Soft-shelled turtles can be used as a traditional Chinese medicine ingredient , as well as a delicious dish and a high-quality ingredient for fine banquets. In addition to wild ones, they are mostly farmed. Many people want to raise soft-shelled turtles at home. So how do you raise a soft-shelled turtle in a plastic bucket? Let's find out below.
1. Creating an environment
Choose a deep plastic bucket, lay a layer of seaweed and fine sand at the bottom, and place a few stones inside for them to rest and move around in. Then pour in clean water. Soft-shelled turtles have certain requirements for water quality, so you can choose clean lake water. The water level should just cover the turtle's back.
2. Sufficient sunlight
Soft-shelled turtles typically inhabit clean waters such as reservoirs, ponds, and lakes. During the day, they lie on the sunny shore to bask in the sun, using the sun's ultraviolet rays to kill bacteria on their body surface. Therefore, when raising soft-shelled turtles, it is necessary to provide them with sufficient light, which can raise their body temperature and promote food digestion.
3. Feeding
Soft-shelled turtles are omnivorous, eating both meat and vegetables . If raising young turtles, they can be fed earthworms, shrimp, and tadpoles, while adult turtles can be fed shellfish, small fish, and small shrimp. Appropriately feeding them some vegetables can promote digestion and ensure a balanced diet.
4. Change the water quality
Soft-shelled turtles have high requirements for water quality. After feeding them every day, it is necessary to clean up the food scraps and their daily excrement in a timely manner. If the water source is not clean, it can easily lead to diseases.
5. Precautions
Soft-shelled turtles are particularly timid and sensitive to sounds and movement in their environment. They will dive to the bottom of the water or retract into their shells at the slightest disturbance. Therefore, it is best to avoid disturbing them when feeding them. Also, because the water in plastic buckets does not circulate, bacteria can easily grow, so the water needs to be changed every 7 days.
