Hello everyone, I am Cangpai. Today we are introduced to a turtle that looks even more peculiar and has a similar body shape to maple leaf turtle - mata turtle ! The most impressive thing about the Mata turtle is probably its peculiar appearance, enigmatic smile and unique way of hunting. The mata turtle is also called dead leaf turtle . The mata turtle has gone through thousands of years of evolution, giving it top-notch camouflage properties that can perfectly integrate with its living environment and hide in turbid waters and natural environments. So how to raise such a turtle?
1. Environment
As usual, we still have to analyze from the native environment. Regarding the origin of Mata turtles, a lot of information says that Mata turtles grow in the Matamata swamp. But I searched the swamp online and found no relevant information. To be precise, Mata does not come from the Matamata Swamp, but from the Amazon River and Orinoco River basins in South America. In its natural environment, the Mata turtle lives in wetlands or shallow waters of slow rivers. It prefers quiet, muddy, warm and shallow waters.
Mata is a kind of turtle that is very afraid of light. It preys in disguise and rarely moves. Therefore, the environment should be as dark as possible during the seedling stage to avoid direct exposure to light for a long time, which will cause loss of armor and affect the appearance. If has the conditions to add driftwood that can be avoided, black sand is the best, so that Marta can easily gain a sense of security. If there are no landscaping conditions, you can stick black paper on the bottom of the container, or add terminalia leaves to adjust the water to a weak acidity.
2. Water temperature and quality
Judging from the climate and environment of the Amazon River, Mata turtles are suitable for living in water of about 27 degrees Celsius, so a heating rod is a must. In addition, uses slightly acidic water (PH5.5~6.5), and it is recommended to feed it with (yellow) water. Of course, this is not absolute. Marta is basically raised from seedlings. It can be used with ordinary household water, but chlorine must be removed. Also, it is best to use to establish a complete nitrifying bacteria community . After has cultivated a tank of old water, let the Mata turtle enter the tank. This can ensure the stability of the water quality and avoid the Mata turtle's stress reaction and later stages. unnecessary trouble. (PS: I personally think that the water quality is the key to raising Mata turtles, and it is also very important. There is not much difference in controlling water quality and raising tropical fish.)
3. Selecting
The types of Mata turtles on the market are mainly distinguished by color. According to different watersheds, it is divided into red mata and black mata . Red Mata comes from the Orinoco River, and Black Mata comes from the Amazon River! Although they are both called mata turtles, they are very different in shape and personality. In terms of shape, the black mata turtle looks more rugged than the red mata turtle. The head is triangular in shape and light in color, while the red mata is rounder. Black Mata's back armor is slender. The red mata is still oval-shaped! Next is the most recognizable plastron in : the Black Mata plastron is black with bright red spots that extend to the lower jaw. The red mata is just red. This characteristic will not change much even after the turtle reaches adulthood and is easy to distinguish. There is no distinction between black mata and red mata. You can choose according to personal preference. Some people are looking for whether the keel line in the middle of the carapace of the Mata turtle is straight. The so-called good condition means that the color is bright and the keel of the carapace is straight. Regarding this, the author believes that there is no need to pursue perfection. In the picture below: Black Mata on the left, red Mata on the right
4. Feeding
Because of Mata’s unique physiological characteristics, this kind of turtle is destined not to live in deep water areas. Although they are aquatic turtles, they Just a slow crawl on the riverbed in shallow water. Like the giant snapping turtle, the Mata turtle is also an opportunist. Their eyesight is very poor, but they can sense the vibrations of fish in the water through their dry bark-like skin and the protrusions on both sides of their heads, including the tentacles on their heads, and then The food is sucked into the mouth instantly, so quickly that it makes your scalp numb.Therefore, live food is the key. You can choose small loach . If the small fish is alive, just throw it into the tank . In a few days, you will find that the Mata turtle is still lying alone in the tank, and the small fish has already Missing.
The frequency and amount of food intake of turtles should be controlled in captivity, because lazy guys like them don't have many opportunities to eat in the wild, and they often digest one meal for several days. Therefore, feeding Mata turtles does not need to be particularly frequent. Throw live food in. They will eat when they are hungry, and they will rest in hiding when they are not hungry.
5. Preparation
If you decide to raise such a turtle, what do you need to prepare? First, choose a container of suitable size (the size of the container can be determined by referring to the size of the snapping turtle, at least ensure that the turtle body grows about 5 times), (dried) tap water. Mata turtles can grow to 43 to 45 centimeters, and the largest individual found in the wild can reach 61 centimeters. Therefore, if possible, it is recommended to prepare a large tank for the Mata turtle in one step; place the seedlings in a small isolation box at the appropriate time, and gradually put them into the prepared large tank as they grow larger. In addition, if possible, you can lay a layer of iron gallstone on the bottom of the box. First, it is beautiful, and second, it can use strength when walking on the bottom. A filter is also needed to ensure the water flows and has a good mute effect. Marta likes a quiet environment, and the noisy sound of water flow is not good for Marta's health. As for the wattage of the water pump, it depends on the size of your breeding space, which is not discussed here. Discourse.
Since Mata turtles are from the tropics, they absolutely cannot hibernate. requires a heating rod to maintain the temperature between 26-28 degrees Celsius. Mata turtles do not come to shore many times in their lifetime. Therefore, a balcony is not necessary, but light is a must, but remember not to be exposed to the sun or direct sunlight. Another point is that when the water temperature is heated to much higher than room temperature, you must pay attention to the temperature of the water body and the temperature of the water surface, otherwise pneumonia and colds are inevitable. Personally, I think it is difficult to raise Mata turtles. In the turtle circle, Mata turtles are also known as the "King of Sudden Death." Therefore, it is recommended to have certain breeding experience and provide necessary equipment for raising Mata turtles.
Congratulations when you are ready for the above. You can buy a Mata turtle and raise it. But when it comes to viewing, it depends on the beholder. Some people like the ruggedness of Black Mata. But it's too lazy. Some people like the red mata to hunt wildly, but it is not as ferocious as the black mata! For most people, turtles like are too static and absolutely lazy! ~There is a high probability that they will not be very interactive. When you keep a matta turtle for a period of time, you may find that it eats quietly in its original position for a long time without moving. So before buying, be sure to think carefully, remember! As for the price, due to large-scale imports, the current price of mata turtles is relatively stable. Depending on the condition, it is about 700 yuan. Compared with 10 years ago, the current price is considered a reasonable price.
This content is created by me personally. It cannot be reproduced without permission. It is not easy to be original. Please be kind to me, please pay attention and like!
