コマちゃん＆ハナちゃん（カメ）

We adopted Ishigame Komachan from a village of Ohara in 2018 and we have been keeping him since. His female partner Hana-chan just joined him in July of 2020. 私たちが飼育しているニホンイシガメのコマちゃんとハナちゃんです。まだ赤ん坊だったコマちゃんは２０１８年に私たちが大原で見つけてきて以来、家で飼育して保護することになりました。

apanese Ishigame ( Mauremys japonica ) is one of two indigenous turtle species of Japan. As its appearance being similar to the pattern of stones around the streams they are called Ishigame ( stone turtles ) in Japan. The geographical distribution of the species goes nationwide from north to south. They can only be found in the places where the nature remains intact. This species is characterized in its beautiful brown stone-like pattern on its shell with a long tail. You can see the jagged edge on their shells while the species are young and those indentation disappear as they grow mature. They are relatively small size compared to other type of turtles with gentle characters. Female turtles grow larger than male. Male turtles grow up to the shell length of 15 cm whereas female counterpart grows up to 22 cm. The species is now considered to be one of endangered species due to the environmental contamination from agricultural and housing development in many different regions as well as loss of habitats. Another threat to the species is the cross breed with other type of turtles. Those hybrid is species with Kusagame is known as Unkyu tutles. Today there are many Unkyu turtles found in the wild. It is advised to all the pet owners to keep this species separate from others. It is quite easy to see their sexual distinction one these turtles grow up into a certain stage of growth. The males have wider tail base with its cloaca placed further to the tip of their tales whereas females have their cloaca closer to the point it is almost hidden underneath the shields. Since this species is very delicate to contamination, it is required to refresh the water frequently. Since Ishigame have very friendly characters it is easy to tame them if you keep them from their young stage. It is said that they used to be kept as pets in imperial house. For their shape of the shells of babies being similar to the shape of coins from ancient times, the babies were called Zenigame ( money turtle ) and considered to bring financial fortune. The most similar species to Ishigame in another country is Spanish Pond Turtle. It is very interesting to see that there are many different type of color variation and patterns on their shells. Once they are tamed they would come walking to you as if to say something to your face.