“The Big Three of Street Vendors” refers to three common species of turtles: the Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle, the Chinese Three-keeled Pond Turtle, and the Red-eared Slider. This term is somewhat humorous, as these species are the most common and inexpensive, making them easily accessible even in small, inland northern towns with little turtle-keeping culture. Known for their hibernation capabilities and availability through various sources, these turtles are often the first choice for many beginners.
The Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle
First up is the Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle, which is considered the most valuable among the three. It has fine head patterns and a small head with a long neck, which many find snake-like and off-putting. However, a closer look reveals that this turtle is quite endearing, being greedy, intelligent, and interactive, with excellent swimming skills among semi-aquatic turtles and a high proportion of plant-based diet, making it enjoyable to keep. The shell of the Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle is also exquisite, with many individuals bearing a resemblance to the Yellow-margined Box Turtle, hence the nickname “Little Yellow-margined”.
Of course, there are some limitations to keeping the Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle, such as its large adult size. They can easily grow over twenty centimeters in length, with some individuals having a shell length of thirty centimeters. Additionally, outside of their natural distribution in the southern coastal regions, many individuals are prone to shell and skin rot.
The Chinese Three-keeled Pond Turtle
The Chinese Three-keeled Pond Turtle needs little introduction, as it is almost synonymous with native Chinese turtles. Once widely distributed and numerous in the wild in China, they are bold and affectionate, making them beloved by many turtle enthusiasts. This species exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism, with females being larger, having a reddish-brown shell, and a larger head with green skin. Males are smaller, entirely black, and are also known as the “ink turtle”. Therefore, in a narrow sense, the term “turtle” refers to the Chinese Three-keeled Pond Turtle.
It is worth noting that due to the diverse commercial appearances of the Chinese Three-keeled Pond Turtle, some unscrupulous vendors may take advantage of this, making it easy for novices to be deceived. We must keep our eyes open.
The Red-eared Slider
Lastly, our main attraction, the “God of Brazil” Red-eared Slider, the only foreigner among the Big Three of Street Vendors, yet its fame is by no means inferior, and it is even the only breed that many people recognize. The Red-eared Slider is intelligent and interactive. Juveniles and subadults have a vibrant green color with bright red stripes, which are very attractive. Moreover, healthy Red-eared Sliders have amazing adaptability and self-healing abilities, making them easy to keep.
However, due to the low cost of common Red-eared Sliders, their sale, transportation, and breeding conditions are often very poor, with many individuals being sick. In addition, inbreeding has led to a decline in the overall health of many Red-eared Sliders on the market. Furthermore, the overall appearance of Red-eared Sliders has slightly decreased compared to the past, so caution is needed before purchasing, and more research should be done.
As the online environment becomes more and more restless, the comparison of breeds and the dazzling commercial appearances have gradually become the mainstream in the turtle community. The interest and enthusiasm we had as children gathered in front of the turtle stalls seem to be gone forever. The Chinese Three-keeled Pond Turtle and the Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle are still blessed with the status of “national turtles”, and if one is not careful with their words, they might be accused of looking down on cheap national turtles. Therefore, even though some people may not appreciate them, they would at most ignore you and not speak ill of them.
The Red-eared Slider, on the other hand, is in a worse situation. It is not only a foreign turtle but also carries the label of an invasive species. All kinds of true and false stigmas can be recklessly attributed to the Red-eared Slider, putting the contemptible chain on the surface. However, when we categorize turtles into different classes, indulge in buying, exchanging, trading, and various dazzling expensive breeds, as well as being unable to extricate ourselves from the artificially divided commercial appearances, do we still remember the original intention of keeping turtles? That summer afternoon, a basin, a brick, and a turtle could make us feel happy and satisfied.
Original article by KPTer, if reproduced, please cite the source: https://www.kaipet.com/en/big-street-vendors-types-turtles-introduction-flower-turtles-grass-turtles-brazilian-turtles
