Turtle (scientific name: Geoemyda spengleri) is a semi-aquatic turtle species in the family Geomydidae. The color of the turtle's body varies greatly, ranging from light orange to dark brown. It has a relatively small size, with the length of the adult carapace measuring only about 120 millimeters and a width of about 78 millimeters. Its head is light brown with a small size. The back is smooth, and the upper beak is hooked. The eyes are large and protruding. There is a light yellow longitudinal line from the side of the snout to the side of the neck. The carapace is golden or orange in color, with two or three ridges in the center and tooth-like projections on the front and back edges, totaling twelve. Therefore, it is called the "twelve-ridged turtle." The plastron is dark brown with light yellow markings on both sides, and the bridge is obvious. The dorsal and ventral shells are connected by bone sutures. The hind limbs are light brown with red or black markings scattered on them. There are webbed toes between the fingers and toes, and the tail is thin and short. It is easy to distinguish between males and females. The most obvious difference is that female turtles have a white or yellow stripe on both sides of the neck behind the eyes, while males do not have or have very inconspicuous stripes. In addition, the differences between males and females can be compared based on their body size and the size of their tails. The plastron of female turtles is flat, the tail is short, and the cloacal opening is closer to the posterior edge of the plastron, while the plastron of male turtles is centrally concave, the tail is long and thick, and the cloacal opening is farther from the posterior edge of the plastron.
Scientific name in Chinese: 枫叶龟
Chinese aliases: 地龟, 黑胸叶龟, 长尾山龟, 泥龟, 十二棱龟
English name: Black-breasted Leaf Turtle
Binomial nomenclature: spengleri
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Geoemydidae
Subfamily: Geoemydinae
Genus: Geoemyda
Species: spengleri
Distribution: Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Hainan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other places in China
Price: Relatively cheap, but it is difficult to raise, usually around 100 yuan for smaller ones.
1. Sexually Transmitted Infections
At the onset of the disease, the excretory orifice shows a reddish color, which is generally difficult to see at the early stage. When touching the hind legs and tail with your hand, there is a delayed response. Severe cases may lead to crawling difficulties, relaxed excretory orifice, and foul odor.
2. Liver Disease
During the disease, the spirits are poor and movements are sluggish. In severe cases, the head hangs down and eyes become sleepy. The liver is severely damaged, making it a major killer that requires immediate treatment.
3. Respiratory Infections
In the early stage, there is coughing and the turtle's mouth secretes chunky white mucus. The feces become foul-smelling. When the temperature is high, it may progress into pneumonia.
4. Limping
There are two types, one without swelling and the other with abscesses, which can lead to necrosis, paralysis, and death.
5. Respiratory Infection Pneumonia
When the turtle opens its mouth, there are small bubbles, obstructed breathing, poor spirits, decreased appetite, and delayed reactions. In the later stage, there is neck twitching while opening the mouth and mucous in the nostrils.
6. Bilateral Disease with Closed Eyes
Usually occurs in conjunction with other diseases such as pneumonia, sexually transmitted infections, and liver disease. The eye sockets become dry and closed eyes occur in the early stage, resulting in a high mortality rate.
7. Edema
Generalized edema with swelling in the upper limbs, making crawling difficult in severe cases.
8. Difficult Labor
At the onset of the disease, the excretory orifice often contracts. In severe cases, it may bleed and cause reproductive organ infections. In the later stage, the reproductive organs become exposed. Prevention is better than treatment.
9. Gastroenteritis
Dull spirit, refusal to eat and move in severe cases, foul-smelling feces, and prolonged secretion of mucus from the excretory orifice.
10. Conjunctivitis
In the early stage, the middle of the eyeball appears grayish-white. The front limbs are often used to wipe the eyes. In severe cases, the center of the eyeball sinks and the eye sockets become dry. If not treated in time, it can lead to insomnia.
11. Floating Disease
Caused by prolonged malnutrition and bacterial infection in the excretory orifice. In severe cases, the hind legs become weak and the turtle cannot swim in the water. It becomes weak and floats on the water surface, ultimately leading to drowning and bloating.
12. Malformation
Caused by breeding techniques, mainly seen in juvenile turtles. The turtle's body becomes obese, with deformed feet and soft hind legs during crawling. The carapace and plastron are both soft, with a slanted growth line in the middle of the plastron. The shell grows irregularly and can develop into severe deformities.
13. Shell Rot
This disease is more commonly seen in adult turtles. Initially, it is localized, and a small amount of pus can be squeezed out by pressing the affected area with your hand. This disease is latent, and if not treated in time, it can spread locally.
14. Neck Rot
Mostly caused by injuries during mating, more common in female turtles. Injuries occur on both sides of the neck and subsequently become ulcerated. It needs prompt management when severe.
15. Granuloma
Occurs when the turtle already has an injury, but the dead tissue is not completely eliminated. Tender flesh grows around the affected area, covering the dead tissue and forming a granuloma, which can affect the turtle's health.
16. Fungal Infections on the Skin
This disease is latent. Initially, grayish-white mold spots appear on the eyelids, nostrils, skin, and toes. In severe cases, red swelling appears on the chin.
17. Trauma
Injuries can be found on the turtle's legs, tail, skin, and neck, accompanied by redness and swelling. In severe cases, abscesses form. Bacterial infections occur due to skin injuries resulting from self-fighting, which can lead to serious consequences if not discovered or considered insignificant and not treated in a timely manner.
After the Maple Leaf Turtle successfully starts to eat, the feeding process will become easier because it means that the turtle has become familiar with the environment and has entered a stable state. At this time, as long as you provide it with a reasonable diet, you can basically get through the dangerous period of raising it, and it will become more and more fond of being close to people.
1. The choice of food
The Maple Leaf Turtle likes to eat various live small insects, such as earthworms, crickets, and mealworms. Almost all small insects or animals that move can be fed to it. However, tadpoles, brine shrimp, and turtle feed can be omitted. The website owner usually supplies crickets as the main food, occasionally feeds silkworms, barley worms or grasshoppers without hind legs, and small fish, cat food, newborn mice with unopened eyes, etc. In addition, it occasionally supplies papaya, banana, orange, grapefruit, mango, or other sweet and fragrant fruits. As for vegetables, they can be omitted.
2. Feeding precautions
Supply calcium powder and vitamin supplements once every two weeks, sprinkle them on the food. Feed it mostly at dusk or in the evening, because during this time it is more active and has a better appetite. As for the amount of food, usually each Maple Leaf Turtle can eat about 2-4 crickets and two barley worms at a time, and it should be fed five times a week. The young turtles also like to drag their food into the water to eat, and they drink water or soak in the water pool in the morning and noon, so the owner should change the water every day.
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