Raising turtles in muddy water has always been quite popular in the turtle breeding circle, especially among novices and domestic turtle hatchlings. There are also turtle friends who have been on the road of pursuing muddy water to raise turtles. But it seems that except for our native turtle species, other turtle species are rarely raised in muddy water. Is it because muddy water is only suitable for our national turtles, or is it better for our national turtles to be raised in muddy water? Raising turtles in muddy water, what are we pursuing?

First of all, about imitation. Regarding the ecological environment, raising turtles in muddy water is promoted as an ecological imitation practice, claiming that it can achieve system balance through biological cycles. However, the muddy water turtle breeding environment seen in reality is often just turbid muddy water in plastic boxes, which is far from the true ecological beauty. The real wild-like environment should be in an outdoor pond, with enough water surface, silt, light and ventilation, so that the ecological cycle can be better exerted. In contrast, the muddy water environment in the small plastic box is difficult to control, the water quality is turbid, and the turtle body is always covered with mud. This is not a successful bionic. Ideals and reality always become opposites.

Secondly, raising turtles in muddy water is believed to reduce the probability of skin rot. However, the root cause is not the oxytetracycline or probiotics in the muddy water, but the relative stability of the muddy water environment, which reduces the problem of temperature differences and insufficient accumulated temperature. Temperature differences will cause the turtle's resistance to decrease, making it prone to skin rot. The muddy water environment, due to its large specific heat capacity and small contact area with air, heats up slowly during the day and cools down slowly at night, making the water temperature relatively stable. In addition, the heat storage function of the mud bottom can also stabilize the water temperature to a certain extent. Therefore, the stability of water quality and water temperature is the fundamental reason why turtles raised in muddy water have less rotten skin.

Furthermore, soil choice. There are different opinions on the Internet about the choice of soil for raising turtles in muddy water. But in the final analysis, whether it is tree root soil, yellow mud, pond mud or field mud, they are all different forms of soil. The key is that the soil should be free of chemical contamination, have few impurities, and be easily available. As for the bacterial flora in the soil, its types and functions are still difficult to determine. Therefore, when choosing soil, you should pay more attention to its safety and accessibility.

As for biological purification, stocking aquatic plants and small fish and shrimps in the turtle's breeding environment can indeed absorb some pollutants in the water and purify the water quality. However, the growth and metabolism of plants, fish and shrimp will also produce new sources of pollution. In a limited artificial environment, complex ecological circulation systems are difficult to control and may not be as efficient and reliable as simple water changes. This is indeed very realistic. We raise our own animals and our space is very limited.

Some people say that it can produce scale! Turtles raised in muddy water are prone to rust, but rust does not mean they are imitating the wild environment. Some turtle friends revealed that wild turtles in areas with good water quality are basically free of scale, and scale is actually the result of minerals in the water adhering to the turtle shell. Under artificial breeding conditions, especially when the frequency of water changes is low, the probability of scale is higher. Therefore, the occurrence of scale is more related to feeding methods and water quality management, rather than necessarily being a sign of imitation of the wild.

The above discussion does not entirely deny the method of raising turtles in muddy water. What is more recommended is that on the basis of learning from muddy water turtle breeding, we should have independent thinking and constantly seek innovation and improvement. Regarding the benefits of raising turtles in muddy water, we need to delve into the principles behind them; as for its disadvantages, we should actively look for balance and optimization strategies.

In fact, many people use it! Enthusiasts who choose to raise turtles in clear water have successfully raised more turtles per unit area, which not only improves the viewing quality, but also effectively avoids the problem of rotten skin. This approach actually works. When we have a deep understanding of the principles of raising turtles in muddy water, we can completely innovate more advanced and ornamental turtle raising methods on this basis.

It is important to imitate nature, but what is more important is to extract essential principles from imitation to promote technological progress. Although raising turtles in muddy water has its unique features, it is not perfect for us hobbyists. When choosing a method of raising turtles, you should weigh them based on actual conditions and personal preferences.