SRAC Publication No. 439

VI August 2000 PR

Pet Production

C. Greg Lutz*

Turtle farming has been practiced Over the years, much has been collected from the wild or, occa- for decades in . The learned about the transmission of sionally, purchased from other industry developed to produce salmonella from to off- farms. Adult are stocked at baby turtles, specifically red-ear spring within turtle farms, and 7,500 to 15,000 head per water- sliders ( scripta elegans), methods have been developed to acre (18,500 to 37,000 per water- for sale as pets. In the late 1960s, produce virtually (99.99 percent) hectare). Brood turtles typically annual production reached 15 mil- salmonella-free offspring on a reg- require 1 to 3 years to become lion baby turtles. By that time, ular basis. These treatment meth- acclimated to breeding ponds and however, the U.S. Centers for ods have become an integral part reproduce reliably. Disease Control had estimated of pet turtle production for export Brood turtles are typically fed that pet turtles could be responsi- markets, which currently account floating catfish feed, although ble for up to 14 percent of salmo- for 5 to 10 million animals annual- some producers use specially for- nella infections in children ly. It is now illegal in Louisiana to mulated rations. Commercial tur- throughout the country. As a sell untreated turtles, even for tle diets typically contain 22 per- result, interstate commerce in export. cent protein, with alfalfa meal or these pet turtles was banned in other plant products as a protein 1971 unless they could be certified Broodstock management source. Vitamins A, D and E are as salmonella-free. In 1975, the Production of baby red-ear sliders important nutrients; if formulated U.S. Food and Drug Administra- feeds do not contain enough of tion banned domestic sales and involves holding large numbers of adults at high densities in outdoor these vitamins turtles must be interstate transport of turtles with offered green, leafy vegetables. shells less than 4 inches wide, cit- ponds. Broodstock are generally ing continued concerns about sal- monella. At that time, little was known about how baby turtles became infected with salmonella, or how to prevent it. Curiously, other common pets known to harbor salmonella, such as chicks, rabbits and gerbils, were not targeted for regulatory action. Production of baby turtles in Louisiana dropped to roughly 2 million per year—for shipment only to markets in Europe and Asia.

*Louisiana State University Ag Center Turtle production pond, with sandy nesting area and perimeter fence. (Photo by P. C. Braden) Feeding rates may reach more Nesting and egg carefully removed and placed in than 18 tons per acre (40 mt per collection plastic-coated wire baskets. Care hectare) per year. This equates to must be taken to maintain the ver- relatively small amounts of food Once broodstock are sufficiently tical orientation of each egg as it per turtle. Daily feeding comfortable with their surround- was found in the nest, in order to allowances vary, depending on ings, they reproduce. Nesting sea- keep the germinal disk at the seasonal temperatures. son usually begins in late March upper-most point. Eggs that have The high nutrient levels found in and lasts for several months. The hardened, perhaps because the many turtle brood ponds can average female red-ear slider will nest was overlooked for a day or occasionally contribute to health produce three batches of eggs per two, must be destroyed because and sanitation problems, includ- season, with roughly eight eggs in they can no longer be treated with ing high levels of salmonella in each clutch. Growers can control antibiotics. These eggs will have a pond water. Disease problems are nesting activities to some degree chalky white appearance. After not uncommon, and many result by controlling access to sandy lay- nests are excavated, the soil from poor sanitation caused by ing areas. Tents, made out of roof- should be replaced and packed high stocking rates. Particular ing tin, are often erected for nest- down to a smooth surface. health problems occur during ing-site shelters. Shelters encour- winter, when temperatures fall age nesting. Less nesting occurs Egg treatment during stormy weather, and enough to reduce feeding activity Eggs are initially washed for 5 to but not far enough to trigger full females will not build nests in water-saturated soils. 10 minutes at 95 to 100 oF (35 to hibernation. Much of the annual 38 oC) with a dilute chlorine solu- mortality suffered by turtle A female red-ear takes pond water tion made by adding 3 to 4 tea- broodstock is caused by respirato- (which typically contains a high spoons of fresh commercial chlo- ry problems associated with level of salmonella) into storage rine bleach to 1 gallon of clean severe diurnal temperature fluc- bladders in her cloaca before leav- water (4 to 5 ml of bleach per liter tuations during late fall and early ing the pond to nest. Once a of water). Eggs are usually spring. In Louisiana farms, red- female has selected a nest site, she washed in machines developed ear sliders often succumb to releases a portion of this water to for the poultry industry. Then pneumonial infections after expo- make it easier to dig a nesting they are thoroughly rinsed and sure to sudden or severe tempera- chamber. From six to twelve eggs dried. The next step is to infuse ture changes associated with win- may be laid in the nest, which is the developing eggs with antibi- ter cold fronts. then sealed with soil and the otics to prevent any salmonella Breeding ponds are generally sur- remaining water from the cloacal infections from progressing. An rounded with flat areas of sandy bladders. Both internal and exter- antibiotic such as Garasol® (gen- soil for nesting grounds. River nal exposure to salmonella-laden tamicin) is used as a dip solution sand is usually hauled in for the pond water during the laying (1000 ppm gentamicin) in a vacu- nesting area. The soft texture of process can cause eggs and hatch- um chamber. Suitable chambers the sand and its tendency to pack lings to be contaminated. are available from a variety of together makes it easier for laying Growers collect newly laid eggs commercial suppliers. Egg baskets females to dig nests. Sandy soils from nests each morning during are immersed in the solution and also provide better drainage if laying season. Soil is cleared away the chamber sealed. A 25- to 27- excessive rainfall occurs. Pond from nesting chambers (which are inch (63- to 69-cm) vacuum is held banks are typically hard clay, but usually easy to find), and eggs are for 5 minutes, then released slow- may be covered with plastic liner material to prevent erosion caused by turtles climbing in and out of the water. Pond banks are occasionally overlaid with con- crete, but this material can dam- age turtles’ ventral shell surfaces. Access to laying areas is con- trolled by removable fencing at the top of the pond bank. Pond and laying area perimeters are usually enclosed with sheet metal fencing to prevent straying and discourage predators. Turtles are easily frightened, so fences should be tall and rigid enough to prevent broodstock from seeing outside the pond enclosure. Fences should be inspected regu- larly and kept in good condition to prevent loss of breeding turtles. Turtles leave pond to nest. (Photo by P. C. Braden) ly (over a 1-minute period). Eggs other than red-ear sliders are pre- then soak an additional 10 min- sent (such as map turtles, utes before being removed from Graptemys sp.), hatchlings are sort- the chamber and allowed to drip ed into lots by species. Every lot dry. In this way, the antibiotic can requires its own health certificate. enter the eggs to prevent systemic Certification requires that twelve infection of hatchlings as they random samples of five turtles develop. Although antibiotic solu- each be drawn from every lot and tions can occasionally be reused, tested for salmonella. If any sam- containers must be thoroughly ple is contaminated, the remain- disinfected and solutions must der of the lot (up to 19,940 baby be carefully filtered through 1- turtles) must be destroyed. micron rated cartridges. Hatchlings are typically available from July through the following Incubation and care of March, although the bulk are usu- hatchlings ally sold and shipped by Septem- ber each year. Ventilated plastic or Treated eggs are incubated for cardboard boxes are used for ship- approximately 60 days, at 80 to o o ping baby turtles. During ship- 85 F (27 to 29.5 C) and 60 to 70 ping, extremes of heat, cold, dry- percent humidity. Air in incuba- ness or humidity should be avoid- tion chambers must be circulated ed. to keep humidity uniform. Typical hatching rates are 80 to 90 percent, There have been few marketing Box for shipping pet turtles. (Photo by and farmers generally help hatch- channels for red-ear slider hatch- P. C. Braden) lings remove shells. Hatchlings lings, with only a handful of several years, but demand should are held in baskets, suspended major exporters handling most of continue to grow to some degree above standing water to provide the industry’s production. This in Pacific Rim countries. Barring humidity, in plastic containers. situation is changing, however, as unforeseen complications, howev- Holding containers are kept in independent producers gain er, protocols currently being eval- darkness, usually at about 70 oF expertise in locating and commu- uated under FDA supervision (21 oC). Containers should be nicating with customers through- should provide a level of proof cleaned every 2 weeks, or as need- out the globe and in arranging necessary to put any lingering ed. Hatchlings are not fed before shipments. While supply and concerns over salmonella to rest. shipment, so their hardiness gen- demand forces influence prices This could re-open a huge market erally declines the longer they are from season to season, the eco- for pet turtles throughout the held. nomic success of individual oper- ations is generally more influ- United States. Marketing enced by capitalization, labor requirements, and laying, hatch- Future trends Quality controls are ensured ing and disinfection rates. Alternatives to the antibiotics cur- through both regulation and Current export markets for baby rently used are being evaluated industry practices. Hatchlings are pet turtles show little sign of dra- for vacuum-treating eggs. One assigned to specific “lots”of up to matic expansion over the next promising compound, Vantocil®, 20,000 turtles each. When species may make it possible for the FDA to once again approve the sale of pet turtles in the United States. The techniques developed for pro- ducing baby red-ear sliders have been adapted in recent years to other turtle species as well. Baby snapping (Macrolemys sp., Chelydra sp.) and softshell (Apalone sp.) turtles are familiar examples, but many other species are also becoming available com- mercially. With the help of the Internet, marketing efforts are beginning to pay off for some tur- tle producers and exporters. Overall, turtle production is becoming more standardized and professional.

Hatchlings. (Photo by P. C. Braden) The work reported in this publication was supported in part by the Southern Regional Center through Grant No. 94-38500-0045 from the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative States Research, Education, and Extension Service.