The Huahua turtle is an entry-level terrapin species, although the number of wild individuals is rare, after artificial breeding, there are many artificially bred individuals on the market. The Chinese flower turtle is a species of water turtle that is relatively easy to raise, and it is relatively easy to buy in the mainland.

Chinese name: Chinese flower turtle

Alternative names: flower turtle, pearl turtle, long-tailed turtle, Taiwan tortoise

English name: Chinese Strip-necked Turtle

binomial: Ocadia sinensis

Kingdom: Animalia

phylum: Chordate

Subphylum: Vertebrate subphylum

Class: Reptiles

Subclass: Apophyllae

Order: Turtles

Family: Turtles

Genus: Chrysospora

Species: Chrysanthemum chinensis

Distribution area: Laos, Vietnam, southern China, Taiwan.

Appearance characteristics: The ventral surface of the larval marginal shield has black spots, resembling pearls.

Life habits: Often living in low-altitude waters, such as ponds, canals, slow-flowing waters Breeding habits in the river

The Chinese flower turtle breeds from March to May every year, laying 7-17 eggs per clutch, and the incubation period is about 60 days.

Diet: Omnivorous, will eat fish, shrimp, aquatic plants, etc. It does not belong to the same tortoise species as the Chinese tortoise (detailed introduction) and the red-eared Brazilian tortoise.

The appearance of the Chinese flower turtle looks very similar to that of the Chinese tortoise, so the Chinese flower turtle is also known as the Chinese tortoise. Known as the Taiwan tortoise. The carapace of the Chinese flower turtle also has three edges, the shape of the carapace tends to be oval, and the head has many patterns, just like a loofah.

I. Appearance characteristics of the Chinese flower turtle

The carapace of the Chinese flower turtle is 20 cm long and 16 cm wide. Bright green and black stripes appear on the skin of the head, neck and limbs of the Chinese flower turtle. The head of the turtle is small, the top and rear are smooth and scaleless, the upper beak has fine teeth, and the center has a depression. The carapace of juveniles is light gray-green with three distinct ridges. The adult carapace will turn brownish, and two of the ridges on the carapace will gradually disappear. The plastron is brownish yellow, each scutellum has a large ink-stained plaque, and the rear edge of the plastron is notched. The bridge of the carapace is obvious, and the carapace and plastron are connected by bone sutures. The Chinese flower carapace is brown and slightly arched, and the trailing edge is not serrated.

II. Identification of male and female turtles

The   female turtle is larger, and the cloaca hole is located in the rear edge of the carapace; the male turtle is smaller, the carapace is darker, and the tail is thicker And long, the cloaca hole is located outside the rear edge of the carapace. The male carapace is longer and the rear is narrower, and the anal opening is farther from the posterior edge of the plastron. The strip-necked turtle in Taiwan is quite different from other origins, but it is not recognized as a new subspecies.

The Chinese Flower Turtle is highly aquatic, living in low-lying, slow-flowing ponds, swamps and in the stream. After being frightened, it dives into the bottom of the water, but it is also resistant to drought and can survive in dry places. Temperament is docile, occasionally aggressive, not biting, general adaptability, strong vitality.

Striped-necked turtles have the habit of living in groups, usually two burrows together, and often there are seven or eight per burrow. The Chinese flower-necked turtle is an ectothermic animal, and its activities are affected by temperature. The hibernation period is from November to March of the following year, and it starts to go out in April. Diet: Omnivorous, can eat fish, shrimp, aquatic plants, etc.

When the water temperature is about 10℃, it enters the hibernation period; when the water temperature is about 15℃, it crawls slightly; when the water temperature is about 20℃, it can move and eat; when the water temperature is above 22℃, the activity and food intake increase. Mixed food habits, can be fed pork, feed, fish, shrimp, etc. under daily feeding conditions, especially millet shrimp, feed 3 times a week, each time the amount of food is 5% of the turtle's body weight, and can also be appropriately increased, but cannot be suddenly increased , should be gradual, so that it gradually adapt to avoid indigestion.

Chinese flower turtle has no special requirements for food selection. Unlike other turtles, Chinese flower turtle has no special requirements for food selection. The turtle prefers to eat some meat food. Although it can eat some turtle food, it cannot satisfy all its nutrition, so it needs to be fed some fish, etc.

The Chinese flower turtle can be fed with pork, fish, shrimp, etc. under the daily feeding conditions, especially the millet shrimp. , but not abruptly increased, should be gradual, so that it gradually adapt, so as not to cause indigestion. Whether the feed of the Chinese flower turtle is animal or plant, it must be fresh and prevent spoilage. When the temperature is not high, it can be fed in the morning, and the feeding should not be too much to prevent the residual bait from polluting the water quality.

In summer, when the water temperature is around 34°C, the turtle's food intake is large. At this time, the feeding amount should be increased to accelerate the growth of the turtle. If no breeding is required, it can be fed 2-3 times a week. . The water should be changed frequently every day (it can be done before feeding), but well water should not be used, so as to avoid the water temperature difference being too large and causing adverse consequences. Autumn is the key to raising turtles. As the saying goes, the amount of nutrients stored in the turtle's body will directly affect the success or failure of the turtle's hibernation. Therefore, in the autumn, the amount of feeding should be increased first, and then vitamin C and multivitamins should be added to the bait to improve the resistance of the turtle.

We should also pay attention to the changes in ambient temperature every day. The temperature at night is around 18°C, so as not to backfire and cause disease. Good feeding in autumn is conducive to hibernation of turtles. In winter, turtles can be placed on wet sandy soil or in a tank with a depth of 10 cm to let them hibernate. The water temperature should not be lower than 8 ℃. Otherwise, the hibernation safety of turtles will be threatened.