In the process of turtle farming, sourcing feed is a major challenge for many farmers. How can we ensure that turtles eat well, reduce breeding costs, and maximize economic returns? The experience from the Amphibian and Reptile Institute in Haining City, Zhejiang Province, offers some practical solutions.
1. **Feeding Strategies**
Farmers can utilize wetlands to raise oysters or grow aquatic plants that can be used as natural feed. Additionally, rice fields and drainage ditches can be managed to remove weeds and collect wild vegetation. In spring, scutellaria (a type of herb) and muddy saplings can be gathered and mixed with small amounts of glutinous rice, bran, and fishmeal to create a nutritious diet. These materials can be collected and fed during the turtles’ active feeding periods.
2. **Insect Attraction**
To supplement the diet, black light traps can be used to attract insects. During summer and autumn, 20 cm of black light is hung above the turtle ponds, allowing flying insects to serve as a protein-rich food source at night. Similarly, when rice seedlings are growing, farmers can use "lighting moth" techniques by setting up kerosene lamps in pots filled with water. Moths are attracted to the light, fall into the water, and can be collected daily for feeding.
3. **Fishing for Natural Feed**
Tools like seine nets can be used to catch small fish, shrimp, snails, and other aquatic creatures from ditches, ponds, reservoirs, and rice fields. Snails should be chopped before feeding to make them easier for turtles to digest.
4. **Using Animal By-Products**
Leftover organs and blood from pigs, sheep, and chickens can also be repurposed as feed. After washing and chopping, these materials provide a rich source of protein and nutrients.
5. **Feed Preparation**
A homemade feed mix can be made using 30% flour, 30% wheat bran, 20% corn flour, 15% rice, and 5% fishmeal. This combination ensures a balanced diet and can be formed into granules for easy feeding.
**Important Notes:**
First, feed quantity should be carefully controlled. The daily amount should be between 14% to 20% of the total turtle weight, divided into three meals. It’s important to avoid overfeeding, as leftover food can rot and pollute the water, requiring frequent water changes. Second, every 15 days, a small amount of sulfa drugs should be added to the feed to prevent diseases such as swollen neck and internal bleeding.
By implementing these strategies, turtle farmers can not only improve their production efficiency but also significantly reduce feed costs while maintaining the health and growth of their turtles.
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