To successfully raise soft-shelled turtles, it's essential to create an optimal environment and follow proper care practices. Here's a well-structured guide that covers key aspects of turtle farming:
1. **Pond Construction**
A suitable breeding environment is crucial for soft-shelled turtles, as they are sensitive to noise, wind, and dirt. Choose a quiet, shaded location with good drainage and irrigation facilities. For self-breeding farms, it’s recommended to build five types of ponds: one for new hatchlings, one for young turtles, one for the third instar stage, one for growing turtles, and one for adults. The pond bottom should be clay or loam, not sandy, and if necessary, sand can be replaced. Ponds should have designated areas for feeding and basking. To prevent escape, install 1-meter-high barriers made of brick or asbestos on the edges.
2. **Selecting Seedlings**
Soft-shelled turtles come from two main sources: factory-bred juveniles and wild-caught individuals. Regardless of the source, all turtles must be quarantined for 15 days before being introduced into the pond. Injured or slow-moving turtles should be isolated and treated before being placed in the main pond. It's important to ensure that only healthy turtles are used for breeding. A typical stocking density is 100–150 kg per 667 square meters, with a maximum of 200 kg.
3. **Feeding Practices**
While commercial fishmeal is commonly used, it can be expensive and sometimes low quality, leading to health issues like enteritis. A more sustainable and cost-effective approach is to use natural feeds such as food scraps from nearby restaurants, snails, clams, small fish, and aquatic plants. You can also cultivate worms, insects, and small fish in the farm. Mixing plant-based materials like bran, corn flour, and bean dregs with animal feed ensures balanced nutrition.
4. **Water Quality Management**
Soft-shelled turtles spend most of their time in water, so maintaining clean and oxygen-rich water is vital. Keep the water depth between 0.3 and 0.4 meters, and change one-third of the water every three days. Maintain a greenish water color to reduce stress and aggression among turtles. Adding water lilies or water hyacinths can help improve water quality. Water should be changed every four days, with one-quarter of the volume replaced each time to keep it fresh and cool.
5. **Disease Prevention and Control**
Several diseases can affect soft-shelled turtles. Here are some common ones and their control methods:
- **Mycosis (Water Mold)**: Treat affected turtles by dipping them in a 1/15,000 malachite green solution for 2–3 minutes daily for 7 days.
- **Neck Disease**: Disinfect the pool with "rich chlorine" and treat with "healthy" medication.
- **Red Neck Disease**: Prevent by keeping the pond clean and using antibiotics like chloramphenicol or oxytetracycline in feed.
- **Intestinal Inflammation**: Add garlic juice or onion to the feed at 1% concentration for 7 days.
- **Hemorrhagic Disease**: Isolate sick turtles and treat with "healthy," sulfonamide, or antibiotics.
- **White Spot Disease**: Apply 1% malachite green ointment to affected areas, and disinfect the pond with chlorine-based solutions.
- **Turnip Disease**: Use sulfa drugs and disinfect the pond regularly to prevent spread.
- **Cold Disease**: Ensure new water added to the pond has the same temperature as the existing water to avoid shock.
By following these steps, you can create a safe, healthy, and productive environment for raising soft-shelled turtles. Proper planning, careful selection of stock, and consistent maintenance will lead to better growth and fewer disease outbreaks.
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