3114. Breeding red-eared sliders in Singapore for export

August 3, 2017

1. License needed
2. TYPES OF RES

Albino
Caramel
Melanotic
Snow
Green



2. PRICES OF RES HATCHLINGS IN AUG 2017

Albino - $450
Caramel - $5500.  Adults at $25,000/kg
Melanotic - a "joker" as hatchlings can be other colours and no melanotic
Snow - $7500. Second most expensive.
Green - $1.40 wholesale. Pet shop sells $5.00
Market in China depressed pricing now as Albino now sells low at $450. 

3. BREEDING
Albinos   CCTV
Breeds at around 3 years of age.
lst year breeding, mostly infertile eggs.
Can palpate for eggs in sides in front of hind legs.
NOTE: Strictly use one bloodline to produce albinos. E.g. Bloodline A cross with Bloodline B
will not get albinos but green ones.
Clumpy sand or soil is needed. If not, will stop laying and lay in water.
Eggs get trampled when eggs laid in water (many other RES housed together)
Unknown if eggs laid in water will be able to hatch.
Around 1 week, torchlight to check on embryos but some embryos appear past 1 week.


Singapore can breed 4 batches/yr
US - 2 batches as there is hibernation.

4. INCUBATION
Temperature determines gender
Around 2 months to hatch
Female - 30-31deg C 50-55 days to hatch.
Male - 27-28deg C.   60-70 days to hatch
Hatchling with egg sac yolk absorbed, sell. It is about 1.2 cm shell length
Home-made incubators - fish tank with plastic and bit of water in enclosed room.
   Male - fridge with thermostat control.  


5. FEEDING
Marsuri and Roman lettuce
Marsuri pellets (mainly fish meat)
Hikari (vegetables).
Adult albinos RES will spit on Hikari as they grow older, preferring Marsuri.

6. WATER CHANGES
Daily changes
Albinos in tanks passes stools during water changes. Outflow slower than inflow to clear stools.
Abinos also in ponds. Need clumpy soil and sand or will not lay eggs but lay eggs into water.
No need de-chlorinated water.


7. VIRUS
Rana virus outbreak. RES  - 4 legs extended as in basking but paralysed. Need hand feeding and water. Many die. High mortality. Workers' hands not washed going into various tanks.  
Quarantine hence ineffective. Now assigned workers to specific tanks.