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When we first acquired them from Del’s parents in Cagayan de oro City, the four could easily fit in one’s palm. Now, they already have plate-sized carapace on their backs. These turtles, dubbed by pet shops as “Chinese green turtles”, are actually more akin to the red-eared slider, freshwater turtle found mostly in South America. They are not shy when fondled and very snappy with their sharp jaws. They are omnivorous but feast on invertebrates and crustaceans such as fresh water shrimps and crabs called “kampay” from the nearby river. That is perhaps why they have a beak-like upper jaw designed to crush exoskeletons. One time, we were feeding them when one mistook Lj’s finger as a wriggling worm. Lj, pale as moonlight, ran to the house, clasping his finger, bleeding. Luckily the turtle was not able to cut off but sliced his index finger. Since then Lj neither touches nor comes close enough to them anymore. We used to throw them in the pool when cleaning their caged container. That was when they were not yet so big but not anymore because they have become so snappy. Watching the turtles popping up from the water and stretching their full colors – skins with stripes of yellow, brown, red and black, most noticeable on the neck and around the eyes – however tempting, children who are drawn are warned sternly not to toy with them lest they will lose a finger. We could not identify which is female and male until one has started laying eggs. We were enthralled watching her flip the sand with her hind legs to dig a nest. We were not able to salvage her eggs for she failed to bury them in the sand. We presumed one of the other turtles had her eggs for a snack. When you visit our farm, don’t miss them.