Snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), also known as small snapping turtle. Originally produced in the United States, Guangzhou was introduced from the United States for the first time in 1996. In 1997, Jiangsu also introduced small snapping turtles and large snapping turtles. Snapping turtles are known for their body and strength, and their meat rate is as high as 85%. Snapping turtles have a simple environment for feeding, strong adaptability to temperature, cold winters, and natural hibernation; summer is not afraid of heat, disease resistance, and fast growth. Snapping turtles are delicate and delicious, and turtle meat is a high-protein, high-amino acid, low-fat, low-cholesterol, low-calorie natural health food. Meat can pass Renmai Yang Road, Yin and blood, Yi Jing Qi, is Jiugui physically weak, postpartum tonic, men and women weakness, anemia, insomnia, brain decline in the Jiapin, also has the medicinal value of swelling and anti-cancer. Snapping turtles are used for food, ornamentals, and medicines. Their practical economic value is much higher than that of other turtles. Snapping Turtle is the hot spot of turtle breeding in China in the 21st century, and it is also the natural health food for the people of China in the 21st century. It is also an ideal new species for China to establish an export-oriented foreign exchange fishing base and establish industrialization of turtles.
First, the shape characteristics Snapping Turtle back was oval, back carapace is very thin, carapace color is brown, brown, olive to black. There are three longitudinal ribs in the carapace, and the ribs are composed of cone-shaped projections. Each ridge is made up of nodules under the nail. The size of spines and nodules varies with subspecies, but flattens or wears with age. The tail is long and sharp, with fleshy projections on both sides. There are scaly ridges at the top 4/5 of the tail back, jagged and shaped like a crocodile tail. Most of the abdomen pale creamy, but also dark brown. The legs of the limbs covered with creamy flesh. The plastron is thin and ten-shaped. The limbs are thick, with long claws between the fingers (toes), fingers with 5 claws and toes with 4 claws. The head is larger, and the head, neck, back, and abdomen are mostly black or milky flesh. The head can stick out of the body and can also be retracted into the dorsal shell. Eyes and eyes are small and eyes open. When eyes are closed, the head and limbs are retracted into a carapace. The kiss is more prominent and the upper and lower jaws are slightly pointed.
Second, living habits
1. Ecological habits: Snapping turtles are aquatic turtles, living in fresh water, such as lakes, rivers, marshes and pools, but also living in salt water with low salt content. Hi in the water in the sand, shrubs, weeds. Snapping Turtles are very clever and very patient. They are higher aquatic species in the water. In addition to occasionally crawling on land, most of the time stays underwater. When the snapping turtle floats in the water, with its protective color of the back, like a rotten wood floating in the water, it is not easy to be found. It often sticks its nose out of the water, and its head does not fully extend. During the day, snapping turtles like to be in the water, lying on wood or stones, and sometimes floating on the water.
2. Temperature habits: snapping turtles are not afraid of cold, nor afraid of sudden heat. In 2 ~ 38 °C water can survive, the ambient temperature above 18 °C normal feeding, the best growth temperature of 28 ~ 30 °C, water temperature below 12 °C into the shallow winter state, the water temperature below 6 °C into deep sleep. Water temperature above 1 °C can normally winter. Even in the ice water under -5 °C does not freeze to death. They rely on the body's accumulated layer of fat for winter, under the ice they breathe through the skin and breathe in the fully open cloister.
3. Feeding habits: Snapping turtles are omnivorous and do not pick up too much food. They eat all the food they might catch in the wild, such as fish, frogs, and crabs. They also like small animals and large amounts of aquatic plants. They also eat dead and live animals on the shore. , Fresh grass and flowers and fruits. Artificially fed feeds include fresh fish, shrimp, snails, clams, cockroaches, cockroaches, silkworm cocoons, fly pupae, yellow mealworms, various internal organs and waste of livestock and poultry, as well as feed, dip, and extruded pellet feed. However, it is interesting that 40 to 50% of plants are found in the stomach of snapping turtles caught in the wild. Snapping turtles play a very important role in the ecosystems of lakes and Datang. They are the “scavengers†of “bottoms†at the bottom of the pool. They use the sense of smell to find these carrions.
Tortoises are more ferocious than adult turtles, and they spend more time hiding in the grass than turtles. Like other turtles, they swallow whole foods, and large pieces of food are shredded with front paws. Their predation speed is dazzling, and their pharynx enlargement resembles snake-necked turtles and side-necked turtles. Adult turtles drag food into the water and rarely eat on land. Found in the rearing: Snapping Turtles like to eat live animals, even after eating, found that live bait is still reluctant to leave. Because they eat more, they can accumulate more fat, which is beneficial to the supply of energy during hibernation.
4. Behavioral habits: Snapping Turtles are cold-blooded animals that like to crawl on the rocks or slowly crawl in the sun, which can speed up digestion and increase the number of eating. Snapping turtles are the most ferocious species of turtles. Adult snapping turtles are aggressive and attack people actively. However, 20-50 grams of young turtles are very docile and do not take the initiative to injure others. When the snapping turtle is caught, the body of the turtle releases a scent of musk, which is the same as the musk that was released by the musk turtles produced in Mexico. Snapping Turtles and plastrons have little protection. Snapping turtles can use their claws to protect themselves. On the land, snapping turtles erect their heads back to bite people across the back. It's dangerous to catch it 2/3 behind Snapping Turtle's Carapace because the back is very smooth and it's safest to grasp its tail. Snapping Turtle has a relatively small plastron, only 50% to 60% of the carapace. Its limbs are long and its thighs are well developed. When crawling, the four limbs will support themselves, and the stepping distance is large and the speed is fast.
5. Growth and longevity: Snapping Turtles grow slowly from young turtles that grow from turtles to more than 50 grams. However, as long as the temperature and feed are appropriate, the young turtles grow quickly. Under the condition of temperature control in our country, the annual gain of snapping turtles can reach more than 2.5 kg, while the annual gain of large snapping turtles can reach more than 5 kg, and the average annual weight gain is 1.0-1.5 kg. The weight in adulthood is generally 2.5 to 5.0 kg. Snapping Turtles have a large weight of 33.75 kilograms, an average of 13.5 kilograms, and 18 to 27 kilograms of snapping turtles are less common.
According to statistics, the lifespan of snapping turtles living in nature is 30 to 40 years, and the life of snapping turtles in northeastern North America is longer.
Third, reproduction
1. Male and female identification: The male snapping turtle has a long tail, its length is 86% of the length of the plastron, and the cloaca is located outside the edge of the carapace; the female tail is short, the length of the turtle tail is less than 86% of the length of the plastron, cloacal cavity Located within the edge of the armor.
2. Mating: The mating season for Snapping Turtles is from April to September each year. When mating, males often climb to the back of the female turtle. At first, the female turtle crawls and slides the male turtle backwards. However, the male turtle is closely chasing and climbing again and again, until the female turtle stops crawling. At this time, the male turtle has a hind leg and the front paw hooks the back of the female's back. The male bites the skin of the back of the female's nape. During the process of mating, the male head and neck are straight and shaken side to side. Sometimes the nostrils of the two turtles face each other. Nostrils, facing each other.
3. Spawning and hatching: Snapping turtles are spawning periods from May to November each year, and June is the peak season for spawning. Female snapping turtles that live in nature often crawl for several kilometers to find a suitable spawning site. They prefer to lay their eggs in places where there is sufficient water for irrigation. The caves dug by the female turtles are large in caverns with small caverns and a certain degree of curvature. The caves are 10 to 13 cm deep. The size of the cave varies depending on the size of the turtle, producing 11 to 83 eggs per litter, usually producing 20 to 30 eggs. A mature female lays 30 to 120 eggs each year. Eggs are round and white, with a slightly pinkish surface and a slightly rough appearance. Eggs are 23 to 33 mm in diameter and weigh 7 to 15 grams. The sex of the snapping turtle after hatching depends entirely on the soil temperature. Snapping turtles hatching at or above 30°C are all female; hatching at 25°C is all male. In nature, females produce eggs at different levels of the soil, with soil temperatures between 25 and 30°C, so both males and females have. The temperature of the soil changes with the weather, so hatchling snapping turtles in nature have both female and male. Incubation temperature is different, the eggs need to hatch 55 to 125 days hatch hatchlings. The hatched juvenile turtle weighs 9.5 to 12 grams, the carapace length is 24 to 31 millimeters, and the carapace is slightly rounded and black.
4. Construction of Snapping Turtle Pond The construction of snapping turtle breeding is based on the terrain, ecological environment, area and number of cultured species. There is no fixed model. The newly excavated turtle pond is best located from north to south, with plenty of light and varying shades to facilitate the selection of the most suitable water layer habitat for turtles of different sizes. Nearshore shallow water areas can be built, accounting for 20% of aquaculture water depth, depth of 5 to 20 cm; followed by Zhongshui District, accounting for 30% of the aquaculture area; the farthest is a deep water area, accounting for about 50% of the water surface, water depth 80 ~ 120 centimeters, 30 centimeters of sand should be laid at the bottom of the deep water area to facilitate the snapping of the snapping turtle into the sandy soil. In shallow water areas, some emergent plants such as Mushrooms, Water Lilies and other aquatic plants are planted. This will not only purify the water but also provide a shelter for turtles. The surrounding area of ​​aquaculture ponds should be made of masonry and brushed with cement powder. To prevent turtles from burrowing, keep 25% of the land or spawning ground on the north side of the pond, plant some shrubs, plant the bananas or plantains in the south, or cover simple sheds on the spawning grounds, or take vine loofahs. It will not only cover the shade but also block the rain. In the summer, it will cool down the turtles. Spread 20 centimeters of sand on empty land or spawning grounds for inhabited or spawned snapping turtles. The slope of the water near the water should be as gentle as possible, and the slope should be 25~30°C. The slopes should be covered with wood or foam to prevent scratching of the turtle's abdomen and cause ulceration. Turtle Pond is built around the "T" type escape prevention wall. An 80-cm high wall of escape protection was built around the rear of the culture pond. The top of the wall was in a “T†shape.
V. Feeding management
1. Spring Management: Early spring (February to March) is the key moment for the snapping turtles. At this time, the temperature is unstable, and it is high and low. At high temperatures, the turtle crawls, eats, and consumes energy, but the energy is not supplemented. Therefore, during February and March, the amount of food should be kept low in quality and it is advisable to feed 1% of the turtle's weight. According to the water temperature to determine whether to feed, when the water temperature reached 18 °C above the feeding, no feeding below 18 °C. Try to keep the water in the pool fresh and quiet, not to disturb the turtle. If you want to maintain the rapid growth of snapping turtles, it is still necessary to raise the temperature in the early spring. The water temperature should be increased to above 25°C. But after warming, it should be fed regularly, fixed-point and quantitatively every day. When the turtle pool changes water, the temperature difference between the new water should not exceed 5°C, and it is better to control it at 2~3°C.
When the water temperature in spring reaches above 20°C, it should be fixed, timed, and quantified. It is not necessary to be full of hunger. With the increase of water temperature, the amount of feeding will increase correspondingly. In terms of management, it is necessary to constantly change the water and diligently observe. When an abnormal situation occurs, appropriate measures should be taken in time. Spring is the season of disease transmission. Turtles are easily attacked by bacteria. Although Snapping Turtles have strong resistance to diseases, they may also be ill due to poor management. Therefore, prevention must be emphasized. The commonly used water body disinfectants in the snapping turtle pool are bromochlorohydantoin 0.5 mg/l, oxytetracycline 2 mg/l, bleaching powder 1 mg/l. Spring snapping turtles are most susceptible to enteritis. For instance, in addition to disinfection of the body of water, 0.1% to 0.2% oxytetracycline was continuously fed in the feed for 5 days. If the skin of the snapping turtle is found to be inflamed, rub it with potassium permanganate at the skin's inflammatory area, or wipe it with anti-inflammatory ointment after disinfection.
2. Summer management: Summer temperatures are high, turtle activity is large, and food intake is also large. Every day, afternoon and afternoon, the amount of feeding is 5% to 10% of the turtle's weight. Feeding should be scheduled, fixed, and quantified. Keep a small body of water and change the water 1 hour after feeding. When the water temperature reaches above 32°C, heatstroke should be avoided. Scientific management of water, regular disinfection, keep the pool water fresh, and ensure that the snapping turtles eat well.
3. Autumn management: Around October, the temperature is high before and after noon, and turtle activity is large. Feeding should be performed at 10:00 to 11:00 and 16:00 to 17:00 in the morning to increase the amount of feeding to ensure safe wintering of turtles. . From November to December, the temperature is not stable. When the temperature is high during the day, the turtle crawls and feeds. At night, when the temperature is lowered, the turtle is in a shallow hibernation state, which makes it vulnerable to illness. The most important thing in feeding and management during this period is to keep the water in the pool fresh and quiet, and make the snapping turtles in shallow hibernation as much as possible.
4. Winter Management: Healthy snapping turtles can safely survive winter. The frail turtles and hatchlings should be raised with warming, the water temperature should be controlled at about 28°C, and the feeding and management of warming cultures should be the same as the summer feeding management.
Food Ingredients
Food Ingredients,Calcium Pantothenate,Cas 134-03-2
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