Huangyao Town, Guangxi: Breeding Florida softshell turtles becomes a new path to prosperity

At the Jigongchong Florida softshell turtle breeding base in Tianchang Hamlet, Zhongdong Village, Huangyao Town, technicians are busy cleaning the ponds and giving the Florida softshell turtles a water "bath." In the ponds, Florida softshell turtles of different ages crawl everywhere, and a technician excitedly picks one up to show this writer.

According to technician Zhou Yongxi, the breeding base has tried as much as possible to maintain the environment and living habits of Florida softshell turtles in the wild. The water in the ponds is drawn from mountain springs, left to stand in fish ponds before use, so that the water temperature, microorganisms and other conditions are close to those in the wild. Feeding is mainly based on live fish, which not only increases the turtles' activity and promotes growth, but also makes the turtle meat delicious.

The breeding base was established in July 2013, with a total investment of more than 3 million yuan, an area of about 800 sq m, and a breeding scale of 3,500 turtles. It mainly breeds parent turtles and sells turtle hatchlings, and is currently the largest Florida softshell turtle breeding base in Hezhou City.

"Setting up a large Florida softshell turtle breeding farm in such an inland environment, we also encountered some breeding difficulties," said Liu Ning, who is in charge of managing the breeding base. Due to insufficient technical know-how, more than 100 turtle hatchlings died in the early stage of breeding, and later more than 10 parent turtles died for unknown reasons. In response to these problems, the technicians posted pictures on a social platform for Florida softshell turtle breeding friends to consult breeding veterans from all over the country, while also exploring solutions through breeding practice.

After three years of exploratory breeding, the base has now sold about 2,000 turtle hatchlings. Calculated at a market price of 150 yuan each, sales have reached 300,000 yuan, and the economic benefits of this long-term project are beginning to show.

The good economic returns have attracted the interest of nearby residents, and 25 households in the surrounding area have joined the ranks of Florida softshell turtle breeding. The base not only provides turtle hatchlings and technical support to breeders, but is also responsible for buying back and selling turtle hatchlings and adult turtles. "My family now raises 40 turtles, and the big ones already weigh four or five jin!" breeder Liu Daochuan said confidently, adding that once hatchlings are produced, there will be income.

"We are not worried about selling the Florida softshell turtles we breed. Orders from Guangdong and Zhejiang are constantly increasing." According to Liu Ning, next they plan to establish a professional cooperative to increase breeding varieties, expand the breeding scale, and drive more people to join the breeding ranks.