Three-keel Chinese tortoise (Latin: Mauremys reevesi) is a reptile species that is widespread in domestic content and characterized by high adaptability to the conditions created for it.
Habitat
In the natural environment lives in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and the Philippine Islands. The animal can be found in rice plantations, in shallow ponds, ditches and saltwater swamps.
In China it is known under the name "green-haired" because of the dense fouling of the shell with long green algae. For the most part, this property belongs to the old representatives of the turtle family, which are highly revered by people for this feature, are considered sacred and are symbols of longevity.
The three-keel Chinese tortoise is characterized by dexterity and activity. Often she can be seen at performances by Chinese circus performers, where she pulls out lucky tickets for the audience. And this is not surprising: the animal is very friendly both towards people and to its fellow tribesmen.
Chinese three-keel turtle: description
The aquatic animal is characterized by small size: the average length of the carapace (dorsal carapace) averages 18 cm. The head and neck, starting from the eyes, are decorated with an original pattern of yellow marks and stripes resembling hieroglyphs. In males, over time, such skin manifestations acquire a dark color.
The shell is oval, with three longitudinal crests, in males it is painted in dark brown or black. The abdominal shield is black. The seams on the shell between the shields of males and females are light yellow. The females have a slightly different color range of the shell: from light gray to dark brown; there is a light-colored border on the edges of the abdominal scutes. The skin is gray, the head is large, but not massive. The limbs are solid, the hind legs are equipped with small membranes.
What does the Chinese turtle eat?
Chinese three-keel turtles are omnivorous and indiscriminate in food. Almost completely carnivorous, although as an exception they can come down to bananas.
In the conditions of home keeping, food of plant and animal origin is readily eaten, of which it is better to give preference to large bloodworms, low-fat fish, shrimps, mollusks, as well as crickets without hind legs. The vegetarian diet of the inhabitants of the aquatic world should include pieces of vegetables and fruits (zucchini, pumpkin, cucumbers, carrots, pears, apples), as well as lettuce, nettle, and dandelion. The animal loves aquatic plants: pistia, duckweed. Turtle feed is not contraindicated for turtles, which is recommended to be combined with calcium supplements (for example, with egg shells). Feeding the animal should be carried out 2-3 times a week, not more often.
Propagation Features
The three-keel Chinese tortoise reaches puberty at 5-8 years of age. The mating period falls on May - June. The courtship of the male is expressed in the form of light nibbles of the female, which during intercourse he holds the jaw. Pregnancy lasts from 45 to 60 days. Under natural conditions, females breed on the shore, laying from 4 to 8 eggs in the sand. During the calendar year, three-keel Chinese turtles manage to give life to a new generation three times.
