captive bred mata mata's in Daytona!

[snakeguy101]

I went to daytona and saw a few mata matas on display that were 2-3 weeks old, after asking around about them, I met the guy who bred and hatched them. here is what he told me:

Breeding is not an issue, these turtles will breed all the time it is the eggs that are difficult. keep them at 84 degrees F* and do not use vermiculite or perlite b/c they tend to be basic and the eggs need to be kept in acidic environment to help soften the shells so that the hatchlings can escape. it took ~130 days for them to emerge.

I forgot the guys name but maybe someone else there got it, they were the only matas at the show.

 

[Arapaimaman]

Hello Chris;
I saw them at the show today.All the guy would say was they were not 4sale.They looked awesome when they are that small.I caught a big adult Mata Mata in the Peru Amazon jungle and almost lost a finger.
Amapaimaman

 

[LBathory]

very interesting. I didn't know matas had been captive bred yet! very cool.

 

[coura]

very interesting. I didn't know matas had been captive bred yet! very cool.

Yup quite a few times in fact and very cool indeed. I already had heard of the acidic substrate teory, could be possible