Yellow-edged closed-shell turtle is also called yellow-edged box turtle, snake-eating turtle, broken plate turtle, belongs to the freshwater turtle family, closed-shell turtle genus, mainly distributed in the southern region of China, Taiwan Province and Japan, in recent years due to the destruction of the ecological environment and a large number of capture, the number of wild significant decline, has been listed as an endangered protected animal, has appeared a certain scale of artificial breeding.
1. Physical characteristics
The head of the yellow-rimmed closed-shell turtle is smooth and mostly pale yellow. The lower jaw is orange, there is a dark yellow thicker gold line behind each eye, the dorsal carapace is high and raised, the general dorsal carapace is brownish red, the abdominal carapace is brownish-black, the dorsal carapace has ridges, yellow, and the two parts of the front and back of the abdominal carapace are connected by ligaments and can be closed upwards. The head, tail, and limbs can be completely retracted into the shell, the shield at the edge of the dorsal carapace is slightly upturned, the ventral carapace is slightly protruding at the front, and the posterior end is oval. The front legs have five toes, the hind legs have four toes, and there are slight webs between the toes. The average length of the dorsal carapace is 14 cm to 16 cm, and the weight is between 400 g and 750 g. The maximum weight is about 1kg, and the maximum length is about 19cm. Males have thicker and longer tails than females, and the cloaca holes are farther from the base of the tail.
2. Habitat and feeding environment
Wild yellow-rimmed closed-shell turtles generally live in mountains, hills, forest edges or on hills with sparse shrubs and weeds, and their activity areas are generally close to water sources and hidden under fallen leaves or rocks during the day. In the months with higher temperatures between June and August, nocturnal activities are mostly active; In the months with lower temperatures from April to May and September to October, the temperature difference between day and night is larger, with less activity in the morning and evening, and more activity at noon; When the temperature drops below 10 ° C, it enters hibernation, and the place of hibernation is mostly on the slope of the mountain, hidden under the grass pile or fallen leaves.
The yellow-edged closed-shell turtle belongs to the semi-aquatic turtle, so the rearing environment should have half of the land area and half of the water, the water level should be between 7cm and 20cm, the water temperature should be around 24 °C to 26 °C, and the temperature of the sun area should be 29 °C to 32 °C. Ultraviolet radiation is also important, it can help turtles synthesize vitamin D3, help supplement calcium. Land areas can be planted with some plants, or placed some branches and weeds or other dodgers, play a role in avoidance, the yellow edge does not like strong light, likes to hide in a darker environment, the ambient humidity should be kept between 60% and 70%.
3. The type of food
- The yellow-rimmed closed-shell turtle is an omnivore. In the wild, it feeds mainly on earthworms, slugs, centipedes, scarab beetles, snails, plants and berries. Artificial feeding can feed fish and shrimp, bread worms, snails, some animal meat and offal, various fruits and vegetables (pumpkin, corn, carrots, bananas, strawberries, papaya, etc.) and turtle food, etc., but the growth rate of feeding plant foods is significantly lower than that of feeding animal foods. Reasonable combination of diet is the most important, maintain the diversity of food types, nutritional balance, turtles will be healthier. Unlike other aquatic or semi-aquatic turtles, yellow-rimmed closed-shelled turtles forage both in water and on land. And in the rearing environment, ensure that there is always drinking water available.
——The amount of food eaten by the yellow-edged closed-shell turtle is closely related to the level of temperature. The appropriate temperature for eating is 20~33°C, but the maximum amount of food is 28~30°C. When the temperature is lower than 26 °C, the amount of food is significantly reduced. It has been observed that when the ambient temperature is 20~24°C, the amount of food eaten is less than 1% of body weight, and the number of eating is small, generally eating once every 2 to 3 days; When the ambient temperature is 25 ~ 27 ° C, the amount of food can reach 1% to 2% of body weight, generally once every 1 to 2 days; When the ambient temperature is stable at 28 ~ 30 ° C, the amount of food is 2.5% to 5% of body weight, generally once a day.
-- While temperature affects the amount of food eaten by yellow-rimmed closed-shell turtles, it also directly affects their growth rate. Yellow-edged closed-shell turtles eat the most abundantly and grow the fastest from June to September. In the natural environment, it generally takes 5 to 6 years to reach sexual maturity, and the yellow-rimmed closed-shell turtle grows slowly in the natural environment, mainly because of its slow movement and insufficient protein food for animals. The season of eating a lot is short.
4. Reproduction
The mating season of the yellow-edged closed-shell turtle is generally from May to June and September to October, and the female turtle can effectively mate once and can maintain the fertilization ability for 1 to 2 years. During the mating season, males are more active, aggressive, and constantly courting females. Crawl around the female turtle or follow the female turtle back and forth, or bite the leading edge of the female turtle's back carapace with her mouth to swing back and forth, or climb in front of the female turtle and shake her head to promote the female turtle to estrus. Female turtle spawning season is June to August, generally each female turtle lays 2 to 6 eggs per year, laying eggs mostly at night, when laying eggs, female yellow-rimmed closed shell turtles first use their hind legs to dig out a bunker 5 to 10 cm deep, and then bury the bunker with their hind legs to cover the eggs after laying eggs. The eggs are oblong in shape, generally weighing 11 to 18 g, 42 to 47 mm long, and 20 to 24 mm wide. The incubation substrate of the eggs can be mixed with sand, loess or sandy soil, the moisture content is required to be 10%, the air humidity is controlled at 80% to 85%, the suitable temperature for incubation is 25 to 34 °C, generally 30 °C The incubation rate is the highest, and the incubation period is 70 to 90 days.
5. Common diseases
Always keep the feeding environment clean and tidy. Common health problems include loss of appetite, vitamin deficiencies, metabolic bone disease, eye disease, parasites, dehydration, drowsiness, bladder stones, constipation, and respiratory diseases. Most problems can be avoided with reasonable dietary conditions, feeding schedules, and a clean feeding environment. If you notice any symptoms of the turtle, treat it in time to avoid serious illness.
6. Distinction between continental, Taiwanese and Ann rims
The yellow-edged closed-shell turtle is a favorite species of many enthusiasts, but the price is high, and different origins and different phases determine the price.
——The Taiwan edge is the yellow-edged closed-shell turtle produced in Taiwan, the general price is slightly lower, the dorsal carapace is relatively low, the body is narrow and long, the neck color is not so yellow, the color is dark, and the ridge on the dorsal carapace is not coherent. The beak is also mostly flat and not eagle hook-shaped, and the eyes usually have eyeliner.
——Anyuan is a yellow-rimmed closed-shell turtle produced in Anhui, the highest price, the best appearance, the general body shape is rounded, the back armor is high, the neck is permeated with a faint red, the ridge on the back carapace is connected, the beak is eagle hook-shaped, and there is usually no eyeliner.
——The continental edge includes An rim, but generally refers to the yellow-edge closed shell turtle produced in other regions such as Henan, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei and other places, which is relatively close to the Anyuan bloodline, generally not very easy to distinguish, the appearance of the appearance, the cheeks and neck of the continental edge are not as bright as the An rim, orange, the dorsal nail is flattened, the growth lines are slightly thick, most of the ridge ridges on the dorsal carapace are incoherent, the beak protrusion is small, and there is usually eyeliner.
However, judging the place of origin by appearance is not absolutely accurate, and there will be individual differences in different origins, so it is good to choose what you like.
Finally, the yellow-edged closed-shell turtle is a relatively high-value national turtle, deeply loved by everyone, and the interaction with people is very good, although everyone is pursuing the origin and better appearance, but as a pet to raise, it is a good choice, and choose your favorite, there is a good eye edge, raise a good appearance, raise a healthier is equally important.