangba, it is farmed in all regions of our country. It has extremely high nutritional and medicinal value and is a relatively good nutritional health food. Because market demand is huge, the number of wild soft-shelled turtles has become increasingly scarce, so artificial soft-shelled turtle farming has risen. So how do you farm soft-shelled turtles artificially? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction.
1. Building the Pond
The soft-shelled turtle is an oviparous animal that lives in water. It mostly inhabits cool places at the bottom of the water and has certain requirements for the farming environment. It is afraid of wind, afraid of being startled, and afraid of dirt and disorder. Therefore, when building a sturdy farming pond, choose an area that is sheltered from wind and faces the sun, close to a water source, and convenient for drainage and irrigation, away from roads so that the sound of horns does not frighten it. The size of the pond depends on the scale of farming. Inside the pond, use stones and cement to build a slope to make it convenient for the soft-shelled turtle to crawl. Also spread a layer of fine sand on the pond bottom and around the pond edges, and build places for activity and egg laying. A wire mesh fence should be built around the farming pond to prevent the soft-shelled turtles from escaping. If conditions permit, separate ponds can be used for farming, raising parent soft-shelled turtles, juvenile soft-shelled turtles, and adult soft-shelled turtles separately for easier management.
2. Seed Selection and Stocking
When selecting seed, choose those with a flat body, a large and plump body, a brown or dark green back, and a milky white or light red abdomen. These soft-shelled turtles are relatively easy to raise and have strong reproductive capacity. If using a self-raising and self-breeding model, choose soft-shelled turtles weighing up to 2kg, strong in body weight, and free of disease and injury. Before stocking, the pond must be disinfected and sterilized. First drain the pond water, then disinfect with a disinfectant. If it is a cement pond, strong Hine can be added to water and splashed for disinfection. If it is an outdoor earthen pond, lime solution can be splashed over the whole pond for disinfection. When stocking, also pay attention to density. Generally, 100-150kg of 2-3-year-old juvenile soft-shelled turtles are stocked per mu, and the maximum must not exceed 200kg. Later, the farming density is gradually reduced as the soft-shelled turtles grow.
3. Feeding Management
The soft-shelled turtle is an omnivorous animal and likes to eat animal-based bait. Soft-shelled turtle seedlings generally mostly feed on aquatic insects, earthworms, and so on. Adult soft-shelled turtles like to eat fish, shrimp, river snails, and other animals, and also consume some vegetables, fruits, and plant-based feed such as the five grains and miscellaneous cereals. Generally, an appropriate amount of cornmeal, bean dregs, melons and fruits, and trace elements are added to the feed. With such a reasonable combination, a balanced business can be achieved, making the soft-shelled turtle grow quickly without nutritional problems. When feeding, ensure the feed is fresh. Animal-based bait is best disinfected before feeding. When feeding, follow the four principles of fixed quality, fixed location, fixed time, and fixed quantity. Feed 3 times a day, once each in the morning, noon, and evening, and increase the feeding amount according to the soft-shelled turtle's growth and increased food intake. Feed many times and in small amounts, and increase slowly.
4. Disease Prevention and Control
The soft-shelled turtle is an animal afraid of dirt and disorder, so keeping the farming site clean and hygienic during farming is necessary, as is regular disinfection, especially for outdoor farming, where the chance of contact with pathogens is greater and infection is more likely. At the same time, strengthen water quality and substrate management. Residual bait and soft-shelled turtle excrement in the farming water body will worsen water quality and substrate. They accumulate and ferment, producing toxic substances that affect the growth of the soft-shelled turtle. Therefore, check frequently. If water quality and substrate are found to have worsened, promptly change the water and improve the substrate.
The above is artificial soft-shelled turtle farming technology. I hope it can help you. To learn more about soft-shelled turtle farming knowledge, please stay tuned to us.