Feeding behaviour and acceptance of fruit wastes by scorpion mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) in captivity

Abstract

The use of waste generated from the processing of human foods in the diet of turtles is an alternative for reducing production costs without compromising the development and sustainability of the animal production system. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the behaviour and acceptance of different food wastes from fruit processing by scorpion mud turtles (Kinosternon scorpioides) in captivity. We used 25 scorpion mud turtles, from which we assessed the acceptance of five different fruit processing wastes: crushed, dried coconut; orange bagasse; crushed pineapple peel; acerola bagasse; and mango bagasse. These treatments had five repetitions each, totaling 25 experimental units. Each unit was composed of one animal, and ten repetitions were performed. The nonparametric analysis of variance, Kruskal‒Wallis test followed by the SNK test (5%), was used to compare the treatments. The phases of feeding behaviour observed in the animals included foraging, approach, olfactory recognition, capture, dilaceration, and ingestion. Neustophagia and head cleaning of the forelimbs after ingestion were observed. In addition, all the residues tested were accepted, with greater acceptability of mango bagasse, orange bagasse, and bagasse acerola. The results revealed 100% survival and no difference (P > 0.05) in weight gain between the experimental groups.