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FAQs About Snapping Turtles
Related Articles: Turtles,
Shell Rot in Turtles,
Amphibians, Red
Eared Slider Care,
Related FAQs: Turtles 1,
Turtles 2,
Red Ear Sliders,
Turtle Identification,
Turtle Behavior,
Turtle Compatibility,
Turtle Selection,
Turtle Systems,
Turtle Feeding,
Turtle Disease,
Shell Rot,
Turtle Reproduction,
& by Species: Cooters/Mud Turtles,
Softshells, Snapping Turtles,
Mata Matas, Tortoises,
&
Amphibians, Other
Reptiles,
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Care of a 2 in. alligator snapping turtle 9/30/09
Hi,
<Hiya - Darrel here>
My granddaughter found a small black turtle with a beak and spiny back
on September 26 in the middle of a barrier beach of Smith Point County
Park on Fire Island, Suffolk County New York. My husband had spotted a
similar turtle a few days earlier in the middle of the camp ground road
and he moved it to the marshy area on the bayside of the barrier beach.
We feel we rescued it but want to know what to do now!
<That would be a long way out of the range of an alligator snapping
turtle, but within the normal range of a common snapper, Barbara.
Alligator snappers are common only to the drainage basin around the
Mississippi river. Assuming there's no chance that it's an escaped pet
or even a sea turtle (Sea turtles have flippers and no claws)?? What I'd
really like at this point is a couple of photos, even if just from a
phone camera. Face, side and from front & above would help clear up a
number of questions>
We have it in a clear plastic container with wet beach sand, a clump of
wet kelp and a sea sponge and a clam shell to provide habitat and a
receptacle for fresh water and food.
<None of those would be common environment of either snapping turtle>
We offered bits of cooked chicken ,chopped meat and lettuce at different
times without much interest.
<Based on it's environment it probably is in no mood, maybe even no
condition to eat>
It has been active at times, climbing to the top of the sponge but is
mostly burrowed into a thin layer of sand under the kelp. Aside from
removing the old food and 'poop' and occasionally peeking under things
to assure that it is alive we haven't disturbed it much. Now the
question: is it keepable as a pet for an 8 year old under supervision,
or should we release it and where?
<Well whether or not it's keepable is dependent on a great number of
question unanswered. Snapping turtles are notorious for biting hard and
having short tempers, so they don't make a good lap pet. But with that
said, even a Red Eared Slider can inflict a nasty bite if handled
incorrectly -- so really it all depends on the level of maturity of the
8 year old. Turtles are good pets to house, care for and observe, but
not to play with.>
<As far as the other thing ... NO!!! NO!!! We never EVER release any
animal into the wild, even when it's with our best intentions.
Territories, sub species, communicable diseases ... just a few of a
hundred reasons. If he survived at all, he'd possibly contaminate
others, so we never ever release into the wild.>
<Once we find out what it is -- send pics!!! -- we'll decide what to do.
In the mean time, the link below will give you some basic information.>
<All snapping turtles are more aquatic than sliders. While they do it
less often, they DO haul out & bask and still need a warm dry place to
soak up some UV rays ... so for the purpose of the time being only, read
the enclosed link and set up a basic environment to specifications.
Meanwhile send pics and we'll go from there>
Any help or advise you can give would be most appreciated!
Sincerely Grandma
<http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/RESCareBarton.htm>
Re: care of a 2 in. alligator snapping turtle
9/30/09
Hi Barbara,
Yes, what you have there is the Common Snapping turtle, Chelydra
serpentina. They make interesting pets but frankly they are a bit
dangerous. The rules for keeping a snapping turtle are that you never,
ever, ever ... for any reason .... put anything you care about anywhere
near the front half of that animal. They're not actually mean ... but
they have a very limited tolerance for anything moving around in front
of their face before they'll strike out at it -- and once they grab a
solid hold, they have the ability to hang on for very long periods.
A 20 gallon aquarium (or similar container) with shallow water (no
deeper than 4 inches) and a small place to haul out and dry off under a
basking light is all that is required initially. If it's not an actual
aquarium, make sure the sides are high enough that it can't climb.
Feeding is simple -- Reptomin food sticks or Koi Pellets from the local
pet store (same ingredients, just cheaper) will provide a fully balanced
diet.
They're interesting, low maintenance pets but on the other hand, they're
very hardy animals that, with even minimal care, can grow to an
extremely dangerous size in just a few years. So my advice on keeping
it? ...
maybe .. maybe not. But if you decide not, inquire around your city for
a turtle and tortoise club to find someone with the desire and
experience and please just don't release it.
Best wishes
Darrel
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what kind of turtle and how old
is it 6/27/09
I know the attached is not a snapping turtle but I have never seen anything
this big that was not, what is it and how old.
<It's a Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Alligator Snapping
Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) generally have a row of spikes along the
midline of the shell running along the spine, whereas Common Snapping
Turtles do not. As for age, I have no idea. Captive specimens routinely live
well over 20 years, and the record is around twice that. Given the apparent
size of this specimen, it is probably going to be well over ten years old.>
found in the Metro North Parking lot, in June, 2009 land put on side of road
and let go. /Westchester County, NY
<Cheers, Neale.>
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Re: what kind of turtle and how old
is it 6/27/09
I would never have guessed a snapping turtle. Thank you for your very prompt
reply. John H Vargo, Publisher, Boatingonthehudson.com and boating on the
Hudson & beyond mag.
<Happy to help. Cheers, Neale.> |
Snapping turtle mating & comp.
1/25/09
Dear Crew,
<Hiya Sucari, Darrel here tonight>
I have a
2 year old 7 inch snapping turtle and, age unknown 5 inch Red Eared Slider in a
50 gallon tank.
<Actually, what you have there is a tragedy just waiting to
happen.>
They lived in the same tank for about a year now with no problems
they get along great.
<Get along great? Tell jokes? Like the same movies?
Enjoy lively political debate without crossing the line?>
For about a month
now I have noticed that they are trying to mate. I was wondering if I should
have any concerns?
<I sure would have concerns, Sucari. For one thing, these
mixed relationships rarely work out. What would the neighbors think? What about
the in-laws? And the kids? Red Eared Snappers? Snapping Sliders??????
And
the kids! Think of the kids!!!! How sad to have a clutch of babies that swim
into the pond to try to lay in wait to ambush a piece of river grass or
hyacinth?>
Thanks
<OK, seriously, Sucari. All kidding aside, most turtles
are very tolerant of dissimilar species. They don't compete for food, no mates
to speak of and no territorial issues that really matter. Neither see each other
as a threat. And I too have seen Sliders and Snappers and Soft Shelled turtles
all kept together in relative harmony ... until that day when one of them is
just GONE. Sliders are non specific scavenging herbivores and Snappers are
ambush predators with very short tempers and an instinctive, vicious 'ambush'
strike that pretty much destroys what it touches.>
<This is not to say that
all snappers are mean or evil, Sucari. My snapper, Biff, is mild tempered and
easy to handle and he puts up with a LOT before he starts to show any signs of
stress. But still, I never EVER forget that he is a wild animal with a tiny
brain.>
<My point ... if there is any chance it has escaped anyone so far ...
is that everything will be just fine right up until JUST the moment that the
snapper attacks and kills the slider. Will it ever happen? Maybe not.
But
how will you feel if it does?>
<Please separate them as soon as possible>
<Regards, Darrel>
Mixing Turtle Species Together – 04/30/07
I have had an adolescent red eared slider for a couple weeks now.
Its shell is just about an inch an a half to 2 inches round. Today I got
a adolescent snapping turtle that is 3 1/2 to 4 inches long. I know that
snapping turtles are nippy and have short tempers but I was curious to
know if they would get along together and if they would be healthy
together? Both seem to be healthy and I am not sure of the sex of them
thanks for the help Alex =)
< I would not recommend placing these two turtles together. The snapping
turtle is actually a poor choice as a pet. The risk of injury to the
other turtle and to yourself is too great.-Chuck>
Turtle With Prolapsed Colon 12/15/05
Ok, I've had my snapper turtle (I think its an alligator snapper) for like
1-2 years now. I got him when he was small, anyway, today I am cleaning his
tank and when I picked him up he had what appears to be a pink sack on the
bottom of him, near his butt. Please tell me what's wrong and write back ASAP.
< When we keep pets we usually feed them once a day. Sometimes this can be a
pretty big meal. Especially when the turtle is acting like it is starving. When
turtles eat a lot at one time then this puts stress on the rest of the digestive
tract. Instead of small bowel movements many times a day you get one large one
that may take some of the colon tissue with it. I believe that this is what you
are seeing. Try smaller feedings many times per day to see if will go back in.
If not then you may need to see a vet for further advice. Try the Calif Turtle
and Tortoise club at tortoise.org for possible other solutions.-Chuck>
Mixing Turtles 9/7/05
I have a smaller painted turtle and I was just given a baby snapper. For now
I understand my painted is safe but in the future would it be ok if the shared a
tank? thank you Alex D
< I would not recommend ever putting these two turtles together. Snapper gets
too big and much too mean.-Chuck>
Snapping Turtle Shell Growths
(continued)
Bob, Mike ????<It's Mike D here again> I know that algae will grow on the
shell but when I saw a
white film on my snapper's head, I became concerned.<Aha! I would too, but not
knowing it was white, I was at a disadvantage! **grin**> He has always eaten
very well but seemed to not be interested anymore. Over the aquarium I
have a Slimline Reptile Fixture with super 15 watt UV lamp (it produces
3%+ UVB and 7%+ UVA) and a Daylight Blue Reptile 60 watt bulb.<I thought you
probably would have, as you didn't sound like a novice, but had to ask> I have
put
some Neosporin on his shell and rubbed it on his neck and legs.<Now there's some
creative thinking, although it shouldn't have much effect if it's indeed a
fungal growth, with Neosporin being for bacterial infections> Now that
the weekend is here I will put him out in the sun for a few hours while I
am at home.<Good idea, but use care as once his body temperature hits 92 degrees
it could be all over. I'm assuming that you know NEVER to sit a
terrarium/aquarium in the sun as the sun's rays are magnified by the glass
creating a rudimentary Dutch Oven> He seems to be perking up a bit but still
has some algae
(fungus) hanging from his neck.<You might want to consider making up a fairly
strong salt bath and soaking him in it for a few minutes at a time for several
days. Many true funguses are extremely sensitive to salt and might die very
easily. I'd suggest no longer than 20 minutes or so for the soaks as snappers
have no regulatory mechanism for secreting excess salts> Thanks for your
help.<Best of luck and keep us posted> -- SUE
Turtle Mixes
Is it ok for a snapper turtle and a red eared slider to be together in the
same tank?
<Not a good idea, you would need a huge tank for the snapper, and there is a
good chance that your slider could get hurt. Best Regards, Gage>
Snapping Turtle
I'm really hoping you can answer a question for me. My aunt gave me a snapping
turtle because they had no room for it. it is 1 yr old and I am worried about
salmonella. Is there a way I can see if it has it or anything else. I have a 9
yr old brother and I would like to know where to get it treated to figure out if
it has it and if it does what options are available. I really don't want to get
rid of it I would like to know where to take it to figure out whether or not its
clean. I researched salmonella and its not pretty and I'm a little worried
because I don't want to get it. I wash my hands every time I hold it and I would
REALLY appreciate it if you guys could help me out.
Thanks a bunch
>> Only a laboratory can test to see if your turtle has Salmonella. The best way
would be to see if maybe someone at your local university can help. Good Luck,
Oliver
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