6 Turtle Species That Were Once Exorbitantly Priced and Can Now Be Bought for a Few Bucks. Did You Miss Out?

Today, let’s round up a few turtle species that were once very expensive but are now very cheap, and see if you’ve missed out on these great deals.

Red-necked Pond Turtle

As a subspecies of the Chinese pond turtle in regions like Liangguang (Guangdong and Guangxi), the Red-necked pond turtle was once the pinnacle of the turtle speculation circle. At its peak in 2015, a single breeding turtle commanded a price of 7 million yuan, and hatchlings sold for as high as 60,000 yuan each, making it a luxury item in the turtle world. But the speculation bubble was bound to burst. Nowadays, in livestreaming rooms, Red-necked pond turtle hatchlings can be had for just a few dozen yuan. The once unattainable, sky-high priced turtle can now be easily enjoyed by ordinary hobbyists.

Albino Red-eared Slider

With its all-white body and striking red eyes, the Albino red-eared slider’s price peaked in 2014, with a single hatchling selling for 12,000 yuan. However, red-eared sliders are extremely prolific breeders. After 10 years of market maturation, today’s Albino red-eared sliders can be easily bought for just a few dozen yuan. I believe this is a variety that many fellow turtle hobbyists have surely purchased.

Spotted Pond Turtle

When young, the Spotted pond turtle is covered in dense, small white spots, making it very beautiful. In 2014, a single hatchling would sell for 3,000 yuan. However, it grows to a large size as an adult, and the spots gradually disappear with age, causing its popularity to decline. Now, you can buy a hatchling for just 30 yuan. Friends who like Spotted pond turtles can take this opportunity to get one.

Shi Jin Qian Gui (Stone Golden Coin Turtle)

Because the Shi Jin Qian Gui strongly resembles the Golden coin turtle and is associated with both medicinal value and auspicious symbolism, it was heavily hyped by investors starting in 2012. At its peak in 2014, a single hatchling cost over a thousand yuan, and breeders flocked to it. But the market became saturated far faster than expected. Today, you can pick one up in a flower-and-bird market for just a few yuan. This former aristocrat among turtles has now been reduced to a street-stall-priced item.

Vietnamese Pond Turtle

Back in the day, its hatchling price was over ten thousand yuan; now it’s also a turtle that costs a few dozen yuan. Given its appearance and breeding volume, there’s no reason why its price wouldn’t plummet.

Yellow-headed Pond Turtle (Xiao Qing Gui)

The Xiao Qing Gui has a highly recognizable smiling face, a lively personality, and an innocent look that has attracted a large number of fans. At its highest, a single hatchling sold for seven to eight hundred yuan. Now, you can buy one for 20 yuan, and during the hatching season, you can even get one for a few bucks. When raising it, if you use a white environment and provide ample light, it will become increasingly yellow and more beautiful—the cost-performance ratio is maxed out.

Here, I (the author) would like to ask if there are any experts out there: why is there a black patch developing on my Xiao Qing’s carapace?