Captive breeding of the four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata)
Published source details He B., Liu Y., Shi H., Zhang J., Hu M., Ma Y., Fu L., Hong M., Wang J., Fong J.J. & Parham J.F. (2010) Captive breeding of the four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata). Asian Herpetological Research, 1, 111-117.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
Use hormones and/or other drugs during captive-breeding programmes to induce reproduction/birth Action Link |  | |
Breed reptiles in captivity: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles Action Link | |
Use hormones and/or other drugs during captive-breeding programmes to induce reproduction/birth
A replicated, controlled, before-and-after study in 1998–2009 in Hainan Province, China (He et al. 2010) found that captive four-eyed turtles Sacalia quadriocellata began reproducing after six years after some individuals received hormone injections, but fertility and hatching success of eggs was low. Results were not statistically tested. In 2004–2008, five of 20 eggs (25%) from hormone-injected females were fertile, compared to 11 of 21 eggs (52%) from females injected with a saline solution (numbers taken from table). In 2008–2009, three of 43 eggs (7%) from females kept in outdoor pools and given no injections were fertile. In 1998, 28 female and 17 male turtles were acquired and kept in indoor pools (60 x 80 cm). In 2004–2007, eighteen females and 12 males were given luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (females: 8 µg/kg; males 4 µg/kg) and human chorionic gonadotropin (females: 1600 IU/kg; males 800 IU/kg). Hormones were injected into the hind leg muscles every 10 days up to 10 times/year. The remaining 10 females and five males were injected with a saline solution. In 2007–2008, five females and five males were moved to an outdoor pond (10 m2), and in 2008–2009, eighteen females and 12 males were kept in the outdoor pond.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
Breed reptiles in captivity: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles
A replicated, controlled, before-and-after study in 1998–2009 in Hainan Province, China (He et al. 2010) found that captive four-eyed turtles Sacalia quadriocellata began reproducing after six years after some individuals received hormone injections, but fertility and hatching success of eggs was low. Results were not statistically tested. In 2005–2009, nine of 84 eggs (11%) hatched successfully. In 2004–2008, five of 20 eggs (25%) from hormone injected females were fertile, and 11 of 21 eggs (52%) from females injected with a saline solution were fertile (numbers taken from table). In 2008–2009, three of 43 eggs (7%) from females kept in outdoor pools and given no injections were fertile. In 1998, twenty-eight female and 17 male turtles were acquired and kept in indoor pools (60 x 80 cm). In 2004–2007, eighteen females and 12 males were given luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (females: 8 µg/kg; males 4 µg/kg) and human chorionic gonadotropin (females: 1600 IU/kg; males 800 IU/kg). Hormones were injected into the hind leg muscles every 10 days up to 10 times/year. The remaining ten females and five males were injected with a saline solution. In 2007–2008, five females and five males were moved to an outdoor pond (10 m2), and in 2008–2009, eighteen females and 12 males were kept in the outdoor pond.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
