Artificially hatching soft-shelled turtles in wooden boxes offers flexibility in both small and large-scale operations, making it easy to manage, cost-effective, and highly efficient. The hatching rate can exceed 90%, which makes this method very popular among breeders. In this article, we’ll walk you through the complete process of artificial hatching.
1. **Selecting the Right Sand**
Soft-shelled turtle eggs require a suitable environment with proper temperature, humidity, and air circulation. The ideal sand particle size is between 0.5 and 0.6 mm. If the sand is too coarse (over 1 mm), it may not retain enough moisture, leading to dehydration of the eggs. On the other hand, if the sand is too fine (less than 0.1 mm), it can become compacted, reducing oxygen flow and potentially suffocating the embryos. Therefore, choosing the right sand is crucial for successful hatching.
2. **Disinfecting the Sand**
Once the sand is selected, it should be thoroughly washed with fresh water to remove any dirt or impurities. After washing, the sand should be soaked in a 20 mg/kg bleach solution for two days to eliminate bacteria and pathogens. Then, rinse the sand with cold boiled water to remove any residual chemicals. Allow it to dry completely before use. The wooden boxes used for hatching should also be cleaned and disinfected to maintain a hygienic environment.
3. **Preparing the Sand Pack**
The sand should be moistened with cold water to reach an appropriate moisture level—between 5% and 15%. Soft-shelled turtle eggs are more sensitive to high humidity than low, so it's important not to over-moisten. A simple test is to squeeze a handful of sand; if it holds its shape but doesn't drip, the moisture level is just right. The sand should then be packed into containers or boxes, with a depth of about 20 to 35 cm after the eggs are placed inside.
4. **Choosing Fertilized Eggs**
Before placing the eggs into the incubation box, they must be inspected for fertilization. A fertilized egg will have a white spot at one end, known as the animal pole. If no such spot is visible, the egg may not be fertilized. These unfertilized eggs should be returned to the sand bed and checked again after 24 hours. If a white circle appears, the egg is viable and ready for incubation.
5. **Placing the Eggs**
Fertilized eggs should be carefully placed on the surface of the prepared sand, ensuring that the animal pole faces upward. This helps the hatchlings emerge more easily. To maximize space, multiple layers can be used, but most breeders prefer a single layer for easier monitoring. Cover the eggs with a 2–3 cm layer of moist sand to maintain optimal conditions.
Important tips:
- Always place the eggs with the animal pole up.
- Mark eggs from different batches for better tracking.
- Avoid placing eggs too close to the edges of the box, as they tend to dry out faster.
6. **Maintaining Temperature**
The ideal temperature during incubation is around 30°C. Temperatures below 25°C slow down development, while temperatures above 38°C can kill the embryos within hours. During hot weather, ensure good ventilation to prevent overheating. In colder months, keep windows and doors closed to maintain warmth.
7. **Controlling Humidity**
Throughout the incubation period, the sand should remain consistently moist but not wet. On sunny days, check the sand regularly. If it becomes dry or even white, lightly spray it with cold water. Be careful not to disturb the eggs when mixing the sand.
8. **Monitoring and Hatching**
After about 5–8 days, pink spots (the plant poles) will appear. By day 20–25, the embryos turn red-black, and by day 26–30, black embryos are visible. On day 33, the entire egg turns white, and the embryo becomes indistinguishable. At this point, the hatchlings are nearly ready to emerge.
To collect the hatchlings, a flat-bottomed container filled with 2 cm of fine sand and water 5 cm above the sand is placed in the incubation box. Once the young turtles hatch, their natural aversion to water leads them to crawl into the container. If they don’t find water, they may die. This method ensures a high survival rate for the newly hatched turtles.
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