macleay river turtle

[Eastern Snake Neck]

It is true, they were once classified as a separate species. But, several years ago, they were reclassified. From what I've read, John Cann was involved at the time, but somebody on this forum should probably confirm that with John.
Like markars, I too admire and respect John Cann. I also know that scientific research continues to move forward.
A few years back, the Chelodina group was also reclassified. It was split into Chelodina and Macrochelodina.
The NSW Species list may need an update. The latest one I could find on the www is three years old. Perhaps an updated version has been published. The 2004 list does not include Elseya albagula.
Chelodina longicollis is a species that takes on various forms and characteristics, depending on where it is found. Colour, size and shape are all variables.
Emydura macquarii macquarii takes on various forms and characteristics, depending on where it is found.
I've never see two identical dogs, but they're all Canis lupus familiaris.
Humans come in various forms as well. But we're all Homo sapiens.

 

[scorps]

I DO NOT CARE WHAT ANY ONE SAYS TURTLES EAT INSECTS AND WHO EVER DEBATES THE TOPIC ARE FOOLS WE FRESH WATER FISH FOR BASS NON STOP WITH BLACK CRICKETS BEING A VERY GOOD BAIT FOR THEM AND WE ALWAYS HAVE THE OCASIONAL FRESH WATER TURTLE GRAB THE BAIT (they never get hooked though) but yes they do eat insects

 

[hornet]

they will eat them when they fall into the water but certainly not a bulk of the diet

 

[markars]

i am with scorps- i have seen to many river animals who have evolved especially to eat insects. i have been on riversavd seen the amont of insects that fall into rivers and i rekon that it is too good a source of food to not represnt a significant proportion of their diet.

 

[hornet]

the only river inhabitants i know are really specialised to eat terrestrial inverts would be archer fish. Alot of others will eat them when they fall into the water but those species consume aquatic inverts, fish and plants as a bulk of the diet

 

[scorps]

thank you hornet and yes with the archers they eat both insect and fish ( we have cought them on lures before)

 

[scorps]

oh one more thing i no archer fish and bass live abo****ly no where near each other in the wild i used to live in nsw (hence the bass ) and am now in norht qld which is full of archers

 

[JasonL]

Turtles will eat anything that end up in the water, most are true scavengers. The amount of insect a turtle will eat depends on local of the river ect, time of year, age and size of the turtle, and what else is in the river / pond. Hatchling turtle would generally eat a higher percentage of aquatic insects than adults, still having snorkelled in a few river and dams around the place, most decent sized river have a huge supply of yabbies, crays and shimp than anything else.

 

[markars]

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodi...ume2a/17-fauna-2a-chelonia-naturalhistory.pdf
I hope this link works but it is just one study that i found that shows that turtles stomack content contain by volume various percentages of terrestrial insects- some of them up to 25%. (seems that is a significant proportion)- seems by this study that the percentage is less and less as the turtles get bigger!

 

[scorps]

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodi...ume2a/17-fauna-2a-chelonia-naturalhistory.pdf
I hope this link works but it is just one study that i found that shows that turtles stomack content contain by volume various percentages of terrestrial insects- some of them up to 25%. (seems that is a significant proportion)- seems by this study that the percentage is less and less as the turtles get bigger!

yeah id say a bub turtle would be more iterested in a bug floating in the water than a big adult which would prefer a fish

 

[Eastern Snake Neck]

There's no debate about whether or not turtles eat insects. The fact is that they do eat insects.
My opinion (supported by the scientific research I have read) is that insects make up a very small percentage of a turtle's natural diet. If a terrestrial insect lands on water, an opportunistic turtle will grab it and eat it. If a turtle finds an aquatic insect, it will eat it.
But, just because a turtle consumes a particular type of food does not mean that type of food is a normal part of its diet. Nor does it mean that it is good for the turtle.
I've seen turtles that have swallowed fish hooks baited with bread. Now, I don't believe that bread covered fish hooks are a part of a turtle's natural diet, but I do know that they will eat them. Even though they are bad for them.
I think that it is important for turtle keepers to try to replicate the turtle's natural diet as closely as they can. I often hear that people feed a particular food to a turtle 'because the turtle loves it.' But all too often, that is the only food the turtle is being offered. So without access to any alternative foods, of course the turtle will eat what it is offered.
In my opinion, some people believe that seeing a turtle eat a particular type of food means that type of food must be good for the turtle. I do not share that belief.
Regards,
Michael.

 

[Strange1]

Are people thinking that insect = crickets? Because they all seem to be forgetting about water beetles, boatsmen, mayfly larve etc not to mention water skimmers and spider that all spend most/all of the time in or on the water. I know that when I introduced my turtles to the pond they promptly ate ever tadpole, boatsman and snail in the place.

They appear to eat more met as hatchies and more plants as adults. Just provide a good variety of foods and you cant go wrong... regardless of what they are "meant" to eat.
I mean do we eat things that we wouldnt eat in a natural diet?

 

[Eastern Snake Neck]

I know I'm not thinking insect=cricket. I agree that turtles would eat all of those foods you mentioned, and that they would all be a part of a turtle's natural diet.
I also agree a good variety of foods is important, provided they are foods that a turtle can process. For example, red meat, saltwater fish and pellets would be a variety. Whilst they may not pose a great danger to the turtle's health in the short term, this would not be the case in the long term.

 

[hornet]

if you notice i did say terrestrial insects i.e. roaches, crickets, beetles. They will eat them but as i said, would not make a bulk of the diet for most species

 

[-Peter]

I beg to differ. I was involved in the removal of a colony of Chelodina longicollis from the gasometer tanks at Mortlake some years back. Talking to the former manager of the adjacent amnonia factory he recalled them being in the at least 60 years earlier. While there were no hatchlings there were multi generational specimens.
I had some 25 turtles in holding ponds. These ponds would get a floating scum made up of the undigested chitinous residue of many types of insects. While not conclusive it does indicate that these turtles lived on a diet high in flying invertebrates.

 

[JasonL]

If thats all they have, thats all they will eat. Turtles will eat anything they can, in a river full of yabbies, they will eat mostly yabbies ect. They will eat whatever is the most plentiful in the river, pond, dam, sewage pond that they are living in. I have found two living in a seepage pond, right on the cliff face in the royal, the pond was about 2m x 4m with a max depth of 40cm, had lots of algae, some limited insect life and passing froglets, I checked them over the space of 3 years and found them every time, though they were smallish in size, untill it dryed up. I have some pics somewhere, I'll try and find.

 

[-Peter]

exactly Jason, whatever is abundant will more than likely make up the bulk of the diet.

 

[Tristis]

my turtles love mice and pinkys

 

[Strange1]

I know this is an old thread but one of my Longicollis just stalked and sniped a garden skink that was basking at the edge of his pond!

 

[Tristis]

cool